The Baltimore Area Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau is proud to announce:

Everyone has a story.
Everyone deserves a home.

The Danger of a Single Story: A Night of Monologues
On Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 6-8 pm the Cork Gallery will host a set of performances by people who have experienced homelessness aimed at sharing a piece of that individual's story through poetry, spoken word and heartfelt anecdotes.
Media and popular culture often depict people experiencing homelessness as one face, with one story, when they acknowledge this community at all. The truth is that people experiencing homelessness are not such a diminutive part of society; these experiences are growing and so is the diversity of people who have these encounters.

The title of this event: “Danger of a Single Story,” is borrowed from a talk by novelist Chimamanda Adichie, presented on TEDTalks. Adichie states, “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” The “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers’ Bureau is asking for a suggested donation of $10 per person to provide an honorarium for the presenters, and to raise funds for Speakers’ Bureau activities and local affiliated organizations: Beans & Bread Center, Project PLASE and Health Care for the Homeless.

The event will be held at the Cork Gallery, located at 302 East Federal Street in the Greenmount West Community. Tickets will be sold at the door or online through WePay. You can reserve your ticket here.

We want to thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the event!

Questions can be directed to the comment section or to Jesse McDermeit.

THE HOMELESS VET

You see me but you will never take the time to know me.

You view me as a problem.

I assure you I'm not.

I'm just a homeless vet that this nation's forgot.

I marched into gunfire for our freedom.

I did three tours to come back to a country that doesn't recognize me anymore.

I'd give my left arm if was still there for some MREs and to be out of this wheelchair.

Soup kitchen food ain’t doing it for me.

What's happened to my liberty?

People used to stop and salute me.

Now they just stare at my unshaven face and second hand clothes.

My future as a soldier was certain.

Kill or be killed.

I watched my friends get blown to bits before my eyes.

How is this justified?

Uncle Sam was all I knew.

I gave it all I had for the red, white and blue.

How can I possibly relate to you?

Even now I fight, but it's a different kind of war.

I fight so men like me aren't looked down upon so much anymore.

As long as I can speak or write with my one good arm, I have a voice.

I've made my choice.

As long as I have my mind, I'll keep fighting for the rights of my compatriots until I die.

By: Bonnie Lane

This is the story of the one of the speakers, Patricia, who received services from a local nonprofit, St. Vincent de Paul, Beans & Bread Center.  Patricia shares some of her story and talks about her struggles and the services she receives.  Patricia also mentions speaking for the “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers Bureau and other advocacy work she would like to do in the future.  Check out Patricia’s story!

Housing the 4,000 Homeless in Baltimore

You are bound to encounter one of the 5,000 plus homeless people on any walk through Baltimore.  You can’t help but notice the alarming number of empty vacant homes. Many of the 5,000+ already live in these “bandominiums” with no electricity or running water. Could you do   that?

Hope is a key ingredient in overcoming homelessness. I propose a HOPE BUILD. This project would empower, educate and house many of the 5,000+. It would reduce the number of homeless and vacants here. Many have done similar projects but not on this scale.

PHASE ONE is to get the vacant properties donated for this massive rehabbing project. It could be modeled somewhat like Habitat for Humanity on a grander scale.

PHASE TWO is to get an army of volunteers and supporters to help teach the 5,000+ hands on rehabbing skills.

PHASE THREE is to get legal temporary encampment of safe build sites by the homeless working on that site if they choose.

PHASE FOUR - rehab/construction process.

FINAL PHASE-   HOME SWEET HOME FOR THE 5,OOO+.  Let those who participate in program live there.

OBSTACLES

Not in my neighborhood! Wake up. They are already there even if you can’t see them. Money lost by vacant property owners. Possibly getting the wealthiest 1% of cty dwellers to buy and donate them.

BENEFITS

Reduced homelessness, Less vacants, Education,. Job Skills, empowerment, homes, hope

Come on Baltimore! We can and should do this! 

By: Bonnie Lane

"A Bench is not a Bed,” 
an episode of our WLOY radio show "Both Feet In" from last years sleep out during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is a National finalist for Best Podcast at the 2011 National Student Production Awards!  


Click  here to listen to the episode!


This year National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 12-19th. 
Events are going on all week at area colleges and across Baltimore.
Participate in this years' Sleep out Nov 19th at City Hall as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (NHHAW) 
Contact nhhaw2011@gmail.com to get involved or to find out more information about NHHAW visit facebook.com/NHHAWBaltimore


Want the Faces of Homelessness Speakers' Bureau to come talk to your school or organization during NHHAW? Contact faces.of.homelessness.speakers@gmail.com