"Who are the Soloists Among Us?" This was the title of a short film presented at the Town Hall meeting at Chico State last Wednesday, and in this film people talked about their state of homelessness--how they got where they are, what it was like to be homeless. What really stuck with me was one man who said (I'm paraphrasing): "I'm either going to get myself together, or I'm going to walk in front of a car." Wow--what a drastic choice. Those who are homeless must suffer from the lack of social status as much as from the lack of the security and stability that a permanent home brings.
A few more thoughts on the event. We had roundtable discussions in small groups. I sat at a table with a woman who works for Legal Aid and who had provided legal services to homeless folks. Another young woman at the table was a Chico State student who had been serving as an intern at the Esplanade House, which provides goods and shelter for homeless families. Another young woman came to the event because it was part of a class she was taking in Leadership. We had diverse backgrounds, but what we all shared was a sense that the recent cutbacks in state funding for various social programs would hit the homeless very hard. Agencies in Chico seem very successful in partnering to provide services, but with their funding drastically reduced, they are not able to provide the services that are needed. The question left in my mind was one of our society's priorities. Are we so focused on individual gain and financial success that we've lost our sense of collective prosperity and social good? Some people clearly still work for these collective goals, but will they be able to continue their work if they are not given the financial support they need?
About Me: Kristen Mahlis teaches in the Multicultural and Gender Studies Program at Chico State. She is writing a book on literature and the Haitian Revolution, and her scholarly work and teaching emphasize social justice.
The town hall at City Hall last week put a face on Chico's homeless. We heard from currently homeless people and from those who have been homeless. Their stories hit the entire range---bad luck, drug abuse, military service, illness, mental health issues, poverty, lost jobs, etc.
There were lots of service providers, too, and it became clear that some peole are not connected to the services that are offered. How to leap that gap?
Bill Such from the Jesus Center challenged all of our community, and especially the faith-based parts of Butte County, to offer a new network to those who are homeless to get them back.