This panel talked to 3 libraries with large populations of
people experiencing homelessness. Each
library dealt with their patrons in a different way, ranging from programming
to bringing in a social worker, to working on staff and patron perceptions
through a specialized program. While we
don’t necessarily have very many obvious patrons experiencing homelessness
coming through our doors, as we know from the HOPE team talk and our own
experience, they do exist, and we can’t always tell exactly who they are.
Dallas Public Library
(Programming for people experiencing Homelessness)
- “an ongoing community engagement program aimed at providing a space for open dialogue on topics that unite us, rather than divide us. Its focus is engaging the homeless population of Dallas.”
- Programminglibrarian.org/programs/coffee-conversation
- Encourages interaction, responsibility, buy in. Patrons feel included
- Staff sit down and find commonalities with customers
- Meet every other week
- Engage in a topic (of conversation), activity, and/or have a guest speaker
- Topics sometimes include introducing new library policies or staff members or fun stuff like favorite movies or why they love the library
- Activities may include card-making , art, spoken word, poetry, etc.
- Guests have included people from the community who can help (VA, Housing, HIV Testing, etc.) – can only speak for about 5 minutes before opening up to conversation but used more to highlight the HELP desk, rather than make the day about social services
Podcast: a part of the Dallas Public Library’s ongoing Homeless Engagement Initiative aimed at increasing community awareness of issues related to homelessness and promoting the public library as a place of social inclusion.
Art and Creativity: photography/art exhibit created by
homeless
H.E.L.P. (Homeless Engagement and Leadership Program) desk
- Not social services, provide referrals
- Staffed ~40 hours a week by AmeriCorps volunteers
Most important to get to know the providers in your
community and get them into your building so that staff know who they are and
train staff to work with this community.
Denver Public Library
- Hired a FT Social Worker (title: Community Resource Specialist)
- Started Feb 2015
- Terminology: NOT Homeless people – People experiencing homelessness
- Goal: Reduce barriers to library service and connect patrons with resources
- Many of these barriers don’t just apply to people experiencing homelessness, but also people with behavior issues, low income, abilities, etc.
- Since she is an experienced social worker, she can also recommend some services over others
- Help isn’t forced – Like the HOPE team said, try, try, try again
- Refer patrons to her because there has been an issue where security has been involved – she can try to get to the real crux of the problem rather than just banning them, etc.
- Some barriers to seeking help: They don’t know where to start, they are afraid, they are embarrassed
- The VA trained staff on how to use online patient portal so that they could help patrons navigate their services
- Social worker provides training for “Trauma Informed Care”: many with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and homelessness have experienced trauma (usually at an early age) – how do you talk to them, etc.
- ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study – youth traumatic experiences
- Looks at the relationship between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-bring.
- Certain experiences are major risk factors for the leading causes of illness and death as well as poor quality of life in the US
Salt Lake City Public
Library
- Resources, background, studies, etc: www.slcgov.com/hand/homeless-services
- Get ready for backlash from patrons not experiencing homelessness when you start offering more services to this underserved community
- 4 major providers of homeless services in the area: Entire management team visits each location to learn about where they are, what they do, etc.
- Trigger Warnings – for some staff who may have or are experiencing substance abuse, housing issues, etc., this trip may be difficult for them and they may have a negative reaction
- One of their service providers, Road Home, the shelter, was built for 300 people but currently houses 800
**Homelessness
is a condition, not a character trait**
**People experiencing Homelessness are a
constituency and a community of patrons that need service**
- Get to know the definitions of people, services, places, and the statistics surrounding them in your community
- For example: Homeless Youth vs. Unaccompanied Minors has very different implications and services available
- Bring the service providers into your library
- Imagine standing in line at the DMV 8X a day for everything you need. That’s what it’s like to experience homelessness
- Work with staff on how to recognize mental health issues, substance abuse issues, etc. While these are often connected to homelessness, they are not definitions of homelessness
Homeless Services 6 point strategy
We do nothing more or less for the homeless than we would do for any
other constituency – same thing as a job fair, Spanish outreach, etc.
"Project Uplift is a social services information and resource fair for the homeless and at-risk in Salt Lake City. Held at the centrally located Main Library of the Salt Lake City Public Library System, the program connected the homeless community with service providers and information in a welcoming environment."
- Logistics
- 400 attendees
- Included over 30 service providers to connect attendees
- Breakfast, Lunch (donated from Even Stevens), Swag Bags
- Hair Cuts from cosmetology school students
- Pictures
- Movies – Didn’t work
- Prize Drawings
- One on One sessions were most effective
Misc. Notes
- CommonArgument against allowing homeless in the library: “Intended Use” of the library – They’re not using the library for it’s intended use. They’re just sitting there reading!
- Modeled behavior with staff – Let them see you talking to members of the homeless community –
- This isn’t the other, this could be me.
- Many homeless youth are LGBTQ – find a partner to reach out to these kids
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