Why is homelessness considered a normal part of our society? Why have many people learned to comply with social inequality? Why is providing housing to poor people seen as increasing their dependence on the government and decreasing their drive to become self-reliant individuals able to compete in the global market?  Why in  America  today families make too much money to qualify for federal assistance but not enough to pay their bills? Its important to look at the systemic oppression that has perpetuated throughout American history. It is no mystery that the same stereotypes of the deviant homeless are repeated each decade.   The US can be currently characterized by issues of systemic inequalities such as increasing class exploitation economic restructuring and declining relatives wages. Racial injustice, unequal educational opportunities, and gendered inequality are components of homelessness.Racial injustice, unequal educational opportunities, and gendered inequality are components of homelessnses. Recent American history demonstrates that people who speak out and politically resist social inequalities risk being punished and putting their economic position in jeopardy. We live in a system where people are afraid to put themselves at risk of loosing any of their relative privilege.  Lyon -Callo hypothesizes that the hegemony of deviant homeless establishes “naturalness” of current economic and social relations to prevent homeless people and shelter staff from challenging structural inequality which creates homelessness.  He argues Neoliberal governance creates common sense through its hegemony  of compliance with the conditions creating homelessness. He argues, Neoliberal development of government institutions, trained experts, and professional reformers like social workers, urban planners, teachers, health services and police are created to “manage” and “regulate” the lives of the poor in the interest of normalizing them. Therefore he explains that practices intended to resolve homelessness contribute to its maintenance. As students what can we do to challenge the system, “common sense” and systemic social inequality? I want to become a social worker who does not participate and contribute to the maintanance of  this oppression.  Currently, while working  at a homeless youth shelter, I want to participate in Lyon-Callo’s discourse and observe any social inequality that may be unconsciously perpetuated. I want to be an activist in bringing this discourse to light, educate others and participate in a non-profit organization which counters this social inequality.

Callo, Vincent. Inequality, Poverty, and Neoliberal Governance: Activist Ethnography in the Homeless Sheltering Industry. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview Press, 2004. Print.

It was right then that I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the pursuit part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How did he know that?

                                                                                                                Chris Gardner

I wanted to share this quote above from the movie “Pursuit of Happyness”.  It’s a really great movie to watch about a man struggling to fight homelessness and pursue a high paying job that will maintain stability in his life.  Personal experiences like Chris Garner are being experience with people around the world. Challenging issues like financial matters are hard to relieve when the minimum wages are petrified, and people are unlikely to be promoted to higher positions due to cuts of incomes, and lack of education.

Taking the course of “hunger and homelessness” has made me become more aware of the issues unseen from my part in humanity, financial concerns, and the economy.  Volunteering in my local shelter had worked as a wake-up call to be more concerned with my community and my personal finances.  I have realize that now businesses are hiring people with high levels of education, and opportunities are less likely to be given to a minimum wage workers.  I often hear conversations of homeless residents that expressed their distress for the circumstances they live, and the lack of educational skills that denies these job opportunities.

Sometimes we need to understand that many people fall into this cycle under the economy crisis that keeps these individuals from earning a decent wage to provide necessities for their families.  I personally know a few people that criticize the homeless people by the lack of knowledge in social issues affecting America.  I believe people stay ignorant because they do not want to face the fact that they may be dealing with similar situations, but distinguish theirs into a formal stable living life than the homeless. People can’t rely in things to be for granted neither happiness can be guaranteed.  For this reason, helping the homeless in public awareness can reduce the numbers and increase the number of people achieving a balance life for the intention to pursue happiness.

Ever since I began this course, I have become far more aware of homelessness around me. Prior to taking this class, I had grown accustomed to seeing people holding signs and asking for money at the end of freeway exits and because of this had become rather desensitized to the notion. I didn’t actually think about the sign bearer as an individual or take the time to wonder what life must be like for them. It is natural not to dwell upon things that we find troubling and much easier to ignore the problems around us. Now that I am learning so much about hunger and homelessness in America, it is impossible for me to just look past the people I encounter on the streets or hand them some change and forget about it. Every time I see someone asking for money or pushing a shopping cart, I cannot help but wonder what their life is like or what happened to them that they are now in that situation or if they chose to be homelessness?

Today, I was walking along State Street with my friend and cousin and we were approached by an older woman. She politely elucidated that she was new to Redlands and was unemployed and that in order to clothe and to feed herself she sells teddy bears.She asked us if we would be willing to/interested in purchasing one of the stuffed animals she had for sale. Without hesitation, we each gave her some money. She thanked us profusely and was incredibly grateful for even just the few dollars. She tried to give us a bear in exchange for the money, but we declined as we would prefer for her to keep her wares so that she has more products to sell.

After we walked away, two affluent looking women who had witnessed our interaction with the woman turned to us and said in a friendly way, “that probably does more good for you than her.” While I understand that they were trying to make conversation, I was offended by how quick they were to assume that the woman would misuse our money. I loathe the stereotype that every person who appears homeless is a drug addict and thus, you should refrain from giving them money because they will “just use it for drugs.” I found it incredibly respectable that instead of just asking for money, she was trying to sell bears. It really bothered me how those women judged her without even speaking to her.

Does America want to help those suffering hunger and homelessness or is it simply an issue that will remain ignored in the bigger picture? We have gone over various shelters in our hometown, what and who they focus on. Some of these shelters have interesting programs to get their clients back on their feet, which usually tends to be temporary fix. The question is, are these shelters enough to help the San Bernardino county decrease hunger and homelessness. I think about Redlands and try to figure out how the hunger and homelessness issue is being treated. I have not seen many homeless shelters and if there are they are hidden so most homeless cannot find the help and resources they need. I try to understand the way in which shelters work, because each shelter usually holds 6 to 10 men and women for an overnight bed stay and works their other facilities/departments during the day. Why only host beds for that little amount of people. I believe that hosting overnight stays for a larger amount of people will help decrease homelessness out in the streets and will create a better starting point for homeless to recover. Is the attitudes and or ways in which volunteers who help and participate in shelters causing for hunger and homelessness to remain: ‘fix people’, ‘repair’, ‘the other people’. This is a nationwide issue. I just recently have been able to see those suffering hunger and homelessness in New York City and it’s quite a scene. The city that never sleeps, most homeless are hidden in subways and occasional in parks. I have seen the signs and it seems to me that the homeless here are blunt, they will tell you what they will use the money for.

All the politicians who are running for position talk about helping clean parks, the water shortage, and things such as cutting budgets from different fields, but where is homelessness mentioned? Many argue that they do not want to see homeless in the streets, but no one in higher authority wants to bring this issue to the table. New resources are available but why isn’t this issue an important subject of matter in the United States.

The resources (i.e. shelters & programs) are their but are they being used properly or to their full potential?

I recommend the documentary Inequality for All by Robert Reich. Reich explains the disappearance of the middle class. He answers the following questions including, what is the problem? Why? How? Reich was the Labor Secretary while Bill Clinton was in office; he is now a professor at UC Berkley. Reich is referred to several times in one of our course books, The Book of the Poor by Kenan Heise.

http://inequalityforall.com/

Working at a homeless shelter has broaden my perspectives of humanity.  I decided to do my internship in my local community.  The organization was founded in 1990, by two women, after serving hot meals to their homeless neighbors in a parish kitchen.  The demand of relief, drove these women to continue their services. Now, after serving 34 years of services, the shelter continues to change the lives of the homeless.

I am grateful to be part of this contribution that helps aid the people in need.  During my internship experience working as a volunteer, I have meet wonderful people that have change my perspective of seeing homelessness.  Working in the career and education center has taught me the factors of homelessness people struggle to maintain a stable life.  I meet a volunteer who works part-time assisting the people with access to resources.  I admire his determination and kindness in striving to change lives of the people. He treats the homeless people with respect and dignity, and in return he receives their loyalty and appreciation. Therefore, I consider him as a true hero.

I am amazed in how our local food markets supply the kitchen department with groceries that makes 4 meals served for 700 people daily.  The residents and the public have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal cook from the employees and served by the residents and volunteers.  I am thankful to be accepted by the homeless community, and it brings me pleasure to work with them closely to manage their problems with possible solutions.

I meet a sister who welcomed me with open arms, and she has educated me with the recovery services she offers to the residents and homeless people in fighting addiction and sustaining a healthy life.  She offered to show me around the shelter to meet homeless people and expose the circumstances homeless people face in their daily lives.  In my eyes she a very caring and loving person that devotes her profession to make the best possible attempt for homeless people to seek therapy.  I notice that she follow up with people to identify if their issues have been resolve through the support system the organization provides with respect and dignity.

Connecting with the homeless as a volunteer has helped me understand profoundly the circumstances that drives the people to become homeless.  Hunger and homelessness is a devastating issue that needs to be addressed with public awareness in order to alleviate the cycle of misery.  I believe the weakness of my experience is watching the resident’s children play with the homeless men outside the building.  Children have innocent minds that are not aware of the situations they live, but they give that special bond that makes the homeless men feel affection and happiness.  Every time I go home after working at the local shelter, it increases the desire to do more for my community.  As well as to encourage my family, friends, and acquaintance to get involve to join the organization to prevent the cycle of homelessness.

The youth in crisis homeless/runaway shelter  is nurturing, supportive and operates as a family. While working with the staff and youth, I see how safe and cared for the youth feel. Every meal the youth share what they are grateful for, many of them sharing their gratitude of living at this shelter, and some even call it being part of the family.  The youth have a strict schedule, but this provides stability and consistency for them, which is very important because it helps the youth feel secure because  many of them have an unstable family life back home.   The youth enjoy eating together, hanging out, doing art projects and playing sports outside. So far the current group of youth at this shelter have been very respectful, honest and supportive of each other. The youth have accepted me as an intern and a few of them told me on my first day that I was a great fit  and that they liked me being there. I actively listen to the youth, give them help with hw, activities, chore assignments and field trips to the farmers market. It is obvious to me that this group of youth want to be at this shelter, chose to be there and are doing there best at communicating and participating in the program.  I was trained as a general and child abuse  mandated reporter  which gave me a lot of knowledge and skills for approaching situations when youth share information with me. I feel grateful to be in a supportive working environment. My bosses, and all the staff are warm-hearted, friendly and transparent. They answer all my questions and provide organized structure and resources. So far I recommend this internship.

As the poor continue to become poorer, health care is seen as a privilege, social services are cut,  millions can’t find jobs,  no one can healthily live on minimum wage: WHAT ARE WE YOUTH DOING ABOUT IT? It is obvious that we have been conditioned to be obedient, complacent and passive. I see many people my age numbing out, focusing on pop culture issues over current events, unconscious of there consumer choice impacts and general apathy towards the government.  How much confidence are they going to have about pulling off a democratic movement below the radar of authorities?  Psychologist Levine explains in his article 8 Reasons Young American’s don’t fight back: How the US Crushed Youth Resistance including 1) student loan debt, 2)psychopatholigizing and medicating noncompliance, 3) schools that educate for compliance and not for democracy, 4) “No Child Left Behind” and “Race to the Top, 5) shaman g young people who take education but not their schooling seriously, 6) normalization of surveillance 7) television and 8) fundamentalist religion and fundamentalist consumerism.

Excerpts I found extremely  interesting:

1)During the time in one’s life when it should be easiest to resist authority because one does not yet have family responsibilities, many young people worry about the cost of bucking authority, losing their job, and being unable to pay an ever-increasing debt.  

2)Heavily tranquilizing antipsychotic drugs (e.g. Zyprexa and Risperdal) are now the highest grossing class of medication in the United States ($16 billion in 2010); a major reason for this, according to theJournal of the American Medical Association in 2010, is that many children receiving antipsychotic drugs have nonpsychotic diagnoses such as ODD (oppositional defiant disorder).

3) The nature of most classrooms (very unlike ours), regardless of the subject matter, socializes students to be passive and directed by others, to follow orders, to take seriously the rewards and punishments of authorities, to pretend to care about things they don’t care about, and that they are impotent to affect their situation.

4)  In a more democratic and less authoritarian society, one would evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher not by corporatocracy-sanctioned standardized tests but by asking students, parents, and a community if a teacher is inspiring students to be more curious, to read more, to learn independently, to enjoy thinking critically, to question authorities, and to challenge illegitimate authorities.

5)  (NSA) has received publicity for monitoring American citizen’s email and phone conversations, and while employer surveillance has become increasingly common in the United States, young Americans have become increasingly acquiescent to corporatocracy surveillance because, beginning at a young age, surveillance is routine in their lives.

7) Private-enterprise prisons have recognized that providing inmates with cable television can be a more economical method to keep them quiet and subdued than it would be to hire more guards.

8) A fundamentalist consumer culture legitimizes advertising, propaganda, and all kinds of manipulations, including lies; and when a society gives legitimacy to this it destroys the capacity of people to trust one another and form democratic movements

Heise, Kenan. The Book of the Poor Who They Are, What They Say, and How To End Their Poverty.. Chicago: Marion Street Press, LLC, 2012. Print.

I am interning at a local food bank.  This organization doesn’t directly distribute food to the homeless, instead they  collect food donations from a variety of sources and distributes the items to local charities. The charities they are associated with are the ones who get the food into the hands of those who need it.  This organization was established in the 1980’s.

The food items that are donated come from the local community. They also highlight the fact that they have access to nationally donated food (for example, manufacturers such as Kraft of Kellogg’s items). Most of the items are things that cannot be sold. Some examples of reasons why an item cannot be sold includes dented cans, ripped packaging, or mislabeled products.  Grocery stores and farmers  donate their surplus items as well as those that are nearing their expiration. Even though they cannot be sold by retailers, all of the products are still safe for consumption.

Preparing the product is the main activity volunteers assist with. There is a vague assembly line type set up. There are people who sort the product, people who tape up the final boxes and people who transfer the final boxes to the pallets. The organization has different categories for their products.Food is packed according to different categories which include snacks, complete meals, fresh produce, condiments, cereal, meat/dairy, and other.  While packing boxes, it’s important to keep in mind that it must meet a certain weight requirement.  The required weight is dependent on which category the box falls under. It’s also important that the boxes have a variety of food items in them. They want to avoid situations where ,for example, an organization gets multiple 19 pound boxes full of chocolate bars.

While I didn’t sort any products that fall into the ‘other’ category, sometimes they do receive items that are not food. There were toiletries and Nair products being unloaded at one point. One of the staff members told me Target donated about a dozen bicycles a few days before.

The staff are the one who keep the floor organized and productive. Since most of the time there is at least one new volunteer, they help get people get familiar with the process. While talking with the staff, there is a pattern of short employment with the organization and revolving staff members. People don’t stay as staff for too long, the majority had been there for a few months. There are also staff in the offices that handle communication and paperwork side of the organization.  This organization seems to attract an array of age groups for volunteers.  You have to be at least 18 years old to volunteer but other than that, there are no other requirements. The influx of volunteers are heavily relied on as they have low numbers of staff.

Volunteering at a shelter has been an experience that  has opened up my eyes to the way in which shelters and other programs are run to help out those who are struggling with hunger and homelessness.

At  the moment they house three homeless, a young boy, a young women, and an older lady. I had envisioned going to a bigger agency and meeting all different types of fellow citizens. Although this was not the case I still managed to observe on the way in which the shelter runs. The director runs the facility and actually happens to live on the same property. This shelter is different from the others in the sense there are no staff members, only the director and her son. I admit I was pushed out of my comfort zone, the whole experience was pretty sketch. There were some things which seemed to be different. This shelter has ties to a Christian background helping those dealing with hunger and homelessness. There is no services they are required to go but most of the regulations made are based on the sense of Christian morality. This not only gives a sense of faith and hope to those in the shelter.

The shelter not only houses these people in need but also offers programs such as nutrition programs, GED classes, and other. The program runs for two different situations, a two week help and a 90 day temporary shelter program. After this time new accommodations are made for those living in the shelter. They have all sorts of parenting help for parenting. They help those confronting hunger and homelessness each and every day recover to get back on their feet like many other shelters. What is different about this shelter is the style of living. Each individual seemed to have their own little studio type of housing. They are able to have privacy and a space to relax. There is not overcrowding which allows them to have better communication amongst themselves. It has a very home feeling, they seem to feel comfortable and the volunteers are the guest.

I was not able to speak much with those who were living there but the way they interacted with each other showed me that they are each other’s support system. This reminded me of the support systems we have looked at out in the streets. Those who are dealing with hunger and homelessness have another incentive of giving and helping each other to survive. They become a family and contribute on helping each other recover from hunger and homelessness.

The shelter has regulation and or rules. Each individual is assigned there chore and are required to do so. That way the shelter maintains its structure and cleanliness. Unlike many other shelters I have heard about these individuals are not being handed they learn to care for themselves with the proper help.