Homelessness

Every time I see someone with a "will work for food" sign, I feel unbelievably sympathetic for this grungy, tattered person standing at the corner of a busy highway intersection. I have seen so many people turn their heads and look away, afraid that if they help, they are fueling someone's drug addiction and bad life choices.  Read More »

In my first book, Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life, published in 2002 I met so many teens whose stories were powerful. One of those most amazing and difficult story was written by a teen named Nichole.  Read More »

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates has proposed a plan to ban smoking along Telegraph and Shattuck streets, which he hopes will eliminate a large population of homeless people who loiter there. He also hopes that the potential success of this plan could prompt the city to implement a city-wide ban on smoking.  Read More »