Homelessness often receives a negative connotation when you talking about the community amongst peers, friends, and family.  Most lack the compassionate nature when it comes to the community and forget that they are human too.  For this teaching project, I teamed up with Madisun to explore the perspectives and resources that our friends have of the homeless community.  To do this we thought we would go to our sorority and explore their views and what resources they believed were available to the homeless community.  First, we thought we would go to the sorority house or do it before a meeting but then we realized that the library would be a better place.  We are continuously running into people and it gave us the flexibility to do it with not only our sorority but our other friends who would also be walking through.  We chose to focus on this aspect of the course because a majority of people have surface views what the homeless community is and it is questionable whether or not they know of resources that may be available to them.  I went into this thinking that people would have negative views and know little about the resources that are available to the community.  To do this project we presented our audience with a powerpoint and wrote what they viewed and thought onto the slide.  Some of the views that were shared include: dirty, drunk, and crazy.  After these views were shared we went into describing the three different types of homeless: chronic, transitional, and episodic.  Next, we asked what they resources they thought were available.  Some thought food drives, government services, and churches.  We then described a couple of resources that are available to the community.  We spoke on the 2-1-1 hotline, HOPE cops, and a number of organizations that treat the diversity within the homeless community. At the end of the lesson, we asked some takeaways or what they learned from our teaching lesson.  For the types of homelessness, people walked away with realizing that there is a diversity within the community.  They were able to see the different ways in which the homeless community can be.  They also realized that they tend to generalize the community into one specific category. We were able to discuss the different kinds of people that tend to be homeless. Whether they were families, veterans, or single parents.  When we discussed resources they asked whether or not the HOPE cops were actually helpful for the community.  I brought up the fact that the people often have to be willing to change but it is not a 100% thing.  After this discussion, they realized that they were helpful but understand that it does not always work.  Through this, they also gained an understanding that no one really likes to be told what to do.  On the 2-1-1 hotline, they did not realize that the hotline even existed. With this, they see that if they come across someone in need they would know what to do. 

The perspectives of the homeless community is something that I have worked on to understand this semester.  In a recent article published in the New York Times, Benjamin Weiser provides a perspective of a homeless women Nakesha Williams.  Nakesha would reject when people would offer help like entering a shelter.  Nakesha would accept any food, clothes, or toiletries that was offered.  No one who knew Nakesha would have anticipated that she would become a member of the homeless community.  She was Class President, Choir singer, member of the school newspaper and National Honor Society.   She even was third in her class and received her college tuition covered by a scholarship.  Nakesha faced challenges in her life that led her to wind up where she did.  Her mother became ill with cancer.  This led her to a number of odd jobs that left her moving a lot.  Through this, she developed a sense of anxiety.  Well in Los Angeles she would find places that offered free samples to eat and go to Churches that offered services.  Throughout her life, she never once referred to herself as homeless.  In New York, she was a regular member of the homeless community that resided on the streets.  She developed a relationship with members of the community that would stop and ask if she needed any help.  Weiser comments on the fact that are 3,900 unsheltered homeless people in New York City. They reside in sleeping bags near building/construction sites, bury themselves in blankets, ponchos and cardboard boxes. You never know anyone’s story until you take the time to talk to someone.  It is important to remember to never make assumptions about a member of the homeless community.

We have focused our attention on the United States homeless population.  Have you ever thought of what other countries are experiencing when it comes to homelessness? The Guardian recently posted an article discussing Australia’s homeless population. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recently released that homelessness is up 14% in the past five years.  For every 10,000 people, 50 are homeless and more than 43,500 homeless people are under the age of 25. These are striking numbers when it comes to viewing the homeless population within a country. It is estimated that 116, 427 people are now thought to have no permanent home.  Australian chief executive, James Toomey recently spoke out about the issue.  He claimed this to be an ‘international embarrassment’.  He believes that this has been caused by a lack of serious political commitment and nationally to build more social housing and affordable homes.  The population that is facing homeless the most is the elderly.  Those between the ages 65 and 74 have been experiencing an increase in homeless by 27 people per 10,000 in 2016.  The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines homeless as, “if their current living arrangement is in a dwelling that is inadequate, has no tenure, and does not allow control of and access to space for social relations”.  Given what we have talked about in class in relation to the differing definitions of homelessness, what do you think of ABS definition? Is this a proper way to define the homeless population? Has your view of the United States homeless state change?

Citation: Knaus, Christopher, and Melissa Davey. “Homelessness in Australia up 14% in five years, ABS says.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Mar. 2018, www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/14/homelessness-in-australia-up-14-in-five-years-abs-says.

The Los Angeles Times recently released an article describing a new coalition that has formed to assist with the homelessness problem that the area is facing.  This new coalition is called “Everyone In”.  They plan to train and organize people to advocate for new housing and services for homeless people.  “Everyone In”  has the goal to track progress toward countywide goals, educate the public, and provide opportunities to get involved with their cause.  The article quotes that this coalition identifies themselves as the “Army for the good”.  This leads me to question whether or not this is good mentality for them to have.  They want to rally community support for homeless housing and services.  Recently, Los Angeles voted to pass a $1.2 billion bond for new housing and a county tax.  The bond is supposed to usher in 10,000 new units with supportive services for the homeless.  The tax will bankroll services, rental subsidies, outreach and strengthen/expand shelter systems.  Both of these provisions were ways that the community felt would assist the homeless community.  The “Everyone In” campaign hopes to mobilize the ‘silent majority’ who support homeless housing their neighborhoods.  They have realized that the funding aspect of it will probably be the easy part.  The implementation of their ideas and providing housing will take more time.  Providing housing, I feel, is the first step in assisting with the homeless.  Housing is a good step in taking people off of the streets. 

Citation:  Reyes, Emily Alpert. “New coalition urges ‘Everyone In’ to combat L.A.’s homelessness crisis.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2018, www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-everyone-in-20180309-story.html.

Have you ever wondered where the homeless go when it gets too cold outside? In Atlanta, they have started to find refuge in the airport. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has a public terminal that is open for 24 hours a day. Over the years some homeless people have found shelter within this terminal. However, after a closure of a large shelter downtown and the increase of colder weather the airport has been used more as an escape from the cold. A number of newspapers have reported on how the homeless have been using public transportation to take them to the airport so they can find spots within the terminal. Frequent flyers have even begun to notice the increase of the homeless within the terminal. This has caused some to realize the amount of homeless that reside in the nearby areas. This increase of homeless has caused officials to take action. They have started to ask people to show boarding passes and if they do not have one then they are told that they are trespassing. A person interviewed about the increase of homeless at the airport shared her thoughts on the homeless who seek shelter in the terminal. She found it heartbreaking with the lows in the night being into the 30s that the homeless were inadequately dressed. She also found it as a negative reflection of the country. With so many people traveling into the country, one of the first things that they see is the influx of homeless seeking shelter is not something to be proud of. A spokesman for the airport commented on the fact that they are trying their best to find a long-term solution for those experiencing homelessness. They are promising to treat those who come in with humanity especially during these colder months. Others have found the fact that homeless have found shelter within the airport is a true reflection of what the state is facing with homelessness. It is important to remember that as states face these colder months a number of places have opened up to help those in need.

Citation:

“Atlanta’s Homeless Are Flocking to Airport Atrium Overnight .” U.S. News & World Report , 11 Feb. 2018, www.usnews.com/news/best-states/georgia/articles/2018-02-11/atlantas-homeless-are-flocking-to-airport-atrium-overnight.

This week resulted in a number of perspectives on the homeless community.  Each book report brought to light the same message.  The homelessness community is not what we normally expect.  That we, as a society, have to remember that just because they live out on the street or in shelters that they are human too. They experience the same things as we do.  They have just been dealt a different and harder hand then we have.  The book that I read focused on the homelessness community of women who live in shelters.  Each woman experienced a different reason as to being there.  Each woman was either stuck in a cycle or an unfortunate incident resulted into becoming homeless.  The book made me reflect on a number of things.  It is easy for us to forget what is actually going on in the world.  The homelessness issue in this country seems to be something that is brushed under the rug.  It seems as if we try to hide the homelessness community rather than trying to figure out how to help.  There are those out there who are trying to make an effort in combating homelessness.  Their efforts should not go unnoticed.  We should, however, encourage more to realize the issue at hand.  The homelessness community needs help and sympathy.  They should not be seen as a stereotype.  Understanding their stories and trying to find ways in which we can help is the first step that we can take in helping the homelessness community. 

Viewing this documentary put homelessness into a different perspective for me.  It was hard for me to see because I have never seen homelessness in this light.  I never really seen how the homeless live on a daily basis.  Seeing how Taylor wanted to create some sort of change was hopeful that there is still a number of people who care enough to try to improve the homelessness issue.  Growing up, I was always told to stay away or ignore the homeless population.  It was hard to see the harsh words that people would say to describe this community because it was similar to things that I have heard around the community.  People would rather choose to ignore the problem rather than figuring out a way to solve it.  Even though Taylor did not win his campaign, what he showed was enough to show people that things need to change.  People should not be faulted for being poor.  I do not think they should be faulted or constantly ticketed for choosing to stay out on the sidewalk.  Since we are a culture of individuality and free choice if someone chooses to be homeless why are people trying to change it? If people are trying to get off the street why aren’t more of the shelters or programs more willing to be flexible with their rules/regulations in letting people in? The stereotype of the homeless community turns people away from seeing the fact that they are just like any other ‘normal’ people who choose to stay outside.

I recently came across an article where it provides an insight into how 200 people were paid to be decoy homeless people during New York City’s annual census of unsheltered homeless people. The decoys were responsible for testing the accuracy of a survey done by volunteers who are sometimes uneasy about approaching homeless people or who are unable to spot them.  The count conducted determines annual federal grants and the city uses the percentage of decoys not found as a margin of error.  This program is known as the “shadow count” and the people who sign up aren’t necessarily doing it for the $85 but see it as a form of civic duty.  In the past year, the number of homelessness in the street increased by 40% but advocates for the homeless feel like the population is higher.  This annual survey does not count for the squatters who may be off the street but aren’t necessarily in a shelter or a home.  The decoys themselves went through a training at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.  The decoys were told that they must work in pairs and stand or sit at least 10 to 15 feet apart on a street, train, or subway platform.  The volunteers could not be faulted for being unable to find the decoys. The decoys, also, could not draw attention to themselves with signs or signals.  On average about 90% of the decoys are found most within two hours.  What the decoys found during this count was that there were racial and societal issues.  Racially, a few of the white volunteers appeared afraid to approach the homeless and blamed racism.  Societally, the decoys blamed partner’s outfits for volunteers passing them by and not realizing that they were homeless.  This article was unclear to me in the sense of what they were trying to get across.  Personally, I could not tell if they were doing this to point out that people truly don’t know who exactly is homeless or to increase federal grant money given to the homeless people. 

Citation: Stewart , Nikita. “Why New York Hires 200 People to Pretend They’re Homeless.” January 19, 2018. Accessed January 20, 2018 . https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/nyregion/new-york-city-hope-homeless-count-decoys.html.