Homeless People Organizing for Justice not Charity

Homelessness is a structural issue that is directly the result of class and race location. Defunding housing for the poor, and a disconnect between income and rent disproportionately impacts people of color and directly results in homelessness. The government has responded by criminalizing homeless people, and creating an institutional shelter system in which to warehouse poor people instead of funding housing and jobs.

The mainstream media perpetuates the multiple stigmas that homeless people face - poverty, race and homelessness and compounds them by portraying homeless people as a menace to society.

The workshop presenters represent grass roots homeless organizations in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Nashville.

1. Introduction of Homeless Led Organizations

2. Landscape of grass roots homeless organizing in the US
Who What When Where

3. Campaigns that each organization addresses locally

Civil Rights
History of campaigns
Organizing strategies used by each campaign
Accomplishments of campaigns

Housing
History of campaigns
Organizing strategies used by each campaign
Accomplishments of campaigns

Shelter Issues
History of campaigns
Organizing strategies used by each campaign
Accomplishments of campaigns

4. How homelessness as an issue fits into broader social justice movement - immigration, LGBT, criminal injustice, anti racism work, women

5. Making space for homeless/poor people in the movement

Not having meeting conflict with soup kitchen times
Shelter curfews or check in times

We will utilize theatrical skits, interactive quizzes and videos made by homeless leaders throughout our presentations.

Our presentation will be in english and spanish but we need help with translation

We will bring handouts in english and spanish and make our own copies