Umoja Village

[sirmercutio99]

What they should do is use rail shipping containers for people to live in do give them a decent affordable place to stay. It's shameful that we have homelessness today and that people are so oblivious to the plight of the poor.

[clarity33]

I am from Miami and I used to drive by there every time I went home for a break. Its a shame that is Miami, where all of these good for nothing, celebrities come to party had something going on like this. The city of Miami is so corrupt and they will be judged for how they dealt with these people.

[eddierob]

thank you

[johnnyramma]

MAX IS DOING A FABULOUS JOB.!!!! God Bless Yu Max

[ybmario]

WOW. I am so glad max is doing this and I hope we can find a way to help financially and maybe even with other stuff like organizational and technological stuff.

[Slavestorms]

Earth, land of the FEE and home of the Slave.

Shop for victory, if you're not gonna buy something then move along, nothing to see here

STOP! Your papers please. You don't seem to have an address. We'll give you one, it's the state penitentiary.

[54spiritedwill54]

America, land of the free and poverty.

[PeaceProfit]

The illusion of success, rolls blindly past the reality of life . . .

It's time for society to remove the blinders, to start funding and building ARC's (Abuse Recovery Centers) instead of prisons. It is time to train and employ, non violent, third strike offenders as mentor assistants to help themselves and the homeless assimilate back into productive social behaviors.

It is time to embrace y/our humanity . . . and conquer our fears.

BL*M

[kozmokid101]

Count me in, I think I just found Utopia.

[coachbagqueen]

I can't believe my people r living like this and CNN oe Nancy Grace or Anderson won't raisse awareness. This need nation wide attention. Everybody help.

[vomitandthelenz]

I live under a bridge.

[CrowTRobot5]

These people are stupid and unemployable. Failure and the negroe go hand in hand, they will always require some form of state custodial care and close police supervision.

[vomitandthelenz]

lol so true

[FrankeeFraud]

Absolutely! Makes me almost rethink my position on abortion; but only if it's retrocative...

[ShinOak]

I love Youtube. I love Youtube because it's so easy to spot ignorance. Stupid, unemployable, and failure, are three words that seem to fit this kind of incompetent holier-than-thou attitude. These people built all they have. They're not wealthy, they're not sitting up on their high horse looking down on others. They may not be the happiest people in the world, but God damnit they're trying. Once you can smell your own feces on your knees, then you may talk.

[keleks99]

well said shinoak

[FrankeeFraud]

5,000 of them?  C'mon! There must be at least 5,000 liberal do-gooders in Miami; put your money where your mouths are, you hypocrites! Start adopting them, or shut the fuck up!

[PolliFaxToaster]

moving goalpost? i think its more likely that you alone are retarded. what dont you understand. human intelligence evolved over millions of years.... but racial characteristics evolved in the past 50,000 years. science has prooved this with genetic evidence. DNA doesnt lie. this is the 21st century, stop acting like its the 17th century.

[PolliFaxToaster]

How about three. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams successfully completed the first open heart surgery on earth. Black. Jocelyn Elders was surgeon general. Spade. Otis Boykin invented the pacemaker. Negro. i doubt you will ever accomplish anything nearly as important as any of these in your lifetime.

[PolliFaxToaster]

they're not. you've been mislead.

[PolliFaxToaster]

you are in no position to call anybody stupid. human intelligence evolved hundreds of thousands of years before the modern races became distinct. about 2000 generations ago, your ancestors were san bushmen in the kalahari. so were mine. if you were educated, you would know this.

[FrankeeFraud]

"Paging Reverand Jones; Reverand Jim Jones; your services are needed in Florida........."

[FrankeeFraud]

Lazy, parasitic freeloaders. The world, i.e, taxpayers like me, don't owe you a living, and certainly not a free house. Get off your lazy asses & get a job you worthless pieces of shit!

[PolliFaxToaster]

and what should they write down as their address when filling out an application? what business owner do you know that would ever hire a homeless person? could you even comprehend the cycle that puts people in this position in the first place? its not as simple as you seem to think it is. have some compassion.

[FrankeeFraud]

"Puts people in this position"? Tell me you're kidding, Pal! No one put them in this position but themselves! I have no symapthy for these bums whatsoever. You feel sorry for them? Adopt a few of them, and leave the rest of us alone.........

[PolliFaxToaster]

its widely know that a majority of people who are homeless are such because of mental illness. had they been born into wealthy families they might be the recipients of care they need. children of poor families dont have that fortune. like i said, its a cycle. and i do much to help the poor and i dont even believe in jesus.

[Superapplefrog]

It has nothing to do with IQ and everything to do with racists like you

[yardy88]

Land of the free and home of the brave, heh, my ass. How the hell can you make being poor a crime in the first place. There's no moral basis for objecting to Umoja.

[kicuville]

but you guys what do u think u r doin? i dont lough at you, but on another side you dont wanna face any profession, and spending money on crack gonna make you poor.

[Umoja79]

After the fire in Umoja Village in Miami, the city wants to raid the township!!!

Please call MICHELLE SPENCE JONES

and tell her that

*You do no support the raiding of Umoja Village

*Residents have a legal right, a human right and a basic right to the land, and you do not support the arrests of those who are on it.

Michelle's number is 305-250-5390

[pancreas79]

graciosos

[barboora]

Kudos to Vancouver Canada which has just bought several hotels in the downtown East side which will be available to homeless people with in-house supports. Advocates were blown away and are celebrating. I really hope for its success

[Silencer84]

America, land of the free and poverty.

[coachbagqueen]

her people? Like most they 4get where they came from & don't help or give back. Wanda stop frontin like u care u don't care about your people n Miami

[NicolaMonk]

Most homeless people are either A.) working or looking for work B.) seriouly mentally ill, chemically dependent, or otherwise disabled (sometimes the disability is considered too mild to qualify for government assistance, and these people do not have the advocacy assitance, typically, to pursue legal action when denied). They need to be "built up" not insulted.

[thejamkit]

Very good point. Some people have never witnessed nor experienced any hardship in their lives - born and raised in the USA, not necessarily rich but hidden from the truths and facts of this world. I know a person, a computer tech, who was homeless for a while due to circumstances. It can happen to any one - the "SYSTEM" works for some but not for all. Bottom line, we are human, not dogs or wild hogs, human. Some are stronger than others. Some of us just need a chance at this thing called life.

[FrankeeFraud]

Get off your lazy asses & go to work! The world doesn't owe you a living, and it sure doesn't owe you a house you freeloaders! Lowlives.

[yardy88]

I'd like to point out that many homeless people cant get employed purely because of the social stigma that brings. However it does say in the video that these people do get medical assistance and people looking to give jobs. So basically what you said was just cold and based soely on prejudice.

[Alfrunk]

Most make poor decisions - have 100 kids they can't pay for, commit crimes, etc. MOST of the time it's their own fault. They should be given plane fare to Haiti, where they can live with the other poor blacks.

[yardy14]

I'm not even going to bother pointing out the many levels of wrong that you are, I just don't need to.

[ljbgreat]

I am a Haitian and I think you are a sick peace of crap.

[FrankeeFraud]

Well I'm an American, and I say go back to Haiti where you belong!  Now!

[ljbgreat]

Why do you say that?

[qwertyman0987654321]

good luck to the people of Umoja Village

[hyleslie]

Same issue, on the other side of the country:

NATIONAL | December 5, 2006

For 1,000 or More Homeless in Hawaii, Beaches Are the Best Option

By JANIS L. MAGIN

Homelessness in Hawaii has become so pervasive that the governor has assigned a state employee to work full time at getting people off the beaches.

[salsabell]

This is an extraordinary video. Thank you for everything you have done to educate people about Umoja Village and the plight of homeless people in general. Continue the great work that you're doing!

[tigerone1970]

Watch all the Kyle and Dylan types coming out of the woodwork. The homeless start helping themselves - so they are asking for government support? My God, these children have been fed talking points, and now they are confusing them with their thoughts. Brainless litte Lumbo clones, all lippy and ignorant. See here, the future of America.

[tigerone1970]

Everyone who condems this 'village', had better think twice about how tragic it is, that the people in question consider this as a step up. America is more than rich enough to provide housing for all it's citizens. And Miami?

[BeKind83]

I empathize with these people...but it's seems their ingenuity could be put to better use. They could use it to move to a different city, find a job, share housing with a few families. This idea they have is f'd up. It's not revolutionary...it's garbage.

[astrinskykid]

I'm amazed at how uncaring/cold and un-empathetic people are to the plight of these devastated people. Wasn't the start of there plight started by a natural disaster? Katrina? Or am I wrong? The comments seem to be coming from heartless folks who obviously haven't had such a life changing experience, which when you start out poor makes for an even lower dip emotionally and financially. At least their attempting to establish a peacefull/ safe environment in which to recover in.

[gadget666]

no, this was caused by rising house values meaning theese people just cant afford to live in a house, and there is no government funded housing

[goddessboi]

Exxon mobil made 4.5 million an hour last year!

revolution! Its time to rise up or we are all going down!

peace and love!

[billoniesandwich]

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and

seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and

will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

[Dimotas]

These folks should be in the vanguard of the "Back to Africa" movement.

[vorgon303]

i would personally drive the bulldozer....urban outdoorsman, got to love em!

[Jidecounty]

A remote village in Kikuyu land?

[franicus007]

equality in society isn't communism it is what the USA is meant represent, that all men have the opportunity to achieve the same result for the same effort, but that is not the case,

[MuthuFishHeadCurry]

insted of just moping around that they were cheated once, why dont they just get off their asses and move on with their lives, get a job, rent a studio apartment and move on.

its ridiculous that the people in the video just sit around complaining all day and moping about how they were cheated and refuse to do anything until they get compensated, thats just typical american behavior of being lazy and having the impression that life owes you something.

[Unljmh]

If the money was spent on developers who did not deliver, why didn't the city collect on the bond required when such bids are submitted.

[Unljmh]

The first gentleman that stated that he was homeless due to a fire in his home.  Why did he not have insurance on the property. There is a whole industry out there that will insure the dwelling or the personal property.

[kjellbjarne1]

Regarding the insurance issue, most poor people cannot afford to pay insurance premiums, just like they cannot afford to buy prescription medicine. So do we blame them for losing their homes or getting sick?

Regarding the second comment, the proverb is used so frequently in our daily society because the term village can be implied to refer to a national society. The quote was most applicable here, as the director is saying that it is the duty of those who are more affluent to help those in need.

[Unljmh]

Prescription meds are much more expensive than a basic contents policy. For this there is Medicaid.

My proverbs are the same and don't change.(nothing changed/nothing added) Real help has to come from within(re:above) and the right programs to assist. Everyone faces challenges and tests in life. Instead of village, I prefer faith. Go to NewWarriorMan and watch the vids, there are some good points. Some points that are not addressed in this video. Thank you for responding.

[APOSMUSIC]

Do have fire insurance? It isn't cheap.

[Unljmh]

It takes a village to raise a child is the original proverb, I disagree with this. It takes a father and a mother who show the appropriate affection and install a good moral discipline. This may be part of the problem. Maybe another look into the lifestyle and choices made in life.

[localdirtball]

A truly equal society doesn't exist, unless you count the scourge of communism, which we all know works wonderfully **sarcasm alert** Just ask the millions that have flourished under Kim Jong Il. I hate to break the hippie dream, but equality doesn't exist. I can't hate a millionaire for being successful.

[franicus007]

why do some people have the need to be better than others equality doesn't make you less, a truly equal society elevates all.

[muderousegg]

dean they cant just say oh ok tomorrow im going to get a job and get a house and live like other people its not that easy you racist.

[franicus007]

your use of such language and your ignorance disgust me so there you go now we are equally disgusted, you with them, and every rational human being with you.

[cricketgeho]

humans are humans we are all here we are all equal we all live and die. Can we please have compassion for one and all.

[bartnl77]

sounds like George orwell, "all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

[choppysmash]

Racist waste of spaces like you disgust me. All you do is say black people are just trying to milk the system. They made a god damn village and all they want is a real fucking house! White people would have just found a wheel chair tucked their leg under their ass and held up a Vietnam vet sign. I think they are making progress here. (I would like to point out that some black people do milk the system but no more so then any other race. And not all white people are vet impersonaters.)

[franicus007]

honestly do they bother you that much or is it the thought that someone might get something for nothing [you think] and that someone isn't you,sometimes all folks need is for people to get of their back and give them a chance, try the non judgment thing you might like it

[localdirtball]

Here's an experiment. Give all the displaced families $5000 a piece. This would more than allow them to relocate to a better community, or they could stay in the same crime-infested hood that they were in. Let them do whatever they want with their $5k. Come back in a year and note the progress. Then you could see for yourself how they dig themselves into a hole. Just a thought.

[localdirtball]

They weren't promised a "free" house. The government was supposed to replace the low-income housing with similar low-income housing, but no one gets a "free" house.

[jimisback]

Then my idea of a kibbutz is a good idea. It is not free in the end. But it helps in the front.

[MizzMilk]

Ironically, the first guy that comes on and talks about his house having a fire, then they cut to the house, my family used to live in that house. It's down the street from my school.

[Blueblur69]

The British solved this problem by sending them to Australia.... Where they were forced to work and be productive. The result was building a great nation... WOW!

[jimisback]

Most were Irish slaves. My family was part of that. I am from Belfast. You are correct my brother.

[localdirtball]

I give up. Let's just see if you keep the same naive attitude when you graduate college and you enter the workforce. Then you can watch your paycheck dwindle as taxes are sucked out to provide for people who REFUSE to provide for themselves. But as righteous as you are, you will probably work for free, right? I gotta go now, the tailor just called and said my diamond-encrusted "jackass" suit was ready. I can't wait to wear it proudly.

[jimisback]

We should get all the rich activist actors and poloticians etc. That send millions ayear to Sweden every year to avoid taxes, and government money also to build a Kibbutz and let these people work it and run it. make it self sustainable. Give them what they need to help themselves. Then if they do not do it. Who will be to blame? Themselves. Lets build that city (Kibbutz) and let them do as they will. God Bless them. The meek shall always be with us.

[jimisback]

Has Newarriorman been banned from posting here?

[localdirtball]

Apparently he has. Freedom of speech is only OK as long as you don't offend the liberals who constantly push for it. Of course I imagine I will be banned as well at some point.

[MizzMilk]

Newwarriorman has been banned from posting here, not because of his opinions (many said worse things than him) but his continuous spamming.

[jimisback]

So he was banned for saying what he felt several times. Like the homeless have been banned from homes for continuously doing what they do? They need help to help themselves, not to be banned. Newarrior made alot of sense on his last post. I think he wants to help not hinder progress for these people. Also Many of us here have been in this situation, and worked our way out. Anything I put on these posts are for nothing other than to help the people.

[MizzMilk]

He wasn't commenting on the video. He said "Here's how you can really help; click on my name." That's not commenting on the video, therefore it's spam. Secondly, they are helping themselves; tat's what Umoja village is all about. Let me ask, did newwarriorman explain to you how they got there? Did he tell you what happened, and hy they decided to take back the land?

[jimisback]

But Mizz, Did you watch his link? He really can't answer in a comment with a video. So he may have just given a link. I don't know. I think he means know harm at all really.

[MizzMilk]

I watched it. He can very well answer it; that's what I've been doing on the comments. He titled his videos "Umoja Village Exposed" as if he was going to explain what happened from the beginning, and he hasn't. He mentioned that they declined a vacancy in ahomeless shelter. That may be true, but the Pottinger Settlement says that they can 'take back the land' if ther are NO vacancies in ANY homeless shelter. If you're not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.

[jimisback]

Ok I see the problem here I think. Most people do not know the history of this land they are now on. I gather from your posts, that it was a place previously for people that lived of the government dockets. Then the government or who? shut it down? Cleared the land and proposed a new developement? Yet this was not done? Can you answer these? I have only 500 words to use.

[MizzMilk]

They cleared the land and promised new development in 2001. Out of 850 units, only 40 have been built. So the people that were originally in Umoja Village were there because of this reason. The people in this video many have been homeless for other reasons but it's still related to gentrification, because they are charging $1,300 to live in a crime-ridden neighborhood.

[jimisback]

$1,300 to live in a crime ridden area? Who is charging them? An 80 dollar airline ticket will get them to my area.They can live in an apartment with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths for 750 dollars. Plenty of jobs. And welfare. Powder Springs road. Marietta Ga 30064. Give 84 or so dollars and make a real difference.

[MizzMilk]

That's the thing; they are owed a FREE house. And if they move, the gov't has succedd in getting low-income families out of Miami.

[jimisback]

OK How are they OWED A FREE HOUSE.? And How do I get one?

[MizzMilk]

They are owed a free house because the gov't took their old one away. They were PROMISED a free house.

[jimisback]

Then they should get a house. But not free. Free to start, not to live. Nothing is free. Someone has to work for it. These people should do the same. And they can, and will. Give them the chance.

[MizzMilk]

That's what they want. I'm sure they were paying rent before. They wanna pay rent, just not in a new place.

[localdirtball]

Amen brother. Here in Ohio $750 a month will get you a 3 bedroom house. In a good neighborhood. With good schools that allow you to further your education and rise above poverty.

[jimisback]

How many of those 850 unit members stayed? How many got homes? How many moved and how many moved in?

[thanatopsis112]

that is corect. the government of miami Dade county distroied the prodjects on the site promising to build a newer and better prodject leaving people homeless and then never built anything there. the people in Umoja village are tax payers just like everyone else.

[jimisback]

OK They should have more done. That is sure. I do doubt that the people there are INCOME tax payers. They are takers. And I am not reffering to that. They probably pay taxes on what they consume given to them by government or given to them by people in general. That is what they need now. We need them off of that now.

[localdirtball]

Did you miss the part where he is donating the profits from his book to a local homeless organization? It seems to me that he is actually doing something about it, rather than just repeating the same nonsense that you are. Why don't you mosey on down there and invite them all to your house to stay? Go donate your time or money to help them? Oh, and don't forget to call me a jackass, because that shows how mature you really are.

[MizzMilk]

You're a jackass; wear it on your chest proudly. I have donated my time and money to them, but they gave me more than I could ever give them in money; they gave me knowledge. I'm a student in college, and if they could live in my dorm, I'd let them. I doubt they want to, though, because they know that homes are owed to them. I'm glad he's helping the homeless, but what does that have to do with Umoja village? And you still didn't tell me if you know why they're in the predicament they're in.

[omgHARLAN]

you think that it isnt around the world and wont happen to you. everyone be carful in the world and be fair to one enother. you have corrupt police to cross you. not your friends

[marshmallowjuice]

Communism at its finest.

[yielding360]

These people aren't asking for riches, nor are they begging for that which they don't deserve, all they want are the same advantages offered to those who's backgrounds did not push them into desperation.

In what is often declaired as the wealthiest country in the world such a seperation between rich and poor is incredible and inexcusable. Shanty towns in the USA.

[yielding360]

The idea that people choose to be poor and homeless is quite frankly rediculous. The opportunities for success in America are NOT equal for all. These people have been pushed to the bottom rung of the social ladder and are often brutally chastised for not having the strength to crawl their way free, usually by those afforded the good fortune of a better starting point.

[CalvinMcCaskill]

For real! This goes to show that POLICE ONLY PROTECT PROPERTY, NOT PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY EVERYTIME THERE'S A PEACEFUL PROTEST, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS LEAVE WITH BLOODY SKULLS. IF THEY LEAVE AT ALL.

[utube23321]

and do you think the police woke up every morning hoping to ruin some bum village b/c thats why they became an officer? the answers no. this land is full of opportunities but ppl can't see it cuz most are lazy. so stop pretending you are concern cuz if you were, you would#1 contribute money, #2offer ur home,or #3 help ur community. but none of u reading this comment would do jackshit but write some more bs countering my comment...

[utube23321]

for those that saw: The Pursuit of Happyness(will smith), it was based on a true story... he had a son too but hustle day after day till he made it. and SECOND, for all those that never been back to your rightful country(yes I'm referring to all but native americans cuz everyones an immigrant), why don't you just go back to where ever it is and see how much better being homeless there is... the answer is most ppl from other countries would KILL to be a bum here in the usa.

[highspeedranger]

that movie should inspire all those lazy people to make something of themselves.

[utube23321]

first of ALL, they let retards and down syndrom ppl work in lot of minimun wage jobs and more, and these "homeless" can't even try huh? with their bitching and complaining energy towards the city, they can sure make a few dollars.

[choppysmash]

If you were a business owner would you rather higher a mentally handicapped person who is white and comes from a good family of a black homeless person that has been living in the streets?

[sweetishjeebar]

Are you retarded? That quote is slightly outdate...think about it, the rich won't need to sleep in the street. That saying just protects white america ideology

[localdirtball]

It's not "white" ideology, it's American ideology. America is the land of opportunity. If you don't take advantage of that, it is your own damn fault. Why do you think millions of illegal immigrants flood our borders for the chance of making a better life for themselves? It is better than where they came from, and they are willing to WORK for their dream, not wait on a government handout.

[choppysmash]

First off they aren't all illegal that is an ignorant thing to say. And second only some of those homeless people are to lazy while others are simply struggling to keep their house from falling over them and I will admit i wouldn't want to hire a homeless person that was all dirty cause it would possibly make my business look bad. You should try living out in the streets and then try to find a job when you are all ragged from the conditions.

[ljbgreat]

Do you know what umoja means?

[vondiepen]

farmers!!!

[roadvultures]

You all are awesome, keep up the good work.

[Pinkraider]

I've looked on the towns blogspot and nothing has been updated since January. How is everything over there??

[MizzMilk]

I would say that everything is great. Notice that you didn't see any kids there; there aren't any. THey've been fine for a while. They have food, clothing, and shelter; they just want their homes back.