By: Lydia D York

Lydia D York — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 20:12:00 +0000

Excellent points, James. Thanks for volunteering to be our voice; The voice of reason. But, I think the reason professional caregivers and other housing administrators don’t ask is because they assume (wrongly) that since they have all these advanced degrees, put so much time in the classrooms, done externships and internships, attended conferences, read books – that they’re somehow more qualified about the nuances of our lives than we are. They’ve studied us a group, heard about us on the news, and so they feel like they’ve vicariously lived through us; They don’t necessarily need to know all the gory details, thankyouverymuch. I can’t tell you how many stereotypes I have to overcome as a black female, just to even get my point across. I was very happy to read the recent article in TalkPoverty – written by Melissa Harris-Perry, in which she laments our voices routinely left out of important decision-making processes: “…Nothing about us, without us. Congress should not make any decisions about programs meant to help families living in poverty without people who know poverty firsthand at the decision-making table…. It’s time to call in the experts.” And, like it or not – that’s what I am – an expert on what is me. But, if you want to know what’s happening with Joe the homeless guy who hangs out at the library – by all means – ask Joe.

By: Pat Morgan

Pat Morgan — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 18:46:00 +0000

Thank you, James. You have just validated what I have been doing for more than thirty years–asking the homeless people I’m trying to help “what happened.” And while nothing works to help end homelessness for an individual or family, homelessness is about a lot more than housing.

Comments on: Dear San Francisco Journalists: If You Want to Help Homeless People, Just Ask Us

By: Lydia D York

By: Pat Morgan