And the winner is....
"A Bench Is Not A Bed" Wins Best Podcast
at the 2011 Student Production Awards!

An episode of our WLOY radio show Both Feet In: Conversations with People Experiencing Homelessness took home the award for Best Podcast from the National Student Media Convention in Orlando, Florida this past weekend!The winning episode, "A Bench is Not a Bed," was based on reflections from last years' Sleep-Out during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Click here to listen!

Congratulations to Lindsay Vanderheiden, Speakers, Loyola students, and everyone else involved in the production! 

Join the 2nd Annual A Bench Is Not A Bed Sleep-Out on Nov 19th in front of City Hall!

The Sleep-Out is the culminating event of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (NHHAW) Nov 12th-19th. Find out more 

Hip-Hop to Stop Homelessness Nov 12th-7pm at 3640 Space 

         Featuring Axiom, J Pope & Funk Friday, and The 5th L
Trivia Night Nov 17th-8pm at Pickles Pub
Sleep-Out Nov 19th-6pm at City Hall War Memorial Plaza

Recent Events: Stevenson University "Living on the Streets"

Last Friday some of us here at the Faces of Homelessness Speakers' Bureau went to Stevenson University and got a warm welcome from their students at an event called "Living on the Streets."  Purman and Carroll spoke about their individual experiences and Laura from Project PLASE and myself (Joanna from Beans & Bread Center) spoke a bit about our organizations.  It was a fun event and the students presented us with donations for our respective organizations after we spoke.  Beans & Bread got about 125 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches which were handed out on Saturday at the meal program.  Project PLASE got loads of hygiene kits which were distributed by Laura and Carroll.  I'm posting some pictures from the event.  Again, a big THANKS to Stevenson!

(Pictures courtesy of Stevenson University Photography Club)



~Joanna Gervais

WHAT I WOULD GIVE?

HOMELESS PERSON'S PLEA
By: Bonnie Lane


What I would give to have a home of my own
with a picket fence!
I am tired of sleeping on this park bench!
What I would give to be able to buy new clothes!
I am tired of these used rags
and shoes walking out of their soles!
What I would give to be treated like
everyone else!
Instead of laughed at or ignored
as a bum or a wreck!
I would give everything I am
just to have enough!
I am not greedy
I don't need it all
just to have enough to live comfortably.
What I would give not to eat my meals in a soup kitchen!
but to prepare my own feast!
What would I give for all these things?
I would give everything I am.
I am not greedy.
I don't need it all
Just enough to live comfortably.