Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Debate Over Shelters

There is an interesting debate unfolding in the pages of The Washington Post.  In a July 11th article, Dennis Culhane presented five myths about homelessness:

1) Homelessness is a long-term condition.
2) Most of the homeless population suffer from severe mental illness.
3) Homeless people do not work.
4) Shelters are the most humane solution to homelessness.
5) Poverty is an irreparable problem.

Using original research and statistics from HUD, Culhane confronted these myths, attempted to dispel them, and suggested possible solutions.  Of particular interest to our work at the IFC, Culhane suggests that residential programs and low-income housing are more efficient remedies for homelessness than emergency shelters.  The article makes no explicit mention of transitional programs (like the one proposed for the new Community House), but it does offer harsh criticisms of emergency shelters, calling them "notoriously overcrowded and often unruly places where people experience the ritualized indignities of destitution: long lines for bedding or a squeeze of toothpaste; public showers; thieves; conflict."

Culhane's article can be viewed on The Washington Post's website at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/09/AR2010070902357.html.

In response to Culhane, Robert Hauptman (a volunteer at the Shepherd's Table home in Silver Spring, MD) wrote a letter published in the July 18th Post countering Culhane's assessment of emergency shelters and noting that the majority of clients served at Shepherd's Table are homeless on a long-term basis.  Hauptman's letter can be viewed at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/17/AR2010071702218.html?referrer=emailarticle.  Culhane has not yet responded to Hauptman's letter.

The debate is an interesting one to observe, particularly with the discussions in our own community over the effectiveness of emergency shelters, transitional residential programs, and low-income housing.

Friday, July 9, 2010

PORCH

Just read an interesting article on PORCH (People Offering Relief for Chapel Hill Carrboro Homes), a local food collection/distribution program that has really taken off this past year.  The article also highlights the increase in families needing assistance (a reminder of our difficult economic times) and points to the ever-present need for programs like PORCH and services like those offered by the IFC.

http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2010/07/04/58015/from-porch-to-table.html

Welcome to March on Poverty

The Inter-Faith Council (IFC) believes that now is the time to stop poverty in its tracks. Many in our community are struggling to hang on; and many need the inspiration of our community leaders to do something about poverty's influence and prominence. We need everyone who cares about reducing poverty's hold over increasing numbers of Carrboro and Chapel Hill households and unsheltered persons. Our new March On Poverty blog summons you to our call and the original call of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the countless among us who have followed in his footsteps. You ask, "how long will this take?" Dr. King said "Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Poverty is the primary cause of homelessness and hunger, two community challenges IFC volunteers and staff cross swords with daily. A lack of an adequate response by state, federal and local governments enable and procrastinate these conditions. We seek to create a just community, one that is committed to overcoming social problems by a greater commitment to the common good. We hope our blog will bring you more in touch with these issues. We hope you will come to know the facts about IFC future plans, new program models and new facilities commonly called Community House and FoodFirst. We hope you will join us.

Stay tuned! Stay in touch! March On!

Chris Moran, Executive Director

View the Community House Mission & Vision

View the FoodFirst Mission & Vision