Homeless Speakers Educate More Than 20,000 Annually

by Natalie Wendt · 2010-07-24 08:27:00 UTC
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Can homeless speakers transform cultural attitudes about homelessness? Well, duh. Last year Faces of Homelessness Speakers' Bureau spoke to more than 20,500 people. A project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, the Speakers' Bureau aims to combat stereotypes and misinformation about homelessness through presentations by homeless panelists. These presentations educate audiences at churches, synagogues, libraries, schools, conferences and colleges all across the country. Blogger and homeless advocate Eric Sheptock previously mentioned of his experiences talking to hundreds of college students as part of the Speakers' Bureau.

Presentations include a video or multi-media slide show about homelessness in the U.S., facts about homelessness, panelists who are or have been homeless, and suggestions about ways to get involved in ending homelessness. These can be arranged through the Speakers' Bureau for a small honorarium for the speakers, or can be set up independently using the Speakers' Bureau's manual (pdf).

Based out of D.C., there are Speakers' Bureau chapters in 17 states and in Puerto Rico. The Speakers' Bureau does arrange out-of-state presentations and recruits speakers from the communities they speak to. But many communities that should have Speakers' Bureaus don't — like the entire state of California, for example. Would ridiculous anti-lie/sit laws be seriously proposed if most folks had some basic education from homeless people? As Change.org community member and Speakers' Bureau speaker Penny Callan commented on a recent post, an upscale Phoenix neighborhood wouldn't rally to close a breakfast program if they understood that "no one is exempt from becoming homeless."

Think your community needs a permanent Speakers' Bureau to remember that? The National Coalition for the Homeless will help set one up if you're interested and one is not already established. The Speakers' Bureau is also on the lookout for more homeless and formerly homeless people willing to be panelists and teach through their personal stories. Sound like you? Or someone you know? Speak up.

Photo credit: sparetomato

Natalie Wendt is an elementary school teacher and freelance writer. She has volunteered at Hope House, a shelter for homeless women, and with Food Not Bombs.
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