The List: Who's Been "Naughty" and "Nice" to the Homeless?

Here at change.org, we're not averse to playing Santa Claus from time to time. While I don't plan on riding around the world in a sleigh or climbing down a chimney anytime soon, I have been keeping a close eye on who's been "naughty" and who's been "nice" to the homeless in 2008. While there were lots of qualified candidates for both lists, I have narrowed it down to the top three in each.

So who's earned a lump of coal this year?

NAUGHTY

1. The City of Denver, for attempting to hide homeless people to impress the DNC.

This August, when the Democratic National Convention was in town, the Mile-High City wanted to clean up it's image for the hoards of prominent democrats visiting town by keeping homeless people out of sight and out of mind. So how does a city clear its sidewalks of such eyesores- er, homeless people? With free movie tickets and passes to museums and zoos, of course! Who needs a safe place to live when you can kindle a renewed appreciation for capuchin monkeys?

But here's the kicker: the city's "cultural outreach" efforts for the homeless, which also included C-SPAN being played in local shelters, Colorado Coalition of the Homeless President John Parvensky denied any attempts to "hide" the homeless during the convention.

"A person who typically sits under a tree in a park that is now occupied by 1,000 protesters won't have the peace and quiet they're desiring. Particularly those with mental illness can't cope with crowds."

Tsk, tsk.

2. Three LA hospitals, for their selfish disregard for homeless people's health.

If you think Denver was bad, three LA hospitals were even naughtier. The City of Angels Medical Center, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center and Tustin Hospital and Medical Center were charged with recruiting thousands of homeless people, performing expensive, unecessary medical procedures on them, and passing the bills on to Medicare and Medi-Cal.

The hospitals allegedly hired recruiters to pick up homeless people from the streets and diagnose them with non-existent ailments in a massive scam that unnecessarily subjected people to pain and suffering while costing taxpayer-funded healthcare programs millions. And we wonder why some people have lost faith in our system for helping those in need?

In August, L.A. City Attorney Rocky Degadillo filed civil lawsuits against the three hospitals for using unfair business practices to "fill empty beds in a bid to boost their finances."

If that doesn't make you sick without the aid of a calloused hospital, I suggest you read on.

3. Lidl Supermarket in Stockholm, Sweden, for deliberately trying to harm the homeless.

There's a lot to like about Sweden: it's neutral, it's sustainable, and it tends to take care good care of it's citizens. But the Lidl supermarket in Stockholm earns the naughtiest spot on our list this year because, unlike #2 on our list, they subjected homeless people to toxic chemicals... on purpose!

Lidl employees deliberately poured poisonous cleaning fluids in its garbage bins to prevent homeless people from picking through in search of food.

"This is just so upsetting and distressing," said Rolf Nilsson, the head of a Stockholm homeless organization. "We're talking about people who have to dig in garbage containers to find food to eat."

NICE

1. Illinois' Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, for taking an early stand against foreclosure evictions.

Way back before Fannie Mae jumped on board, one man looked beyond eviction papers at the faces of foreclosure victims. He said what we all know to be true: it is wrong to evict people who pay their rent and have no knowledge that their landlord is in foreclosure.

So where federal and many state governments failed to protect tenant rights (which caused many people to become homeless), Sheriff Dart took a stand right out of the pages of Profiles In Courage, refusing to do the work of multi-billion dollar banks and mortgage companies.

I hope Santa is good to you this year, Sheriff Dart. Your actions inspired many others to do the right thing.

2. Google, for providing a sensible way out of the classic homeless conundrum.

It's a quandary faced by homeless people everywhere: you need a job to afford a home, yet it's practically impossible to find a job when you're homeless. Our beloved Google earns a spot on our Nice List for recognizing this and providing one of the essential tools for job-hunting: a phone number and voicemail. Earlier this year, the company provided free phone numbers and voice mail boxes San Francisco's homeless.

Although Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn considers voicemail for the homeless "wasteful government spending," having a phone number and voicemail is crucial for homeless people waiting for medical test results, word from a landlord about a vacant apartment, or connecting with family members.

3. LA's Karaoke Coffee Club, for meeting human needs.

I come across lots of stories about organizations doing good things to help homeless people, whether it's running a can drive, serving a meal, or adopting a family for the holidays. But sometimes, we get so caught up in meeting basic physical needs, that we forget about human needs. The need for laughter, friendship, and escape from the daily grind.

So why not serve the homeless through karaoke? LA's Karaoke Coffee Club earns a spot on this year's nice list for understanding that "joy and laughter are as essential to life as food and water." Here's a snippet from their website:

For adults, the Karaoke Coffee Club was launched in 1998 as a healthy alternative to the temptations on the streets. For Over 9 years Central City Community Outreach has opened its doors to over 300 people weekly. Through song, dance, and a warm cup of coffee the issues that plague this community can be forgotten, if only for a brief moment.

Sometimes, all you need is a good cup of coffee, some good tunes, and good company to forget about all your cares in the world.

Now that you've read my list, better check it twice. Any additions?