NLA Discussion: homelessness and literacy

[Andres Muro]

There are multiple reasons for homelessness. Literacy can be a tool to help
some people but not all. A number of homeless people are mentally ill and /or
drug, alcohol addicts. While literacy may be a small component towards their
recovery, there is a medical problem that needs to be addressed. For those
who don't fall in this category, literacy can be a tremendous tool in both the
prevention of homelessness or the facilitation of people in finding shelter,
housing, educational opportunities and support services. For this to work,
community agencies and literacy programs need to work in partnerships. 

Andres

>>> <AWilder106 at aol.com> 03/27/99 07:12am >>>

George, Art et al:

Around here--Boston/Cambridge--there are a lot of homeless people, and
numbers of homeless families.  If literacy can be used so people can get
roofs
over their heads, let's do it.  I think the kind of literacy I care most
about--the starting stuff--can do this.  We need local, state and federal
allies, though. We need political knowledge and we need to work with people
without homes--and we need  a well-articulated homes policy up and down
the
line.   

I never saw a homeless person on the streets here until the 1980's.  Doesn't
mean they weren't there, somewhere, but not to my view.  There are lots,
now. 

We keep pulling bodies out of the river;  I think we should go farther
upstream and see what's going on.

I think our politics needs imagination and humor.  A friend of mine in
Birmingham, AL,  celebrated Martin Luther King's Day by a gigantic
rally/picnic--and the suggestion that people might want to give sheets to
homeless shelters.  Now, there's turning around a potentially violent occasion
to help the whole community.  I like that.

Andrea Wilder