ADDRESSLESS: A Walk in Our Shoes played Off-Broadway at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in February 2022 as a virtual, interactive production. The play intimately and personally illustrated what it means to live homeless in New York City. Hungarian director Martin Boross and playwright Jonathan Payne explored this plight through three individuals living unhoused, each on a mission to acquire $1,500 while staying as healthy as they could. Experts Shams Da Baron (aka Da Homeless Hero), Covenant House International President Kevin Ryan, and playwright Jonathan Payne join host Ruthie Fierberg to dissect the play and offer answers to the solvable homelessness crisis in the U.S.
View the Digital Program for ADDRESSLESS.
Create the change:
- Learn more at the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
- View homelessness statistics by state
- Volunteer with or donate to Covenant House; Organize a Sleep Out in your community
- Tell Congress to fund Homeless Assistance Grants (Click to sign a letter)
- Read up on current legislation that would impact homelessness
- Improve conditions in homeless shelters:
- Hire well-trained staff, and hire enough of them
- Bring mental health services to the shelters (i.e. have AA meetings on the premises, have mental health counselors on the premises)
- What 4 experts have to say
- Find a mentorship opportunity
- Make cards with contact info to promote nearby shelters to hand out to those who are in need and asking for help
- Donate clothes, especially socks, & personal hygience items to nearby shelters
- Participate in your city’s point-in-time count (signups are generally in Nov/Dec for the following year - Google to find the PIT in your neighborhood)
- Try rapid re-housing in your community
- Learn about permanent supportive housing
- Increase employment opportunities for those without housing (don't make a permanent address a requirement on job applications)
- Read: Obstacles to solving the homelessness crisis—then counter them
- Understand why homelessness is rising
- Directory of Homeless Service Organizations by state
- Sign up for Advocacy Alerts from the NAEH
Referred to in this episode:
- What is StereoAKT?
- What is Covenant House?
- 2020 Point-in-Time Count
- About the foster care system
- What is a group home?
- Foster care vs. Group home
- What is transitional housing?
- Human trafficking and homelessness
- Privilege Sleep Out exercise
- Legislation for Wifi in all shelters
- Shams fact-check: Shams said, “In Harlem, 40% of the students that are in school here are, are in, are either homeless or housing or facing housing instability.” Reports show 1 in 10 NYC public school students is homeless, up to 1 in 5 depending on the area.
- Read more on homelessness of NYC public school students & CUNY students
- Greater risk of Black and brown, LGBTQ+ youth
- What is Community Access?
- How real estate development impacts homelessness
- How redlining impacts homelessness (more on redlining)
- What is the Lucerne and what was the controversy?
- Addressless’ How Can I Help? Worksheet (items incorporated in CTT)
- The Childcare Tax Credit: How does it reduce child poverty?
- How does that help alleviate homelessness?
- What is the Poor People’s Movements?
- What are Public Assistance Programs?
- Open Hearts in NYC
- Does shelter living cost money? Short answer: YES.
About Our Guests:
Ruthie Fierberg, Host
IG: @whywetheater / T: @whywetheater
IG: @ruthiefierceberg / T: @RuthiesATrain
Jonathan Payne, Playwright @JPayneWrites
Shams DaBaron, Performer/Script consultant, Activist @homeless_hero
Kevin M. Ryan, President of Covenant House International @CovHousePrez