Engaging Homelessness Training Project
This resource is an AmeriCorp Intern project by Afomia Assefa that compiles information exploring our basic understanding of houselessness from various perspectives of people with lived experiences, service providers, policy makers and educators. With various insights we hope to get a better grasp of the complexities and challenges we face as we work towards ending houselessness.
We invite you to challenge yourself through actively engaging and reflecting along with some prompts and activities included. As a resource that will continue to change and grow, the Doorway Team encourages you to reach out if you have any suggestions.
Housing
The solution to homelessness is straightforward: housing. In many places across America including Seattle there simply is not enough affordable housing. Without more investment in long term affordable housing many people will continue to face housing instability.
Expert
Jordan Beaudry has been serving as the ROOTS Volunteer Services Manager for 4 years. He grew up in Oakland, CA, and was raised by a young single mom. Throughout Jordan's childhood, his family's economic status fluctuated significantly, inspiring in him a passion for economic and social justice advocacy. Jordan has served on the Board of Directors for Parent's Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights and received his Master's of Social Work from UW in 2016. Jordan's background in volunteer management includes positions with the American Red Cross and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Working with ROOTS provides Jordan the opportunity to support young adults experiencing homelessness through community engagement and volunteer stewardship.
Interview with Jordan Beaudry from ROOTS
Criminalization of Homelessness
This resource invites you to challenge your biases and internal reactions to unhoused individuals in your community. With this interview with Homeless Rights Advocacy Project (HRAP) representative Ashley Karlstad, and community resources, we hope that you come away with a better understanding of the history and current reality of how houseless people are treated by police and the criminal justice system. We hope to provide you with alternative tools you can draw upon and organizations that you can call if you or someone you know is worried about an unhoused person within your community.
Expert
Ashley Karlstad (she/her) is a third-year law student at Seattle University School of Law. Ashley is a past student of the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project, which was founded and is directed by Professor Sara Rankin. Ashley currently works as Professor Rankin's research assistant and teaching assistant for the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project. Ashley is personally and professionally passionate about housing justice and homelessness advocacy.
Interview with Ashley Karlstad of Homeless Rights Advocacy Project
COVID-19
The outbreak of COVID-19 has profoundly impacted our communities, businesses, families, and daily lives. To better understand how the pandemic has changed service provision within houselessness we interviewed Noah Fay, Director of Housing Programs at Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC).
Background Reading
Homeless people at hotel must move out, Renton City Council decides
Seattle won’t be counting its unsheltered homeless population this year
Expert
Noah Fay is the Director of Housing Programs at Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC). DESC was founded in 1979 to provide emergency shelter and survival services for people living in a state of chronic homelessness and who, due to their severe and persistent mental illnesses and substance use disorders, were not being served by existing missions of that day. He has a strong program and project management professional with a Master’s Degree focused in Public Administration from Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington.