Primary Sources Rule
This evening, I attended a panel on poverty by the Understanding Poverty Project held at the Live Oak Friends Meeting Hall. There were 3 speakers, 2 of whom had been homeless and were now activist-organisers & one a policy expert from Commissioner El Franco Lee's office.
While the policy wonk-sociologist shared some educational background on how Houston's demographic make-up had shifted in the 1970s, and the less-then-a-year-from-homelessness activist had some very memorable phrases (Most city programs made you "homeless with a place to stay"), Joseph Benson's account of how he became homeless then transitioned out of homelessness and into a national organiser for homeless consumer involvement was the most powerful of the evening.
Bankrupted by his medical bills in the early 90s, he lost first his catering business then his home as he turned to self-medication for depression. Forty-eight years old, he was homeless for 4 years during which he was recruited to provide a user's perspective on what services to provide and how best to provide them. As you'd expect, this vastly magnified both the sense of agency & the quality of assistance for the homeless.
Mr. Benson will be moderating a similar panel (with a different line up) this Friday from 7-9pm at the Houston Institute for Culture which I hope to attend as well. Now to work in some more escort volunteering for Planned Parenthood.
While the policy wonk-sociologist shared some educational background on how Houston's demographic make-up had shifted in the 1970s, and the less-then-a-year-from-homelessness activist had some very memorable phrases (Most city programs made you "homeless with a place to stay"), Joseph Benson's account of how he became homeless then transitioned out of homelessness and into a national organiser for homeless consumer involvement was the most powerful of the evening.
Bankrupted by his medical bills in the early 90s, he lost first his catering business then his home as he turned to self-medication for depression. Forty-eight years old, he was homeless for 4 years during which he was recruited to provide a user's perspective on what services to provide and how best to provide them. As you'd expect, this vastly magnified both the sense of agency & the quality of assistance for the homeless.
Mr. Benson will be moderating a similar panel (with a different line up) this Friday from 7-9pm at the Houston Institute for Culture which I hope to attend as well. Now to work in some more escort volunteering for Planned Parenthood.