Advocate for the Homeless: Starbucks Changed My Life

Starbucks like to consider itself a "third place," a spot where folks can gather outside the workplace and away from home. But how long is too long to linger? 

Consider Oak Parker Revolution MacInnes, formerly Rob Sidio, who ekes out a living as a philanthropic officer at a Chicago nonprofit, most of the time using the Starbucks at as a temporary HQ. In a HuffingtonPost Chicago blog, the formerly homeless MacInnes has a few words for Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. He writes: 

Starbucks changed my life and helps me still change the lives of others by allowing me an Internet connection and a place to have a meeting with someone in need, or who wants to help those in need. I would love to see this goodwill work for others, and would like to propose that Starbucks work with leaders in the homeless community to find more solutions that can make a difference.

MacInnes said his blog post wasn't a reaction to anything that's taken place at one of the coffee giant's local outlets. Instead, he said, it's about "keeping conflict to a minimum between Starbucks and the homeless."

Starbucks spokespeople couldn't be reached for comment, but a company spokesperson  "there is no national policy whatsoever on how long someone can stay at a table in Starbucks -- whether or not they buy anything. As you know our locations are community gathering places where people can use the Internet or do business, and we want to keep it that way."

Check out the rest of the blog over at HuffingtonPost Chicago