August 6th, 2007 by: Ashley
A very exciting agenda for tomorrow
Tomorrow will be a long day of interviews, tours and appointments at several Seattle nonprofits. I’m most excited about interviewing a elementary school teacher who has become so heavily involved with the plight of the homeless that she has come to spend many of her nights not nestled in her own sheets, but at an outdoor, mobile homeless shelter. Such shelters, called Tent Cities, are a bit of a Seattle novelty and have offered this teacher the deep understanding of homelessness she was after.
There is no lack of controversy over whether the Tent Cities do more harm than good, and I’m looking forward to discovering an insider’s view (albeit an loving “impostor”) on what strategies most effectively combat this age-old issue. I certainly will be asking what her thoughts are on prison reentry programs, rehabilitation treatment, cost of living vs minimum wage, and more. I welcome your questions if you can get them to me before tomorrow afternoon (ashley.cecil(at)gmail.com).
After we have dinner, we’re heading to one of the Tent Cities nearby to meet some the residents. A few of these folks will be fielding questions as well, so please send any thoughts or questions you would like me to ask them (Colleen, I know you have something to add!)
1 Comment
August 7th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I know it’s too late now, but for what it’s worth, I would like to know what the homeless think about their access to food through pantries. I would be curious about whether or not they beg on streets and if so, what is the general response they receive from passer-bys (and do the signs help, do the police shoo you away with force, how much can you make in an evening). and for the more important issues, i would be very curious to find out if their homelessness is chronic or if it’s their first time on the street. oh, i would love to just hear their stories!
oh, and ps, i was strategically introduced to this floppy haired asian boy of 24 years who was raised as a buddist and met my friend catie at her bar as he comes in every Friday night around 11 after taking food to the homeless. i met him on saturday and found out he just makes sandwiches at his home and takes them around columbus… i might be in love
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