Homelessness panel addresses stereotypes
At "Faces of Homelessness Panel" group of five local residents discussed struggles, they faced while living on the streets
Joce DeWitt
Issue date: 11/18/10 Section: News
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The panel, which spotlighted five participants chosen by the Community Service Center's Hunger and Poverty coordinator, Natasha Badaa, posed an opportunity for students of the university and members of the community to receive a firsthand account of homelessness and its effects.
The CSC's efforts were not wasted as seats were filled with people anticipating information on how to bridge the gap between a fully functioning citizen and a person without the luxury of consistent sleeping arrangements.
Some students who attended were not entirely sure what to expect from the panel, as many showed up to obtain extra credit for a sociology class.
Others, like senior Diane Kennedy, had specific purposes for attending the panel.
"I think poverty is something that is overlooked," Kennedy said. "There is a very strong stereotype about it, so I am interested in educating myself so I don't take on that perspective."
Todd Jones, who is new to Corvallis, saw the panel as an opportunity to involve himself with the issues of the community.
"I just moved to Corvallis and I've worked with the homeless before," Jones said. "I wanted to get involved with the community."
The initial plan included five panelists, but one did not show up, leaving a seat in front of the audience empty, until a woman who identified herself as Malia, claiming to be a zoology major at OSU, raised her hand and expressed interest in participating as a panelist due to her claim that she is currently homeless in Corvallis.
Badaa permitted the late entry just before each panelist introduced their name and connection to homelessness. The other four were Sue Schultz, the meal site coordinator for Stone Soup in Corvallis, DJ Rodriguez, a former homeless man in Corvallis, Gerry Perrone, director of Community Outreach Inc., and Mandy Place, a current student at OSU who was homeless in Portland last year.
Following introductions, Badaa asked the panelists to share their stories and experiences with homelessness.
Though each panelist brought to light different issues concerning homelessness and poverty that much of society does not realize, there seemed to be a reoccurring theme among all their experiences: Homelessness can strike anyone.
The woman known as Malia proceeded to dominate much of the conversation, speaking of negative experiences with different outreach programs that offer services to homeless people in the area, for the duration of the panel.
Rodriguez, who became homeless after a failed marriage, shared about his battles with addiction and poverty.
"I bounced around between different inpatient and outpatient programs," he said. "It took a while to snap out of it once these things took place. After three or four years, I was sleeping in Central Park."
Place, who became homeless after leaving a domestic violent relationship in Portland, recounted a single day in the life of a homeless college student.
"Everything is overwhelming," she said. "I eventually found a job in food service but ended up getting sick due to lack of proper hygiene."
As representatives of several of Corvallis' community outreach resources, Schultz and Perrone explained the limitations and guidelines of each organization.
"We have seven meals a week and four meal sites, and anyone is welcome to eat there. We operate completely on a volunteer basis; there are no paid positions," says Schultz of Stone Soup.
Perrone also discussed the time limitations a homeless individual or family has to stay at Community Outreach.
"We say four months," Perrone said. "Some stay up to a year, but we ask that you meet your goals and if you're not, we ask you to leave. It depends on the individual, how well they're doing and how well they're meeting their goals."
As a student, however, Place spoke about how the requirements of programs and organizations are not necessarily realistic for every person seeking a shelter.
"I'm not disabled enough for SSI," Place said. "There's a huge gap (in the system) and I slipped through the cracks."
According to Place, it was nearly impossible to leave the shelter once she got in, no matter how hard she worked.
"There are a lot of hoops to jump through just to stay for 30 days," she said. "This was all on my own time while I was going to school full-time and working to get out. I had to face my abuser to prove that I was abused … I experienced being treated like a second-class citizen."
Rodriguez, who became homeless after a failed marriage, shared about his battles with addiction and poverty.
"I bounced around between different inpatient and outpatient programs," he said. "It took a while to snap out of it once these things took place. After three or four years, I was sleeping in Central Park."
Place, who became homeless after leaving a domestic violent relationship in Portland, recounted a single day in the life of a homeless college student.
"Everything is overwhelming," she said. "I eventually found a job in food service but ended up getting sick due to lack of proper hygiene."
As representatives of several of Corvallis' community outreach resources, Schultz and Perrone explained the limitations and guidelines of each organization.
"We have seven meals a week and four meal sites, and anyone is welcome to eat there. We operate completely on a volunteer basis; there are no paid positions," says Schultz of Stone Soup.
Perrone also discussed the time limitations a homeless individual or family has to stay at Community Outreach.
"We say four months," Perrone said. "Some stay up to a year, but we ask that you meet your goals and if you're not, we ask you to leave. It depends on the individual, how well they're doing and how well they're meeting their goals."
As a student, however, Place spoke about how the requirements of programs and organizations are not necessarily realistic for every person seeking a shelter.
"I'm not disabled enough for SSI," Place said. "There's a huge gap (in the system) and I slipped through the cracks."
According to Place, it was nearly impossible to leave the shelter once she got in, no matter how hard she worked.
"There are a lot of hoops to jump through just to stay for 30 days," she said. "This was all on my own time while I was going to school full-time and working to get out. I had to face my abuser to prove that I was abused … I experienced being treated like a second-class citizen."
A session for questions was held after panelists shared their knowledge of poverty and homelessness. When asked about what people could do to help put a stop to the issue altogether, Shultz answered, "They say homeless people are sort of invisible." According to Shultz, you can give a man clothes and you can give him food, but unless you help him get back his dignity, he won't rise from his situation.
"There's a lot of misconception out there," Rodriguez said. "In the short time I was homeless, and I never thought it would happen to me, I witnessed the way people perceive homeless. I couldn't believe the label that was being put on homeless people as a whole. Each one of us has a story."
With stigmas breaking down, it is important for students to know they are capable of making a difference, even if they are facing desperate times themselves.
"One thing you can do as an individual is help (a homeless person) make their appointment, help get them there, help them make that phone call … Go to Wal-Mart and get socks, go to places where the homeless are and look them in the eye," Place advises.
Shultz and Perrone's main advice is to get involved and be in the know. "Do whatever you can to become aware," says Shultz. "There's a job for everyone."
As Nov. 14-20 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the Community Service Center continues their clothing drive. The Human Services Resource Center will create a closet made up of the donations.
Joce Dewitt, staff writer
737, 2231, news@dailybarometer.com
"There's a lot of misconception out there," Rodriguez said. "In the short time I was homeless, and I never thought it would happen to me, I witnessed the way people perceive homeless. I couldn't believe the label that was being put on homeless people as a whole. Each one of us has a story."
With stigmas breaking down, it is important for students to know they are capable of making a difference, even if they are facing desperate times themselves.
"One thing you can do as an individual is help (a homeless person) make their appointment, help get them there, help them make that phone call … Go to Wal-Mart and get socks, go to places where the homeless are and look them in the eye," Place advises.
Shultz and Perrone's main advice is to get involved and be in the know. "Do whatever you can to become aware," says Shultz. "There's a job for everyone."
As Nov. 14-20 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the Community Service Center continues their clothing drive. The Human Services Resource Center will create a closet made up of the donations.
Joce Dewitt, staff writer
737, 2231, news@dailybarometer.com
