I am so excited to share my space today with a special guest. When I knew we were sharing about HOMELESSNESS in Northwest Arkansas, I knew I wanted to invite this special guest in to share with you. The more I read about the work that Kevin Fitzpatrick and his team at the University of Arkansas do, I’m moved. Whether its the sociologist in me or the reoccurring thoughts from my Urban Community class in college, I realize its a real problem that my community faces and I want you to hear it straight from the person who works with this every day!
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How is it that in a country as wealthy as the United States, more than 600,000 adults and children have no place to call their own on any given night?
Having no place to call your own, living in a shelter, staying at a relative’s house/apartment, or living in a tent in the woods has no upside. Conditions are crowded, privacy does not exist, and living in a tent when it’s raining and below freezing temperatures is something that few of us can imagine what that must be like. With over 2,400 people falling into one or more of these categories in Northwest Arkansas, the need for action is now and the solutions while complicated, need to be developed and implemented so that we change the face of poverty and homelessness in this bubble that we live in.
There is much to be concerned about when looking at a graphic like this. What is missing in this graphic is the story behind those persons who are unsheltered and living in unacceptable, unsafe, unsanitary, and unhealthy conditions.
There will always be a group of individuals, who say that they want to live outside, but when it’s raining/snowing and 20 degrees, do we really believe that is where they WANT to be? Recognizing the importance of addressing this critical alternative shelter need, cities around the country (Eugene, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, etc.) have developed models for temporary housing that is moving people out of their tents and into temporary shelters. These shelters are not like what we typically think of as housing homeless persons. Rather this movement has created micro-shelters (tiny homes) that can often make the difference between life and death for some and for all, provide a pathway out of the unsheltered circumstance they find themselves in.The time to address this critical need in Northwest Arkansas is NOW. We don’t have to invent the wheel because these programs have been tested and have met with considerable success around the country. What we need is momentum…the momentum that creates such a groundswell of support with a loud voice to get local officials, service providers, and the citizenry to listen.
So what can I do?
- Write, call, text, FB post, Tweet your local leaders, and ask them what they are doing for the unsheltered in our
communities? - Start a social media conversation among your NWA friends and followers…start posting on Facebook and Twitter.
- Create momentum for change. Get your congregations, non-profit partners, and local businesses talking about the needs and looking for support.
The good news is that this is a problem that can be solved.
Through my professional connections, I have identified a local business that is willing to donate materials, volunteers, and the funds needed to build these micro-shelters.———————————————————————————–
Through my professional connections, I have identified a local business that is willing to donate materials, volunteers, and the funds needed to build these micro-shelters.———————————————————————————–
Kevin Fitzpatrick, PhD is a professor of sociology and the Jones Chair in Community and the Director of the Community and Family Institute at the University of Arkansas. To find out more about what Dr. Fitzpatrick and the CFI are doing in this region visit cfi.uark.edu.
This post is part of the #NWArkCares series by the Northwest Arkansas Bloggers group. To view other posts, visit the Northwest Arkansas Bloggers Pinterest Board or follow #NWArkCares through social media.
Thank you for sharing and bringing awareness. I would love to see these micro homes being used to help support those in need in our community!
Thank you for sharing and bringing awareness. I would love to see these micro homes being used to help support those in need in our community!
they look really cool and I think it would be neat to have a little community of these down in Fayetteville…especially with the colder months coming on!
I think that today homeless is not the biggest problem, they are helped and are loved like anyone else. https://kovla.com/blog/how-i-fell-in-love-with-a-homeless-man/ I understood it after reading this post. Read it too, it will change your view!)