NE1: Care For Those In Need Act (Signed)

[Lincoln Republican]

Thank you Mr. Speaker

My passion for these causes is well known.

I have spent many hours, days, weeks, and months as a volunteer working for these causes, and others.

As a society and as individuals in society, if we have, we should be willing to share with those who have not.

As a government, we must give support to those who have fallen on hard times, giving them a hand up, should we say.

There is an old song, part of which goes

There but for fortune go you or go I

We never know when we may find ourselves, or someone we love or care about, in need.

Let us never forget about the less fortunate, about those who need our help, about those who find themselves in a situation they never wanted.

By helping now, we can be contributing to these individuals overcoming their hardships, and  becoming productive members of society in the future.

I urge this Assembly to support this bill, to help those in need.

[Lincoln Republican]

Didn't have time to make my comments earlier today so I'd expand here.

In regards to women with 'young children' what's the age cut off?

I would think this would have to include all dependent children and the age of "adult" is 16.

[Lincoln Republican]

Didn't have time to make my comments earlier today so I'd expand here.

I'd want to see specific care for LGBTQ teens, whilst we've done a lot to help LGBTQ citizens they still face challenges especially at that age.

Community kitchens and homeless shelters are open to all, so I really do not see the need to have specific facilities for LGBTQ teens.

We could have counselling services for LGBTQ teens, but these counselling services would not be LGBTQ specific, but for all in need of these counselling services.

[Lincoln Republican]

Didn't have time to make my comments earlier today so I'd expand here.

I'd want to see specific care for LGBTQ teens, whilst we've done a lot to help LGBTQ citizens they still face challenges especially at that age.

Community kitchens and homeless shelters are open to all, so I really do not see the need to have specific facilities for LGBTQ teens.

We could have counselling services for LGBTQ teens, but these counselling services would not be LGBTQ specific, but for all in need of these counselling services.

Allow me to clarify.

I recognize that LGBTQ teens face many challenges, however, there are many teens, be they  straight, gay, bi, or whatever, who are facing challenges at this time in their lives.

My idea would be to have specific shelters geared toward homeless teens, teens who have left home due to whatever circumstances, abusive parent or parents, or have been kicked out of their homes.  

These facilities would have the resources and the personnel to deal specifically with this age group.

These facilities would be in a position to provide a safe place for these teens, where they could receive proper meals, have a warm and comfortable place to sleep, so they are not sleeping under a bridge or in a vacant, cold building somewhere.

These facilities would as well have qualified counsellors to help these teens navigate through these difficult times.

But my idea would be to have these facilities open to all teens, like I say, be they straight, gay, bi or whatever.  

These facilities would as well accept teens who are not homeless, but who just need a place to come to during the day, as long as they are not skipping school, a place to meet and talk with other teens, a place to talk to a counsellor perhaps, a place to participate in recreational activities with other teens.

[Lincoln Republican]

Didn't have time to make my comments earlier today so I'd expand here.

I'd want to see specific care for LGBTQ teens, whilst we've done a lot to help LGBTQ citizens they still face challenges especially at that age.

Community kitchens and homeless shelters are open to all, so I really do not see the need to have specific facilities for LGBTQ teens.

We could have counselling services for LGBTQ teens, but these counselling services would not be LGBTQ specific, but for all in need of these counselling services.

Allow me to clarify.

I recognize that LGBTQ teens face many challenges, however, there are many teens, be they  straight, gay, bi, or whatever, who are facing challenges at this time in their lives.

My idea would be to have specific shelters geared toward homeless teens, teens who have left home due to whatever circumstances, abusive parent or parents, or have been kicked out of their homes.  

These facilities would have the resources and the personnel to deal specifically with this age group.

These facilities would be in a position to provide a safe place for these teens, where they could receive proper meals, have a warm and comfortable place to sleep, so they are not sleeping under a bridge or in a vacant, cold building somewhere.

These facilities would as well have qualified counsellors to help these teens navigate through these difficult times.

But my idea would be to have these facilities open to all teens, like I say, be they straight, gay, bi or whatever.  

These facilities would as well accept teens who are not homeless, but who just need a place to come to during the day, as long as they are not skipping school, a place to meet and talk with other teens, a place to talk to a counsellor perhaps, a place to participate in recreational activities with other teens.

I agree with that, but the thing is is that LGBTQ teens need a safe environment to go to. It's something that's being talked about more, and it's basically to ensure that their physical and mental health isn't at risk. I can't see a one size fits all approach being beneficial

OK, but the LGBTQ issue can be dealt with in a separate bill.

[Lincoln Republican]

Didn't have time to make my comments earlier today so I'd expand here.

I'd want to see specific care for LGBTQ teens, whilst we've done a lot to help LGBTQ citizens they still face challenges especially at that age.

Community kitchens and homeless shelters are open to all, so I really do not see the need to have specific facilities for LGBTQ teens.

We could have counselling services for LGBTQ teens, but these counselling services would not be LGBTQ specific, but for all in need of these counselling services.

Allow me to clarify.

I recognize that LGBTQ teens face many challenges, however, there are many teens, be they  straight, gay, bi, or whatever, who are facing challenges at this time in their lives.

My idea would be to have specific shelters geared toward homeless teens, teens who have left home due to whatever circumstances, abusive parent or parents, or have been kicked out of their homes.  

These facilities would have the resources and the personnel to deal specifically with this age group.

These facilities would be in a position to provide a safe place for these teens, where they could receive proper meals, have a warm and comfortable place to sleep, so they are not sleeping under a bridge or in a vacant, cold building somewhere.

These facilities would as well have qualified counsellors to help these teens navigate through these difficult times.

But my idea would be to have these facilities open to all teens, like I say, be they straight, gay, bi or whatever.  

These facilities would as well accept teens who are not homeless, but who just need a place to come to during the day, as long as they are not skipping school, a place to meet and talk with other teens, a place to talk to a counsellor perhaps, a place to participate in recreational activities with other teens.

I agree with that, but the thing is is that LGBTQ teens need a safe environment to go to. It's something that's being talked about more, and it's basically to ensure that their physical and mental health isn't at risk. I can't see a one size fits all approach being beneficial

OK, but the LGBTQ issue can be dealt with in a separate bill.

If it's given a separate bill then I'd support a funding cut on this bill to support it

No.  The funding can be provided separately.

[Lincoln Republican]

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Mr. Blair, please look at this possible amended version for this bill and let me know what you think.

[Lincoln Republican]

Following is the amended version of this bill which replaces the original bill.

It is my own amendment, and it is friendly.

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Mr. Blair, please look at this possible amended version for this bill and let me know what you think.

[Lincoln Republican]

Question.

As you know, funding is spread equally amongst all five initiatives.

In all seriousness, would the teen initiative and the LGBTQ teen initiative actually require as much funding as community kitchens, homeless shelters, and women's shelters?

It seems to me that community kitchens, homeless shelters and women's shelters would be more in demand and therefore would require a greater percentage of the designated budget.

I simply cannot see how the teen initiative and the LGBTQ initiative would require the same funding as the other three.

Comments please.   

 

[Lincoln Republican]

After giving this matter some thought, I was considering the following allocation

Community kitchens               60,000,000
Homeless shelters                  60,000,000
Women's shelters                   60,000,000
Teen shelters                         35,000,000
LGBTQ shelters                      35,000,000

How does that sound?

Don't forget, this is to be an initial allocation.  After monitoring the programs, the budgets could be adjusted to meet the needs.

[Lincoln Republican]

Following is the amended version of this bill which replaces the original bill.

It is my own amendment, and it is friendly.

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Allocation of this budget will be as follows

Community kitchens      $60,000,000
Homeless shelters         $60,000,000
Women's shelters          $60,000,000
Teen shelters                $35,000,000
LGBTQ teen shelters      $35,000,000

Mr. Blair, please look at this possible amended version for this bill and let me know what you think.

Representatives, please see the following further amended version of this bill.

Mr. Blair, in your view, should the LGBTQ shelters have the same budget as the Teen shelters?  What I am trying to get at is are there as many LGBTQ shelters required as there are Teen shelters required?  I do not know the statistics of the numbers of at risk teens generally as compared to the numbers of at risk LGBTQ teens.  What do you think?  You seem to be more familiar with these statistics.

[Lincoln Republican]

Following is the amended version of this bill which replaces the original bill.

It is my own amendment, and it is friendly.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Allocation of this budget will be as follows

Community kitchens      $60,000,000
Homeless shelters         $60,000,000
Women's shelters          $60,000,000
Teen shelters                 $45,000,000  $35,000,000
LGBTQ teen shelters       $25,000,000 $35,000,000

Mr. Blair, please look at this possible amended version for this bill and let me know what you think.

Representatives, please see the following further amended version of this bill.

My final amendment.

I have read the LGBTQ population is estimated at as high as 6%, so I have therefore allocated 10% of the budget for that initiative.

[Lincoln Republican]

OK, if debate is concluded, we can vote on this version of this bill as soon as you would like to call the vote.

Following is the amended version of this bill which replaces the original bill.

It is my own amendment, and it is friendly.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Allocation of this budget will be as follows

Community kitchens      $60,000,000
Homeless shelters         $60,000,000
Women's shelters          $60,000,000
Teen shelters                $35,000,000
LGBTQ teen shelters      $35,000,000

[Lincoln Republican]

Aye