Homelessness explained
Michael Mandelkern
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: News
Diane Nilan, creator of Hear Us, a nonprofit organization formed in 2005 that gives a voice to homeless children, youth, and families, informed students and town locals about the severity of homelessness in America on Nov. 20 in the Gannett Auditorium. She was the keynote speaker for National Hunger and Homelessness Week, which lasted from Nov. 17 to 21.
In Nov. 2005, Nilan sold her home, car, and a majority of her possessions to purchase an RV. She drove 20,000 miles through 34 states and interviewed homeless children and adolescents until June 2006. She compiled her footage into a 20-minute documentary entitled "My Own Four Walls." She also wrote Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness.
Prior to showing her documentary, she encouraged the audience to make life a little better for someone who is or was homeless. Nilan described the homeless community as a population that people don't understand. She said, "I am astounded by the amount of homelessness in our country."
"My Own Four Walls" is entirely from the children's and adolescent's perspective. Many of them are homeless because of their parents' neglect or poor judgment. Nilan did little to prompt the interviews, so the children spoke frankly about their struggles. The video shows that homeless youth are the same as any other youth, simply without a home.
After the documentary, Nilan asked the audience whether anyone is involved in charity organizations or homelessness aid programs. She also asked public school faculty from Saratoga County if they believe any of their students are homeless. "At least ten-percent of kids in this country with free [school] lunches are homeless," she said.
She clarified what it means to be homeless. Nilan criticized the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for strictly confining homelessness to not having a home. She explained that homelessness is not just a box in the sense that families who consistently move from one place to another, or from shelter to shelter, are homeless because they do not have a stable residence.
Nilan's goal is to spread awareness throughout America, but her primary interest during the lecture was to discover what Saratoga Springs has to offer homeless people. Not everyone in the audience was involved in charitable organizations, so she emphatically said, "The rest of you will change your ways."
Despite the preconceived notion that homelessness is only prevalent in urban areas, she added that it exists everywhere. Nilan referred to the current economic crisis, which has left many families unable to pay for their homes, making them homeless. "I'm not even running for office," said Nilan in a brief moment of humor.
Diane Nilan raises money for her organization by selling her book and documentary as well as three children's' books entitled "Where Can I Build My Volcano?", "A Family of Five or Six," and "A Place of Our Own." The books are all by author and activist Pat Van Doren. The Hear Us homepage is www.hearus.us.
In Nov. 2005, Nilan sold her home, car, and a majority of her possessions to purchase an RV. She drove 20,000 miles through 34 states and interviewed homeless children and adolescents until June 2006. She compiled her footage into a 20-minute documentary entitled "My Own Four Walls." She also wrote Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness.
Prior to showing her documentary, she encouraged the audience to make life a little better for someone who is or was homeless. Nilan described the homeless community as a population that people don't understand. She said, "I am astounded by the amount of homelessness in our country."
"My Own Four Walls" is entirely from the children's and adolescent's perspective. Many of them are homeless because of their parents' neglect or poor judgment. Nilan did little to prompt the interviews, so the children spoke frankly about their struggles. The video shows that homeless youth are the same as any other youth, simply without a home.
After the documentary, Nilan asked the audience whether anyone is involved in charity organizations or homelessness aid programs. She also asked public school faculty from Saratoga County if they believe any of their students are homeless. "At least ten-percent of kids in this country with free [school] lunches are homeless," she said.
She clarified what it means to be homeless. Nilan criticized the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for strictly confining homelessness to not having a home. She explained that homelessness is not just a box in the sense that families who consistently move from one place to another, or from shelter to shelter, are homeless because they do not have a stable residence.
Nilan's goal is to spread awareness throughout America, but her primary interest during the lecture was to discover what Saratoga Springs has to offer homeless people. Not everyone in the audience was involved in charitable organizations, so she emphatically said, "The rest of you will change your ways."
Despite the preconceived notion that homelessness is only prevalent in urban areas, she added that it exists everywhere. Nilan referred to the current economic crisis, which has left many families unable to pay for their homes, making them homeless. "I'm not even running for office," said Nilan in a brief moment of humor.
Diane Nilan raises money for her organization by selling her book and documentary as well as three children's' books entitled "Where Can I Build My Volcano?", "A Family of Five or Six," and "A Place of Our Own." The books are all by author and activist Pat Van Doren. The Hear Us homepage is www.hearus.us.
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