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Shalom Community Center 10 results

Overcoming Barriers to Mental Health Services in a Pandemic
Eszi Waters
Economic distress, loss, and isolation due to the pandemic have increased the need for mental health services in Monroe County. While local providers have reinvented how they offer such services, many people still confront barriers to accessing them. Eszi Waters spoke to people at several agencies to see how they have adapted. Click here to read the article.
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Guest Column: ‘IU 2020’ Series Filmed 12 Students for 4 Years
Jennifer Piurek
“IU 2020” is a documentary series that began in 2016 and follows 12 Indiana University students during the entirety of their undergraduate careers. Jennifer Piurek, director of communications and special projects at IU’s Office of the Provost, wrote about the students and the project — and the free screening on December 8. Click here to learn about “IU 2020.”
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New People’s Open Pantry Offers Access to Healthy Food
Ellen Wu
Building equity and supporting community access to healthy food are at the heart of the People’s Open Pantry, a new initiative under the aegis of the People’s Market, writes Ellen Wu. But starting a pantry during a pandemic takes dedication and planning. Wu talked to several of the people involved in the effort. Click here to read the story.
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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s moratorium on residential evictions is set to expire on August 14. Evictions for many renters are expected to resume the next day, writes Diane Walker. While rental assistance is available, demand will likely exceed supply. Walker talked to housing experts who fear a disaster could result if more help isn’t made available. | Limestone Post

Some Renter Help Available As End of Eviction Moratorium Looms
Diane Walker
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s moratorium on residential evictions is set to expire on August 14. Evictions for many renters are expected to resume the next day, writes Diane Walker. While rental assistance is available, demand will likely exceed the supply. Walker talked to housing experts who fear a disaster could result if more help isn’t made available. Click here to read the full story.
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Abby Ang at the People’s Market CSA drive-thru on March 28. Ang and a group of vendors, community organizers, and university professors began meeting last year to plan what would become the People’s Market, “a farmers market model unprecedented in Bloomington and Indiana,” writes Ellen Wu for Limestone Post. The group had to “reorient swiftly to the drive-thru CSA once it became obvious that COVID-19 would upend everything.” | Limestone Post

Ethos of New People’s Market Focuses on Food Justice, Mutual Aid
Ellen Wu
A group of vendors, community organizers, and university professors began meeting last year to plan what would become the People’s Market, “a farmers market model unprecedented in Bloomington and Indiana,” writes IU history professor Ellen Wu. When COVID-19 “upended everything,” the group quickly reoriented to create a drive-thru CSA. Click here to read about the People’s Market.
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United Way of Monroe County issued a press release announcing that nearly 30 local organizations are launching an emergency relief fund to support "human service organizations in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties" during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the press release, grants will be distributed to groups "best positioned to meet the emerging needs resulting from this crisis." | Courtesy image

Press Release: Local Groups Launch COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
Limestone Post
United Way of Monroe County issued a press release announcing that nearly 30 local organizations are launching an emergency relief fund to support "human service organizations in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties" during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the press release, grants will be distributed to groups "best positioned to meet the emerging needs resulting from this crisis." Click here to read the full press release.
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Writer Michelle Gottschlich says literacy operates on the question, “Does my level of reading and comprehension empower me?” She shows us several ways people in our community are being empowered, such as by using the Monroe County Public Library Bookmobile (pictured here). | Photo by Michelle Gottschlich

Beyond Reading, Adult Literacy Is Survival
Michelle Gottschlich
Literacy is survival. It’s a housing application, a citizenship test, health insurance, a job that can support a family. Writer Michelle Gottschlich says literacy operates on the question, “Does my level of reading and comprehension empower me?” She shows us several groups helping to break down the barriers to literacy — and empowering people in our community. Click here to read the full story.
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Peggy talks to columnist Michael G. Glab about experiencing homelessness in Bloomington for nearly two years. | Photo by Michael G. Glab

Big Mike’s B-town: Peggy
Michael G. Glab
Some folks just won’t stay down. Peggy is one of them. Through an abusive past — and a challenging present — Peggy persists. In Big Mike’s B-town, Michael G. Glab talks to someone who has experienced homelessness for almost two years. Although life always seems to knock her down, “I get back on my feet,” Peggy says. Click here to read the full story.
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Forrest Gilmore, executive director of Shalom Community Center, says anti-panhandling signs, an online petition, verbal and physical harassment, and countless other tactics are often fueled by the fear of becoming homeless and the desire to sweep the problem under the rug. | Limestone Post

Paths of Homelessness, Part 2: Demonizing the Less Fortunate
TJ Jaeger
In part 2 of "Paths of Homelessness," TJ Jaeger looks at the stigma dumped on the less fortunate people who experience homelessness. While they sometimes commit “nuisance crimes,” they don’t deserve being verbally and physically harassed, demonized, and treated as second-class humans, say the people who devote their time to helping. Click here to read the full story.
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Writer TJ Jaeger looks at the difficult circumstances people face — and choices they have to make — when they find themselves living on the streets of Bloomington. | Photo by TJ Jaeger

Paths of Homelessness, Part 1: Your First Day
TJ Jaeger
It's your first day of experiencing homelessness. What do you do? What are your options? Where will you sleep tonight? In the first of this two-part series, writer TJ Jaeger looks at the difficult circumstances people face — and choices they have to make — when they find themselves living on the streets of Bloomington. Click here to read the full story.
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