A group of experts on homelessness spoke to students at the Mr. Rogers Homeless Panel Discussion Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Student Center.
Five panelists spoke to a small group of students on how people become homeless, whether homeless people should be feared, appropriate ways to interact with the homeless, and what can be done to help.
The panelists said substance abuse problems, mental illnesses, eviction from homes, loss of a job, recent release from jail and a lack of resources and family-type support systems are the main reasons individuals become homeless. Madeleine Heck, from Maggie’s Place, said it was rare to see just one of these factors as the cause for homelessness, but that it is usually a combination of several factors.
Terry Araman, from Lodestar Day Resource Center, said the current financial crisis is a large contributor to the number of new homeless people today. According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security 2009 Shelter Count and the Maricopa Association of Governments 2009 Homeless Street Count, there are currently 19,000 homeless individuals in Arizona compared with 14,500 last year. In Maricopa County there are currently 8,000 who are homeless.
“We are seeing a lot of what we call ‘the new homeless,’” Araman said. “Not necessarily the people that have been chronically homeless but people that have been working class and working all of their lives.”
One myth about homeless people the panelists dispelled is that they are all unemployed. Twelve percent of the adults entering a shelter in Maricopa County have a job, Araman said.
The panelists said people should not fear the homeless anymore than any other stranger they meet.
Chris Spahle, from Copper Square Ambassadors, said there is a stigma associated with the homeless that because people think if someone does not have nice clothes and is not clean that they must be dangerous.
He said there are “people in suits that could hurt you just as bad.”
The panelists said people need to treat homeless individuals with respect and dignity. People often try to avert their eyes and avoid homeless people, which the panelists said sends the message that they are less than human.
“That’s one thing you hear often from people who have experienced homelessness or are currently homeless is how invisible they feel because so many people won’t look at them,” said Janet Garcia from Valley of the Sun United Way. “They ignore them, and they just walk on by.”
The panelists also said that instead of giving money, offer a homeless individual a meal or help direct them to established resources where they can get help. Araman said not to give money to avoid funding addictions.
“When money is asked for it is often not for those legitimate needs,” Heck said, adding later on: “Don’t hesitate to carry granola bars or something in your backpack. You don’t ever need to feel guilty about giving a granola bar or a sweatshirt.”
Natasa Peric, a freshman criminal justice major, said she came to the discussion to learn more about the homeless since there are a lot of homeless individuals in her community.
“I wanted to know when is it good to give money or if it is,” Peric said.
Peric said she learned there are different ways to help the homeless that have more positive effects on them and the community than just giving money.
“You should probably offer to feed them or offer to volunteer at different shelters,” she said. “At least that would be a more positive impact and have a better impact on them and the community.”
Contact the reporter at adimatte@asu.edu
