PHILIP
The web address is: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061220.wxhomeless20/BNStory/National/home
For those asking how to get a monetary gift to Tony (other than by seeing him personally, which would be great), I will post an answer this week. I have contacted a Bay Street law firm to aid in ensuring that the gift handling process is secure and transparent (and is done on a pro bono basis). As soon as this is settled, you’ll be among the very first to know.
In Oct., when we launched HomelessManSpeaks.com, our mission was to change the widespread and often-not-fully-thought-through misconceptions about the homeless, and about marginalized people as a whole.
In solid, well-controlled studies done in the last 75 yrs, science has established that personal, human, visceral identification with another is the only reliable means of achieving attitude change.Ā And that’s what we’re up to, thanks to the Web. Please help change the world.
Thank you.
Homeless Man Speaks 
December 20, 2006 at 7:16 pm
i couldn’t agree more – and being on the other end (homeless services provider) i have had the opportunity to understand not only the true systemic/root causes of this social injustice but also have had the honor of meeting many incredible people in my daily work. It boggles my mind, how we allow our brothers and sisters to sleep outside, and then judge them for it.
Your voice is critical to the process. Thank you.
December 20, 2006 at 7:30 pm
Well done! Just recovering from the stomach flu, I was so thankful that I have a warm bed to crawl into while feeling so awful. The thought of people being on the street, feeling very alone and often times unwell, is sometimes painful for us to think about but it is about time that we all do our part to relieve some of that suffering – even in very small ways. It begins with an attitude change. (…including judging what the homeless spend their money on! ) Not everyone is going to “get it” and this issue is easy to dismiss with comments to justify turning our heads. The more we “humanize” the problem, the more people the message will reach.
Profound change begins with seemingly small ideas – yours is a
winner!!
Looking forward to hearing more from Tony!
Colleen : )
December 20, 2006 at 7:48 pm
I would be very interested in more information about the studies you’ve mentioned: I’ve been increasingly convinced, privately, that this was the case for many controversial matters, and am surprised to find that there are actually studies on the matter.
It’s easy to judge from afar, when one needn’t have contact with the judged, or live in their reality.
(I’d appreciate if you’d email this information to me as well as posting it here in a comment, so I don’t need to check back at these comments periodically.)
December 20, 2006 at 8:51 pm
I saw this homeless guy nearly every day before I saw this blog. Now I see Tony nearly every day.
Perspective.
December 20, 2006 at 9:29 pm
what great guys: Tony and Philip are! I will think of both this Christmas – how much we can and must learn from each other!
December 21, 2006 at 1:27 am
Wow…right on you guys! Congratulations on your success.
December 21, 2006 at 4:09 am
Thanks for giving Tony a way to communicate to a wider audience. His voice will resonate with me over the holiday season. What a fantastic idea, and productive way to use your skillset and social focus to make a difference.
Cheers Philip and warm regards to Tony.
December 21, 2006 at 4:26 am
I read the article in the Globe and Mail, and subsequently decided to check out this blog. I recently learned that an old friend of mine had dropped out of school and was living on the streets- no one has seen or heard from her in almost 6 months. It has been really painful for me, and i can’t help wondering what she’s up to, if she’s ok, if she’s even still here… since then i have been thinking about homeless people in general a lot more. Tony, you seem like a really straight up guy, and i hope that you putting your time and effort into this, along with phil- (kudos to you both) helps people make that “human connection” mentioned in previous comments. Everything is perspective. Reaching out can be frightening, and it takes a huge leap of faith (for anyone who has ever dropped, or not dropped, change into someones hat- you know that you’re judged either way) and the outcome isn’t always positive. It’s important to get across to the general populice- people who perhaps don’t know intimately someone who is or has been homeless- that these people are just like other people and are just as intelligent, just as damaged, just as rational, or confused or challenged or loved or scared as anyone else. They are people. and they need to be treated as such: with dignity and respect. Happy Holidays Tony, enjoy the fruits of global warming while they last.
December 21, 2006 at 5:06 am
Guys, congrats on a great website. I’m another one who read the Globe story today and decided to check out the website. I’ve added it to my links section. Thanks for giving a voice and visibility to the folks in our society who are too often voiceless and invisible. You’re doing a good job guys – keep posting – I’ll bring you as many readers as I can muster. š
Merry Christmas to you both.
December 21, 2006 at 5:26 am
Tony and Philip: I was reading the Globe at Starbuck and came upon the article and Tony’s question abt “latte”. It is amazing how many of us take things for granted in our cozy little world. I will come vist your site often. Keep up the good work !!!
ps: Tony’s trick of starting the night warm with 25 cents is great !!
December 21, 2006 at 8:05 am
I just read the article in the Globe and Mail, and I’m so glad that a site like this exists. We definitely need more of this kind of thing. Who better to teach us about homelessness than a homeless person? Paradoxically, however, it is these voices that are most often ignored. Blogging is such a convenient way to get a message out to the public. Unfortunately, homeless people (as well as other marginalized people, eg. people with mental illnesses) tend not to have internet access. There really should be more free internet access in the city, as well as more free courses on how to use it. This is a great blog. Good work guys. I look forward to reading more.
December 21, 2006 at 8:51 am
Keep up the good work guys.
December 21, 2006 at 4:17 pm
I think what you guys have done is so important, and has been a long time coming. I read about Tony in the globe and mail last night, and like many others, decided to check out the blog today. I live in Ottawa, a city with a persistent problem of homelessness and an even bigger problem of civic apathy. I hope that this project will help to teach us that we are all more alike than we think we are. I am very touched by Tony’s story, and hope that homelessmanspeaks.com will help to change his life for the better as well as better the attitudes of his community and maybe even mine. I’ll be keeping my eye on this blog, I can’t wait to read more.
Merry Christmas š
December 21, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Thank you for keeping us grounded this holiday season!
December 22, 2006 at 2:45 am
I know I’m gonna get a lot of abuse for this, but at least keep it clean, k? My cold hearted cynicism was unaffected by the Globe article. Though I truly sympathize with Tony, and understand that his situation must be terrible, I don’t understand why he can’t get a job. I know there are homeless people with mental/physical disabilities, and therefore cannot get a job, but Philip says that Tony is “easily the brightest homeless person that I’ve met”. So why can’t Tony get a job? I’m not saying this in a condescending way, I’m asking a question. Is Tony disabled? Or is begging his profession?
All this being said, I am NOT A COLD MISER. I give change regularly and donate to charities monthly. I am just cynical about the plight of the homeless in a country with so many opportunities as Canada.
December 22, 2006 at 3:21 am
The short answer: Structural inequalities and the unequal distribution of wealth. People get rich by exploiting those who are poor. In capatalism, money always flows upwards. If there was no minimum wage, I guarantee that they would pay people less, like they do in places like china, etc.
December 22, 2006 at 3:30 am
To add to that, people are not poor and homeless because they are weak or inferior somehow. They are poor and homless because the very structure of our society is set up in such a way that someone will always be in that situation. There are actually homeless people that have jobs, but aren’t payed enough to aford a home.
And before I say too much, I’d like to finish by pointing out that alot of low paying jobs produce much more money for other people (like buisness owners) than for the the people that actualy work those jobs. And there is something unfair about not giving them their fair share of the profits they are producing. This is exploitation.
December 22, 2006 at 4:49 am
Thanks for doing this blog. I will be passing on the link to everyone who comes to my blogs and people that I know.
Recently, someone I worked with a few years ago was re-hired at work and we found out that he had been homeless because he lost his home. He lost 180 lbs because he didn’t have the money for food and shelter. I am happy to say that he recently got an apartment and I try to help him as much as I can. He and Tony are an example of misfortunate things happening to good people.
December 22, 2006 at 7:07 am
This is a wonderful thing. I’m passing it on to everyone that I know.
Tony, thank you for sharing your life. Your words are going to affect and educate many people.
Thank you, Philip, for making it possible.
December 22, 2006 at 9:58 am
Hi Tony and Philip. I too found you through the Globe article and will share your story with others through my blog. I work in the frontlines with people who are on welfare and sometimes are homeless………I hear many stories during my work travels in my area of Fredericton NB and always learn from the individuals I have the honour of meeting………….. sometimes I too write up their stories.
Great site……………terrific idea. One of my favourite quotes came to mind while reading your story…….. by Margaret Mead. I honestly believe it to be true.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Merry Christmas Tony and Philip. I will visit again. Perhaps you could visit my site too! š
January 2, 2007 at 9:34 pm
To Haricot,
There are many other ways of keeping warm like using a heating pad (if you can find a plug).
Tony
January 2, 2007 at 9:38 pm
To Grace,
It’s really nice to know that some people like yourself enjoy reading my Blog. Thanks a lot.
Tony
January 2, 2007 at 9:46 pm
To Mike E.,
My success will not go to my head because all of my homeless friends stand behind me.
Tony
January 2, 2007 at 9:54 pm
To denguy,
I’m always close to where I sit.
Tony
January 2, 2007 at 10:02 pm
To Colleen,
I hope you got healthy again in time to enjoy Xmas.
Tony