In this week’s mini-episode, Ruthie recommends books—some novels, some memoirs—and television episodes that tell stories about homelessness. Then, taking a page out of Addressless’ book, Ruthie offers guides listeners through three at-home activities to better emotionally comprehend what it means to be at risk for homelessness and to experience it.
Organize a Sleep Out of your own.
Try Covenant House's "What Would You Do?" Activity.
Instructions for Losing Your Identity courtesy of Covenant House
Instructions for Privilege For Sale courtesy of Covenant House
Recommended Reads:
My Abandonment by Peter Rock
The Motel Life by Willy Vlautin
Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey From Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray
From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
Find your local independent bookstore.
Grey's Anatomy, Season 9, Ep 6
Station 19, Season 5, Ep 12
Create the change:
Learn more at the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
View homelessness statistics by state
Volunteer with or donate to Covenant House; Organize a Sleep Out in your community
Tell Congress to fund Homeless Assistance Grants (Click to sign a letter)
Read up on current legislation that would impact homelessness
How do we deal with our legislators?
Improve conditions in homeless shelters:
Hire well-trained staff, and hire enough of them
Bring mental health services to the shelters (i.e. have AA meetings on the premises, have mental health counselors on the premises)
What 4 experts have to say
Find a mentorship opportunity
Make cards with contact info to promote nearby shelters to hand out to those who are in need and asking for help
Donate clothes, especially socks, to nearby shelters
Participate in your city’s point-in-time count (signups are generally in Nov/Dec for the upcoming year - Google to find the PIT in your neighborhood)
Try rapid re-housing in your community
Learn about permanent supportive housing
Increase employment opportunities (adjust job applications so they do not require listing a permanent address)
Read the obstacles to solving the homelessness crisis—then counter them
Understand why homelessness is rising
Directory of Homeless Service Organizations by state
Sign up for Advocacy Alerts from the NAEH
Ruthie Fierberg, Host
Ruthiefierberg.com
IG: @whywetheater / T: @whywetheater
IG: @ruthiefierceberg / T: @RuthiesATrain
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