Week 13

A few days ago, I went for a tour around ARCH and got to know some of the members and clients. This was truly an eye opening experience. I have walked pasted this massive structure on 7th and Neches multiple times. I have to admit, I used to be extremely cautious walking around this area. After researching and working closely with ARCH, all of the stereotypes I used to believe have been broken. As soon I was walked toward the building, a kind old man held and door open for me and commented on the beautiful weather. As soon as I walked in, the employees and volunteers were nothing but helpful. An incredibly kind-hearted volunteer, Meredith, showed me around the facility, introduced me to the staff and a few of the clients. I told her I was expecting something entirely different before I walked into ARCH. This massive structure is extremely organized, filled with the most kind-hearted people and offers a multitude of resources for the homeless community. She went on to tell me how many of the clients are filled with compassion, you just have to show them some to get some in return. This was a wonderful and informative experience.

On another note, ARCH is has been promoting an upcoming event they are hosting, a happy hour downtown. The hopes of this event are to educate the community about ARCH and let them know they are there and need there help. After the happy hour, these individuals will get a tour of ARCH. The hopes are, that once these individuals see others trying to turn there lives around, they too will want to help. I believe this will be a very effective strategy in helping raise funds and educate the community. I held stereotypes before I got to work with ARCH and the homeless community, and many individuals hold stereotypes because they haven't interacted with the homeless community. Bringing these individuals and showing them the facility and some of the clients will show how much potential there is, with just a little help. 

Week 12

Have the Homeless Become Invisible?

The link above goes to a video composed by the  New York Rescue Mission called "Have the Homeless Become Invisible?" Front Steps posted this video on their blog earlier this week. After watching the video, the message was very powerful and moving. I believe this video was an effective strategy for Front Steps to advocate for the homeless community. The video consists of a series of social experiments, where normal people were disguised and placed on the street at homeless individuals. Unsuspecting people walked by their relatives pretending to be homeless. The experiment was conducted to see if these people would notice their family members or if they would become invisible, like the majority of homeless individuals today. No one person recognized their family members sitting on the side of the street. It was even more interesting to see their reactions when they were shown videos of themselves walking past their relatives and not even recognizing them. These individuals were filled with shock, awe and even saddened. This video was an effective strategy in helping promote the recognition of homeless individuals as people. This video helps promote the dignity homeless individuals deserve. The point of this video is that every homeless person is someone's sister, brother, mother, father, grandparent, aunt or uncle. This is something we tend to forget, which is evident when we walk past a homeless individual without even giving them any sort of recognition. This video helps place us in the shoes of these individuals and helps create empathy. After watching this video, I envisioned myself walking down the street without noticing my brother sitting on the curb. It truly saddened me. At any one second anything can go wrong and an individual can find themselves homeless. This video reminds us this and reminds us to give these individuals the simple recognition they deserve. I believe this was a successful and ethical strategy. We tend to forget about others as we get caught up in our daily routines. This video helps place ourselves in the shoes of those who are normally forgotten and reminds us that everyone deserves to be heard and seen.

Week 11

On May 22nd, ARCH will be holding a Women's Appreciation Day, a day to support and empower women experiencing homelessness. According to the event poster on Facebook, this event will be an opportunity for women experiencing homelessness to receive mini massages, manicures, donations of toiletry items and food. I think dedicating a day to these women is a wonderful strategy to empower them. Homeless individuals lack basic needs, let alone luxuries such as mini massages and manicures. These individuals struggle to survive on the minimal resources they have. ARCH is making an effort to make these women feel special by give them attention and generosity. These are feelings all individuals deserve but aren't always given. By honoring and showing appreciation to these women, we are giving them the support they need to feel empowered. On such an important day as Mother's Day, I feel that all women need to feel special and unique at some point. 

Week 10

Front Steps posted an interesting status via facebook that read a common misconception of homeless individuals, that all homeless individuals are mentally ill. They then posted the facts that read "a recent report by the National Coalition for the Homeless determined that 20 to 25 percent of people experiencing homelessness were severely mentally ill, compared to 6 percent of the general population." This is a common misconception that many still hold. Front Steps is urging individuals to rethink common stereotypes we hold against homeless individuals by reporting accurate statistics and simply, the truth. This makes me think about encounters I have witnessed throughout Austin with homeless individuals. There is one man in particular my roommate and I see all around Austin. He carries the same bag with him at all times and walks quickly down the Austin streets in a swift place. I remember my roommate saying "this guy has to be to be crazy". I think about it now and these would be the last words I would ever again to describe any individuals. You cannot judge a person and the situation they are in without knowing their past. I think Front Steps strategy of posting statistics and the truth is a wonderful way to advocate for social change. It helps break stereotypes and reform common misconceptions.

Week 9

Am I Invisible is a project started by Roni Chelben, who led a series of video workshops at ARCH, Austin Resource Center for Homeless. In these workshops, Chelben invited people from Austin's homeless community to share personal stories, act out their experiences of homelessness, and practice cinematographic skills. The workshop concluded with a final project where the participants directed and shot a video presenting interviews with people around downtown Austin about how the homeless are viewed in our society today. In August 2013, a group of committed participants (all members of the homeless community) formed and started to work on a performance aimed for the general public. On April 12th, this performance, completely written and played by members of the Austin homeless community, will take place at St. David's Episcopal Church Gym. Am I Invisible will be a theatric performance that has been put together as a powerful tool to promote civiv dialogue and social change. The event is open to the public and free, in hopes of attracting a large crowd, to bring awareness and educate others about the homeless community. I am excited to attend this performance this weekend. It is the perfect opportunity for homeless individuals to speak up and speak out about the issues they face and help the public understand. Participants will be performing short monologues and showing short documentary films they have composed, based on their experiences in the Austin homeless community. I believe these honest interpretations of personal experiences will help educate the community and break stereotypes many hold, merely out of being uninformed. 

Week 8

Last week, Front Steps worked with Amplify Austin to raise community awareness on the issue of homelessness and money for the cause. Amplify Austin is a 24 hour "festival of giving"that provides an easy and fun way for our community to give back and help hundreds of nonprofits that are meeting critical needs. Over 400 nonprofit organization participated in Amplify Austin this year. Front Steps raised an amazing $7,000.00 this year. Front Steps tweeted throughout the event, graciously thanking everyone who offered a donation to the nonprofit. They also notified the public on their progress through Facebook as well. They tried to get their followers to advertise their efforts through their own social media to bring more awareness to the cause. The $7k was a major success and is unique if you glance over the "needs statement" Front Steps put on their section of Amplify Austin.

Needs Statement:

$25.00 --> supports hygiene needs

$50.00 --> supports the creation of a move-in kit of basic supplies

$100.00 --> supports transportation needs

$200.00 --> supports furnishing one apartment

Another aspect of Front Steps page on Amplify Austin that way was very inspiring was their testimonials portion. They included a few quotes from homeless individuals Front Steps has helped. One of the most meaningful quotes I read was from a women named Judy who wrote, " This is my first home in eight years. Front Steps helped me after I had given up on myself and everyone else." I believe this quote embodies everything Front Steps stands for. Front Steps mission statement reads that "Based on the belief that all people deserve the dignity of a safe place to call home, Front Steps mission is to provide a pathway home through shelter, affordable housing, and community education." Front Steps pulled this woman out of a state of hopelessness and brought her back to life. Front Steps utilized the Amplify Austin campaign to bring hope to those experiencing homelessness in our community.

Week 7

ARCH bases itself around the motto is that “everyone deserves the dignity of having a safe place to call home.” I believe that one’s home is symbolic in this case as a place where an individual can go and feel safe and call their . Having a home is something we all take for granted. I am in the process of investigating the value of having a home and why ARCH’s central motto focuses on the importance of an individual have a safe home. Emmanuel Levians has a philosophy that gears toward the possibility of responsibility and hospitality. As described by Levinas, hospitality operates in two distinct realms, the ethical and the political. In the ethical realm, the self is morally compelled to welcome the individual stranger into the private space of the home. In the public realm, the self is politically obligated to welcome the whole of humanity into the public space of the homeland. He emphasizes that an ethical humanity is an universal responsibility. He goes on to say that an inflection toward humanity is fragile, because it is continually absorbed by the rhetoric of political institutions (“History of Political Thought”). Levians philosophy can be applied to ARCH’s motto on the importance of an individual to have a safe place to call home. According to Levians, it is ethically and politically important that one has a home and remains hospitable.

Week 6

While trying to figure out the central focus for my final paper on ARCH, I struggled with which aspect I wanted to focus on. I am currently also enrolled in Communication Ethics, which has led to me analyze the work of ARCH through different theorists we have discussed in class. These include Aristotle and Kant. Cutler's reading from earlier this semester highlighted Kant and Aristotle's views on giving charity. Aristotle's central argument is that it is our moral duty to give to others and look out for others interests. Kant's argument centered around the idea that all persons deserve respect. One of ARCH's central ideas is that all people deserve help and recognition. This will empower these individuals and hopefully motivate them to do more with their life. Curtler also mentions the technique social change groups use of altering self worth and self esteem. ARCH does a good job on empowering individuals and raising their self worth and self esteem. Altering self worth and self esteem are is the main focus of ARCH. ARCH believes that bringing these homeless individuals back to reality is the first step towards ending homelessness. By empowering these individuals and alleviating them from the title of social deviants, we are progressing towards ending and homelessness. 

Week 5

I have been observing ARCH throughout SXSW and it has been very interesting. ARCH is located directly in the center of all the SXSW action, on 7th St. Thousands of individuals from all over have walked across ARCH. As the music festivities have carried on, individuals who reside at ARCH have carried on with their normal lives. I was walking down 7th street, when a friend of mine (from Miami) was stopped by a homeless individual across the street from ARCH and was asked for money. He stopped and told the homeless individual that he didn't have any money. Another friend of mine (from Austin) said he should have just walked past the individual and not said anything. I appreciate the time my friend from Miami took to atleast acknowledge the homeless individual. Throughout all the craziness of SXSW, I feel as if many individuals have walked right past ARCH without a second thought of the individuals utilizing this building. As the festivities continue, I am going to make an effort to talk to homeless individuals who utilize ARCH to see their reaction on the hectic SXSW and absurd influx of individuals who have entered Austin. I am also curious to see if any event has been hosted to gather money for the ARCH facility. 

Week 4

Front Steps provides homeless individuals all around Austin acknowledgment, support and a plan for a successful life. Many of these individuals are neglected and immediately labeled as deviants in society, who chose the path of homelessness. Front Steps is an activist group that helps break this label and the stereotype many hold. I'm would be lying if I was to say I never held this stereotype about the homeless community. After hearing some of the stories and difficulties some of these individuals have gone through, there is no way I could ever stereotype the homeless community again. Front Steps believes that all people deserve the dignity of having a safe place to call home. The mission of the program is to provide a pathway home through shelter, affordable housing, and community education. Front Steps helps empower homeless individuals and educate the community. One of the most amazing things about this program is that it does not turn away individuals regardless of their circumstances. Everyone deserves an equal chance for a comfortable life, despite the things they have done or gone through. Front Steps is all about returning hope to the homeless. When you think of the homeless community in Austin, you can't help but address the issue of pan-handling. This is a tough issue and very controversial. The program recommends that we do not give to pan-handlers, as many of these individuals are struggling with drug addiction, and there is no way of telling if your "gift" is helping or hurting them. The program recommends that we say "no thank you" instead of merely ignoring the person all together. The homeless community in Austin needs acknowledgment and support. Ignoring them, makes this more and more of an issue and takes a toll on an individual.

Week 3

Front Steps' opened the ARCH building in 2004. I believe this is the biggest step Austin has taken to deal with the issue of homelessness challenging society today. The first floor contains a clinic that provides health care and specialized services for the population. The second floor has a large commercial kitchen and dining room that serves up to 100 meals a night to the clients that stay overnight. The third floor contains a 100 bed shelter and an open terrace. The ARCH building houses up to 200 men every night, 200 men that aren't forced to sleep on the streets of Austin. Homeless individuals are often discriminated against and judged for the position they have been forced to. Programs such as ARCH don't discriminate against these individuals and offer them the basic human rights they deserve. Many hold the stereotype that homeless individuals who choose their lifestyle by not getting a job. To counter-argue this, homeless individuals are unfairly discriminated against when they apply for jobs and apply for housing. Front Step empowers these individuals and focuses its attention on helping these individuals get their foot back into employment, so they can house and take care of themselves.

Week 2

Front Steps runs ARCH, The Austin Resource Center for the homeless. ARCH is basically the serves first point of entry into the homeless social service system for many of Austin’s adults experiencing homelessness. It is designed to assess client needs, provide information on how and where to access services, and meet the basic emergency needs of homeless adults. The ARCH also provides sleeping areas for homeless people to rest, day or night, and a Day Resource Center to get out of the elements during the day. ARCH is located in the heart of Austin, downtown 7th street. A few weeks ago I was walking down 7th street and double the amount of homeless individuals outside ARCH as I had ever seen. A homeless man stopped and asked me for money. I gave him the only change I had, 50 cents, and asked him why there were so many people out. To my horror he said, “it’s the end of the month... everyone just got paid and is looking for drugs.” This sent an absolute pain of sorrow and awe down my spine. I didn’t understand. I thought homeless individuals went to ARCH to seek help for a better future, but I was being too optimistic. Many of these individuals have gone through more traumatic experiences than I could ever imagine, collapsing into a state of decay and becoming reliant on drugs and alcohol. These individuals seek help but many are still fighting their addictions. This does not mean we should give up on them. Instead, we should fight harder for them so they want to save themselves. ARCH offers men and women access to a number of basic needs services including lockers, phones, showers, hygiene items, clothing, laundry, mail and messaging. By encouraging the homeless and keeping them on the right path, ARCH is helping eliminate homelessness in Austin.

Week 1

A common perception of homelessness in Austin is a life of drug dependency, alcohol abuse, panhandeling, or criminals. According to "Solutions for Homeless Chronic Alcoholics in Austin," a recently released study co-authored by ARCH Executive Director Helen M. Varty and Knox-Woollard Professional Management: Of the approximately 3,451 homeless people in Austin, "Austin is short 1,800 units of housing for this population, which represents an unmet need of 52% for the homeless in our community." Another common misperception is that many of those are homeless don’t to anything to help themselves, but the truth is many don’t know how to help themselves. Front Steps’ mission is to provide a pathway home through shelter, affordable housing and community education. Front Step gives homeless individuals the resources they need to change their life around by providing excellent case management, support and shelter service; transitioning people experiencing chronic homelessness to a variety of sustainable housing options; and educating the community about the needs of men and women experiencing homeless and innovative approaches to meeting those needs. Front Steps is a local activist group help fighting homelessness in Austin. I believe the strategies they employ to help the homeless are the most successful means of ending homelessness in Austin. Imagine driving down the feeder road of i-35. You stop a red light and you see a homeless man holding up the sign “Need Money for Food”. You can give the man enough money for another meal, or you can refer him to the resources that will help him have food everyday.