%
♪ ♪
%>>> THE
TRANSITION FROM HAVING
A
%HOME
TO
NEAR
HOMELESS,
THAT'S,
%LIKE,
IT'S
WAY
MORE
THAN,
LIKE,
%ANYONE CAN
IMAGINE.
%IT'S,
LIKE, ONE
DAY,
YOU'RE
%WAKING
UP,
YOU'RE IN
A
HOME,
AND
%THE
NEXT
MINUTE, YOU
WAKE
UP,
%AND YOU'RE ON THE
STREETS.
%>>>
I'M FREDERICA
FREYBERG,
ON
%TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM,
A
SPECIAL
%EDITION
OF "HEAR &
NOW"
ON
AN
%IMPORTANT
SUBJECT,
YOUTH
%HOMELESSNESS, AND HEAR THE
STORY
%OF
A
WISCONSIN
TEENAGER
HOMELESS
%DURING HIS HIGH
SCHOOL
YEARS,
%AND WE'LL TALK WITH A
LEADING
%EXPERT
ABOUT
HOW
STATE
AND
LOCAL
%OFFICIALS AS WELL AS
COMMUNITY
%MEMBERS CAN
HELP
CHANGE THESE
%SITUATIONS FOR
THE
BETTER.
%IT'S "HEAR & NOW"
FOR
DECEMBER
%28th.
%♪ ♪
%>>>
FUNDING
FOR "HEAR &
NOW"
IS
%PROVIDED
IN
PART BY
FRIENDS
OF
%WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
%♪ ♪
%>>> ON
AVERAGE,
BETWEEN
15
AND
%19,000
HOMELESS
STUDENTS
WERE
%ENROLLED
STATEWIDE IN
THE
PAST
%FIVE
SCHOOL
YEARS.
%THAT'S
ACCORDING TO
THE
%WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT
OF
PUBLIC
%INSTRUCTION.
%WITH
THOSE
SOBERING
NUMBERS
AS
A
%JUMPING OFF
POINT,
WE
BEGIN
%TONIGHT WITH A
STORY
OF
JEVANTE
%DAVIS,
SHARING HIS
EXPERIENCE
IN
%THIS
SHORT
FILM
DEVELOPED B
Y
AN
%ARTS
MEMBER
AND
MEMBER OF
THE
%STUDIO CREW
HERE
AT
WPTV,
MITCH
%DEETS
.
%>>
I
ALWAYS
SAY,
ENJOY
WHAT
YOU
%HAVE WHILE YOU HAVE
IT
NOW,
AND
%IF
IT'S
GONE,
TRY
TO
GET
IT
%BACK.
%LIKE, FOR
INSTANCE, I
LOST
MY
%HOUSE.
%I
LOST,
LIKE,
MULTIPLE
HOUSES.
%ONE
DAY, IT WAS
THERE, THE
NEXT
%DAY, IT WAS
GONE
.
%YOU
GET
THAT
FEELING,
LIKE,
THIS
%CAN'T BE
RIGHT.
%I'M
D
REAMING.%I
HAVE TO BE
DREAMING.
%♪
♪
%♪ ♪
%>>
I
F
IT
WASN'T
FOR
SPORTS, I%DON'T KNOW
WHERE
I'D
BE, TO
BE
%HONEST.
%I
STARTED
PLAYING BASKETBALL
%ONCE I
GAME
TO
MADISON,
AND
I
T
%PLAYS A
HUGE
ROLE
BECAUSE
IT'S,
%LIKE, A,
IT
KEEPS
ME --
IT
KEEPS
%ME
FOCUSED
ON
SOMETHING
ELSE.
%WHILE BEING
HOMELESS, IT
HELPED
%MY GAME
A
L
OT
BECAUSE IT
WAS,
%LIKE, I
TENDED TO
PROTECT THE
%BASKET
MORE,
LIKE,
MORE
%AGGRESSIVE, TO THE
POINT
PEOPLE
%WERE,
LIKE,
GET
OUT
THIS
KID'S
%WAY.
%WHEN I'M ON
THE
COURT, I'M
%THINKING, THIS
IS
MY
TIME,
MY
%TIME
TO
SHINE.
%I WANT TO
BE
THE
NEXT
LEBRON.
%I WANT TO
BE
THE
NEXT
JORDAN,
%AND IN ORDER TO BE THE
BEST,
YOU
%HAVE
TO
HAVE
A
CLEAR
MIND
AND
%MIND
OPENED UP TO
THE
GAME
SO
%WHEN
I
STEP
BETWEEN THOSE
LINES,
%EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF
ME,
WHERE%I WAS
HOMELESS OR
EVEN I
F
I
%DIDN'T EAT
THAT
DAY,
ALL
THAT,
%MY
HEAD
WAS
GONE, IT
WAS
EMPTY.
%JUST ME
AND
MY
PASSION,
THE
%BASKETBALL,
AND
THAT
BASKET.
%PRETTY
MUCH, IT
WAS
MY
SECOND
%HOME, AND
I
KNEW I
CAN'T
GO
HOME
%IF I HAVE
NOWHERE
TO
GO
THAT
%
NIGHT, I KNOW FOR
A
FACT I
WAS
%JUST
SHOOTING
BASKETS
ALL
DAY
%UNTIL
I
FOUND
SOMEWHERE
TO
GO.
%OR
I
JUST
GOT
TIRED
AND
WOULD
%FALL
ASLEEP
.
%♪
♪
%>> I
HAVE
BEEN
DOING
COMMUNITY%SOCIAL
WORK
FOR
THE
PAST
17
%YEARS, AND,
LATELY, I
HAVE
BEEN
%SEEING
THE
HOMELESSNESS ISSUE
%GROWING
RAPID
LY
.
%IT'S AMAZING
WHEN
I
TALK
TO
%PEOPLE THAT THEY
DON'T
THINK
%HOMELESSNESS
EXISTS, AND
THEY,
%YOU
KNOW,
LIVE
IN
THIS
LITTLE
%BUBBLE
THAT
EVERYTHING
IS
SO
%GREAT
AND
SO
NICE.
%MANY
TIMES, I WANT
TO
BRING
THEM
%WITH
M
E
AND
DO
SOME HOME
VISITS
%AND SEE THE
REALITY.
%♪
♪
%FOR
EXAMPLE,
I
WORK
WITH
A
%FAMILY
FROM
NIGERIA.
%THEY RAN
TO
US
1,450,
AND, YOU
%KNOW, MORE
THAN
A
MORTGAGE, SO
I
%DID
A
HOME
VISIT,
WENT
TO
THEIR
%APARTMENT, AND IT
WAS
A
THREE
%BEDROOM APARTMENT IN THE
%BASEMENT.
%IT
WAS
CLOSE
TO
THE
BUS
STOP,
%AND
GROCERY
STORES,
HOWEVER,
%THAT LEFT
THE
HOUSE,
LIVE-IN
MOM
%WITH THREE
KIDS,
MOM,
DID
NOT
%WORK.
%SHE
JUST
CAME
FROM
NIGERIA, AS
%THEY
SAY,
AND
THE
OLDEST KIDS
%WERE
TRYING T
O
GO
TO
SCHOOL
AND
%TRYING
TO
WORK,
AND
FOR
SIX
%MONTHS, I
WORKED WITH
A
FAMILY,
%TRYING
TO
STABILIZE
THE
%SITUATION,
LANDLORDS
WANTED%THEIR
MONEY.
%THERE'S NO
MONEY
FOR
THIS
%FAMILY, SO AT
THE
END,
THEY
GOT
%EVICTED
.
%SO
THEY
END
UP
GOING
TO
THE
%SHELTER, AND
THEY
COULDN'T
BE
%TOGETHER.
%MOM
AND
THEN
THE -- I
THINK
%9-YEAR-OLD -- STAY IN
THE
%SHELTER, AND
AS I
SAY
IT,
THIS
%WOMAN
CANNOT
R
EALLY FIND
A
JOB,
%HAS
NO
JOB
HISTORY
HERE,
HER
%ENGLISH IS
VERY
LIMITED.
%OBVIOUSLY, THE
CHILD IS
HAVING A
%LOT OF
ISSUES
AT
THE
SCHOOL.
%YOU
KNOW,
CAN
YOU IMAGINE,
JUST
%GET OUT
FROM
SCHOOL, WHAT
D
O
WE
%WANT TO
DO?
%GO
HOME,
KICK
BACK,
WATCH
TV,
%SNACKS,
ALL THAT IS
NOT
THERE
%FOR THIS
CHILD, RIGHT?
%SO
WHEN H
E
GOES
TO
SCHOOL,
%OBVIOUSLY,
H
E
WILL
HAVE
A
LOT
OF
%ANXIETY,
ANGER, AND
ALL
OF
THAT.
%THIS IS
JUST
ONE
EXAMPLE
IN
HOW,
%YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE
TONS OF
%FAMILIES LIKE
THIS
.
%>>
ONE OF
THE
MOST
HIGHLY
%IMPACTED POP
POPULATIONS
FROM
%EVICTION
OR
DISPLACEMENT
ARE
%YOUTH AND
CHILDREN,
S
O
WE
KNOW,%
FOR EXAMPLE,
STUDIES
DONE IN THE
%PAST,
THAT
DISPLACEMENT,
LOSING
%YOUR
HOME CAN BE
SIMILAR
TO
%POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER,
%AND BECAUSE
THE
HOUSE
AND
YOUR
%IDENTITY
IS
SO
INTERRELATED AND
%TIED
TOGETHER
THAT
LOSING
YOUR
%HOME
CAN
SOMETIME BE
ONE
OF
%THESE ROOT
SHOCKS,
AS
IT'S
BEEN
%CALLED,
THAT
REALLY
AFFECTS
YOUR
%PSYCHE
AND
EMOTIONAL WELL
BEING,
%AND
YOUTH QUITE A
BIT.
%GENERALLY,
EVICTION IS
RELATED
%TO
HOMELESSNESS, BUT
IN SOME
%AREAS,
IT'S
MORE SO.
%MY
UNDERSTANDING OF SORT OF
WHAT
%IS
HAPPENING
HERE IN THE
HOUSING
%MARKET
IN
MADISON
AND
THIS
%COUNTY IS
BECAUSE
IT'S
SO
TIGHT
%AND
SO
FEW
OPTIONS FOR
FOLKS,
%THAT,
ONE,
THE
SORT
OF
POTENTIAL%TO
BE
EVICTED
AND
END
UP
IN
%BEING -- END
UP
BEING
HOMELESS,%IS
HIGHER
THAN OTHER
PLACES
WITH
%HIGHER
VACANCY
RATES.
%MOST
ECONOMISTS AGREE
5%
VACANCY
%RATE IS
NEEDED
FOR
A
HEALTHY
%FUNCTIONING HOUSING
MARKET.
%BACK IN
2007,
THE
CENSUS HAD
MAD
%MADISON
5%
VACANCY
RATE.
%SINCE
THEN,
IT'S
FALLEN
TO
%AROUND
2%.
%MORE
PEOPLE
COMING
IN,
AND LESS
%HOUSING,
SPEAKING HERE
MOSTLY IN
%TERMS OF THE
RENTAL
HOUSING
%MARKET, SO WHAT THAT
MEANS
IS
%THAT THE
HOUSING
MARKET
IS
%
GETTING REALLY TIGHT.
%THINGS LIKE
EVICTION
OR
%DISPLACEMENT
BECOME
ESPECIALLY
%PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IF YOU ARE
%EVICTED,
THE
LIKELIHOOD
OF
YOU
%FINDING A
NEW
AVAILABLE
UNIT
TO
%RENT
BECOMES MORE
CHALLENGING
.
%>> ONE
NIGHT, IT
WAS
A
%BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT
IN
%MINNESOTA DURING
AAU,
SO
I
WENT
%TO
MINNESOTA FOR
THREE
DAYS,
YOU
%KNOW, MY
PHONE
WAS
OFF,
SO
I
%COULDN'T
CONTACT
MY
MOM
OR
%ANYTHING,
AND
THEN
I
CAME
BACK%FROM
THE
TRIP
EXHAUSTED, YOU
%KNOW,
WANTED
TO
GO
HOME,
GET
%READY
FOR
SCHOOL AND
EVERYTHING,
%AND,
LIKE, I
USED
MY KEY TO
OPEN
%THE
DOOR,
AND
THE
DOOR WOULDN'T
%OPEN.
%♪
♪
%I
KIND
OF
SEE,
LIKE,
THE
FOR
%SALE SIGN
UP IN THE
LAWN,
BUT,
%LIKE,
I
NEVER
PAID
ATTENTION
TO
%IT.
%AND
THEN
OUR
NEIGHBOR
FROM
%ACROSS THE
STREET
CAME
OUTSIDE
%AND
WAS,
LIKE, ARE
YOU
LOOKING
%FOR
YOUR
MOM?
%I
WAS,
LIKE,
YEAH.
%SHE
SAID,
I
JUS
T
SEEN
A
MOVING
%TRUCK LEAVE
HERE
YESTERDAY.
%I
CALLED MY
MOM,
AND
SHE
TOLD ME
%THAT
SHE
ENDED U
P
LOSING
THE
%HOUSE WHILE I
WAS
GONE,
AND
WITH
%ME PHONE
OFF,
SHE
COULDN'T
%CONTACT TO TELL ME.
%SHE
STARTED
CRYING,
AND
SHE
%SAID,
YOU
CAN
STAY
HERE
OR
YOU
%CAN DO
WHAT
YOU
GOT TO
DO,
AND
I
%SAID, I CAN'T
BE
IN
SUN
PRAIRIE.
%WE
DON'T
HAVE
TRANSPORTATION.%I HAVE TO
FINISH SCHOOL.
%I
STAYED
IN
MADISON
ON
MY
OWN.
%I WAS
STAYING
AT
FRIENDS'
%HOUSES, WHAT THEY
CALL
IT
%NOWADAYS, CALL
IT
"COUCH
%SURFING," SLEEPING COUCH
TO
%COUCH, HOUSE
TO
HOUSE,
AND
%THAT'S WHAT I WAS
DOING.
%TRANSITION WAS HARD.
%I
WAS
SO
USED
TO,
LIKE,
JUST
SO
%USED TO
TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF
%EVERYTHING
WE
HAD
WHEN
WE
HAD
A
%HOME
LIFE,
YOU
KNOW,
%ELECTRICITY, FRESH WATER,
YOU
%KNOW,
HEAT.
%I
TOO
K
IT
FOR
G
RANTED, PRETTY
%MUCH.
%YOU
DON'T
KNOW
THAT
UNTIL
YOU
%GET
OUT
ON
YOUR
OWN,
LIKE,
MAN,
%HOW
DO
I
PAY
FOR
TONIGHT?
%WHAT AM I
GOING T
O
EAT?
%HOW
CAN
I
CHARGE MY
PHONE?
%LIKE,
I
TOLD
MYSELF,
ONE
DAY
%IT'S
THERE, AND
THE
NEXT
DAY,
IT%COULD BE
GONE.
%>>
I
MAY
BE
A
SOCIAL
WORKER,
%WHICH IN
A
LOT
OF
PEOPLE'S
EYES
%IS, YOU
KNOW,
SOMETHING
THAT
%IMMEDIATELY
SAYS,
"DON'T
TALK
TO
%HER,"
BUT,
HONESTLY,
IF
YOU'D
%JUST
SPEND
SOME
TIME
AND
ASK
A
%FEW
QUESTIONS
AND
YOU'RE
%INTERESTED, PEOPLE WILL
JUST
%TELL YOU WHAT
THEY
NEED,
AND
%THEY'LL TELL YOU
WHAT
IT'S
LIKE,
%AND THEY'LL
TELL
YOU
WHAT'S
%GOING
O
N
.
%AND
I'VE
HAD
STUDENTS
TELL ME
%THAT
THEY
WOULD,
ONE OF THE
%STRATEGIES FOR FINDING
A
PLACE
%TO
STAY, WOULD
B
E
TO
GO TO
THE
%MALL AND
JUST
KIND
O
F
HANG
%AROUND
AND
WATCH AND
FIND A
%GROUP OF KIDS
THAT
THEY
DON'T
%KNOW, FIND
OUT
IF
THERE'S A
%PARTY,
AND
THEN
GO
ALONG AND
GO%TO
THE
PARTY, AND
THEN
JUST
BE
%THE LAST
ONE
TO
LEAVE AND
SAY,
%"CAN I
CRASH
HERE?
%IT'S TOO
LATE,
AND I
CAN'T
FIND
%MY
BUS
PASS."
%WHEN YOU
MAKE
YOURSELF
%VULNERABLE IN THAT
KIND
OF
WAY,
%THE
PROBABILITY THAT
YOU'RE
%GOING
TO
MAKE SOME
CHOICES,%HOWEVER
DANGEROUS
OR,
FOR
LACK
%OF A
BETTER
WORD,
UNPLEASANT,%IT'S
DEEPER
THAN
UNPLEASANT,
BUT
%IT'S
MUCH
MORE
LIKELY.
%SO
FOR
PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO
SEE,
%THAT, IN
FACT, WE
HAVE
YOUNG
%PEOPLE
WHO
ARE
TRADING
ACCESS
TO
%THEIR BODIES
FOR
PLACES
TO
STAY,
%WHICH
IS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, THAT%WE HAVE
YOUNG
PEOPLE
WHO
ARE
NOT
%GRADUATING IN FOUR
YEARS
FROM%HIGH SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF
A
%DISRUPTION THAT'S HAPPENING
IN
%THEIR
HAVING T
O
FIND
A
PLACE
TO
%STAY
OR
SLEEP
ON
A
COUCH
OR
%WHATEVER.%I THINK THE
MORE
WE
CAN
SEE
THAT
%AND HAVE
IT
BE
VIEWED
THAT THE
%ENTITIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS
THAT
%ALREADY
WORK
WITH
YOUNG
PEOPLE
%CAN
SHIFT
AND
PARTNER
MORE
WITH
%THOSE
ENTITIES
T
HAT
ARE
NOT
.
%♪ ♪
%>>
HOUSING HAS BEEN
KIND
OF
%TOTALLY REMOVED
FROM
THE
%POLITICAL
AGENDA.
%AT THE SAME
TIME,
COMMUNITIES%ALL OVER
THE
UNITED
STATES
TALK
%ABOUT HOUSING AS
A
CRISIS,
AND
%IN NEW
YORK,
RADICALLY
CHANGING
%THINGS,
MIAMI,
CHICAGO,
HOUSING
%IS
CENTRAL TO
SOME OF
THE
MOST
%IMPORTANT DEMOGRAPHIC AREAS
OF
%OUR COUNTRY.
%YET, AT THIS
TIME,
WHEN
HOUSING
%IS
SO
IMPORTANT AND
PEOPLE ARE
%TALKING ABOUT
HOUSING
AS
A
%CRISIS, IT
DOES
NOT
COME
UP
ON
%THE POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN,
%PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN, FOR
%EXAMPLE, NOT
A
SINGLE
CANDIDATE%HAD
HOUSING
AS
BEING
ONE OF THE
%ISSUES
AS
IMPORTANT
TO
DEAL
%WITH, WHEREAS
TIMES
PAST IN
THE
%1970s
AND
'60s,
HOUSING WAS
%DISCUSSED.
%YOU
KNOW,
PRESIDENTIAL
%CANDIDATES
TALKED
ABOUT
HOUSING
%AND
THE
URBAN
CRISIS.
%THESE ARE
THINGS
THAT
POPPED
U
P
%AS
BEING
IMPORTANT FOR
US
TO
%SOLVE AS A
SOCIETY.
%I
THINK WE
NEED
T
O
RETURN
TO
%THAT
KIND
OF
REALLY
DEEP
%LANGUAGE ABOUT
WHAT
KIND
OF
%CITIES
WE
WANT T
O
LIVE
IN,
AND
%WE NEED
HOUSING AND
HOUSING
%POLITICS TO BE
FRONT
AND
CENTER
%RIGHT
NOW, IN
ORDER
TO
DEAL
WITH
%THOSE
THINGS
.
%>>
ANYTHING THAT W
E
CAN
DO
TO
%MAKE
TRANSPORTATION
FEASIBLE
TO
%EMPLOYMENT WITH
A
LIVING
WAGE,
%AND, YOU
KNOW,
HAVE
HOUSING
FOR
%PEOPLE WHO
ARE
WORKING, YOU
%KNOW,
WORK FORCE
HOUSING
THAT
IS
%AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES
AND
FOR
%YOUNG
PEOPLE, I
THINK
THOSE
%THINGS WOULD
GO
A
LONG
WAY
TO
%ELIMINATING SO MANY
OF
THE
%REALLY TRAUMATIC THINGS
THAT
ARE
%HAPPENING
FOR
CHILDREN AND
%FAMILIES IN
MADISON
.
%>>
IT'S
NOT
THOSE
PEOPLE
AND
US
%ANYMORE BECAUSE
OUR
KIDS
ARE
%GOING THROUGH
THE
SAME SCHOOL.
%WE ARE
DRIVING IN
THE
SAME
%STREETS.
%ALL
THE
STRESS
ORS IN
THE
%COMMUNITY HAVE A
RIPPLE
EFFECT,
%AND IT'S
AFFECTING
ALL
OF
US.
%>> WE HAVE
T
O
MAKE
SURE
MEMBERS%OF
THE
COMMUNITY
ARE
TAKEN
CARE
%OF WHEN THEY
ARE IN
NEED, AND
%YOU
CAN
ECONOMIZE
THAT,
PUT
%NUMBERS TO
IT,
AND
YOU
CAN
TALK
%ABOUT HOW MUCH
MORE
COSTS
TO
%DEAL WITH SOMEBODY ON
THE
STREET
%THAN TO
HOUSE
THEM
AND
ENSURE
%ALL THE
NEEDS
ARE
MET
WHETHER
%IT'S
ALCOHOLISM OR IF
THEY
HAVE
%ANY KIND
OF
MENTAL HEALTH
%ISSUES,
THAT
IT'S
CHEAPER
TO
%HOUSE
PEOPLE
THAN
TO
DEAL
WITH
%THAT WHEN
FOLKS
ARE
O
N
THE
%STREET.
%WE KNOW
THAT,
AND
MONEY
IS
WHAT
%MOVES
PEOPLE
TO
UNDERSTAND
WHY
%THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR
SOCIETY,
%HEY,
THAT'S
FINE,
AND
I'M
HAPPY
%TO
TELL
YOU
IT'S
MORE
EFFICIENT%TO
DEAL WITH
ALL
THOSE
ISSUES
%WHEN PEOPLE ARE
HOUSED
THAN
WHEN
%THEY ARE ON
THE
STREET, BUT I
%THINK
WE
SHOULD
ALSO
B
E
OPEN
TO
%TALKING
ABOUT
THESE
THINGS IN
%TERMS
OF
VALUES, AND
WHAT
VALUES
%DO
WE
WANT
AND
WHAT
KIND
OF
%SOCIETY DO
WE
WANT
TO
LIVE
IN
?
%>> DO I
WANT
TO
GO
PLAY
COLLEGE
%FOOTBALL ON
THE
HIGH
LEVEL?
%RIGHT
NOW,
I'M
CURRENTLY
PLAYING
%ARENA
AND
SEMI-PRO
FOOTBALL.
%BEFORE IT ALL
ENDS, I
WANT
TO
%PROBABLY GET
MY
BUSINESS
DEGREE,
%AND I WANT
TO
HELP
OUT
THE
%COMMUNITY AS
MUCH
AS
POSSIBLE
%STILL
.
%BEING
HOMELESS
IN
MADISON
OR
%BEING
HOMELESS IN
THE
WORLD
IN
%GENERAL HAS
TAUGHT ME
A
LOT.
%IT
WAS
HARD,
LIKE,
MY
FIRST
%COUPLE OF
MONTHS
OF
BEING
%HOMELESS, IT
WAS
HARD,
BUT IT
%WAS,
LIKE, AS LONG AS I
HAVE
MY
%SPORTS
TO
LOO
K
BACK
ON,
MY
PRIDE
%WAS STILL THERE.
%I
STILL
HAVE
M
Y
PRIDE
IN
BEING
%HOMELESS
.
%♪ ♪
%>>>
"NO
PLACE
LIKE
HOME" WAS
%PRODUCED BY
MITCH
DEETS.
%THEY
ADVOCATE
SOME
20,000
PEOPLE
%EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS IN
%WISCONSIN
ON
ANY GIVEN NIGHT.
%AS FOR
CHILDREN, ABOUT
THE
SAME%NUMBER OF
PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS%IN WISCONSIN
LACK
A
REGULAR
%NIGHTTIME
RESIDENCE,
INCLUDING
%THOSE WHO
COUCH
SURF
OR
STAY
%WITH
FRIENDS
OR
RELATIVES.
%JULIE
GUENTHER IS
JOINING
US
NOW
%WITH
MORE, AND THANK
YOU VERY%MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
%>>
MY
PLEASURE TO BE
HERE, THANK%YOU.
%>>
WHAT
STANDS
OUT
ABOUT
THAT
%FILM TO
YOU?
%>>
SO
JAVANTE'S
STORY
IS
UNIQUE
%AND
POINTS OUT
TO
US
THE
VUT
%NECIALTS OF
FAMILIES
IN
ECONOMIC
%HOMELESSNESS.%THAT'S
A
VERY TYPICAL
SITUATION,
%AND
IT'S
BECOME MORE
AND
MORE
%TYPICAL.
%THE
PROGRAMS THAT I
WORK
WITH
%ARE
SEEING MORE
AND
MORE
YOUTH
%WHO
ARE
THREATENED
ECONOMICALLY%SO THAT
IT'S
NOT
SOLELY
FAMILY
%CONFLICT
THAT IS
LEADING
TO
%YOUTH
LEAVING THE
HOME OR
FORCED
%OUT OF THE HOME.
%THE
OTHER
THING
THAT I
THINK
%REALLY
STANDS OUT
TO
ME
ABOUT
%THIS
IS
HOW
REMARKABLY
RESILIENT%HE IS,
AND
WHEN
WE
APPROACH
OUR
%SERVICES AND
OUR
POLICIES
%REGARDING
YOUTH
OF
EXPERIENCING
%HOMELESSNESS OR
RUNAWAYS,%STRENGTH
LIES IN
THE
YOUNG
%PEOPLE
NOW,
AND
POLICIES NEED
TO
%REFLECT
THAT,
THAT WE HAVE
%OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD
ON
THOSE
%STRENGTHS, AND
THAT THOSE
%STRENGTHS ARE
UNIQUE AND
DEFINED
%BY
THE
PEOPLE WE
ARE
WORKING
%WITH, AND
SO
THAT
HIS
STRENGTH
%IS
SPORTS.
%SOMEBODY
ELSE'S
STRENGTH COULD%BE THE
ARTS
OR
MUSIC,
BUT THAT
%WE ARE
GIVING
YOUTH
WAYS
TO
%BUILD ON THOSE.
%>> YOU
KNOW,
YOU
WERE
TALKING
TO
%ME
ABOUT
HOW
THIS
IS
NOT
JUST
AN
%URBAN PROBLEM.
%IT'S
INCREASINGLY
KIND
OF
SPLIT
%EVENLY BETWEEN
RURAL
AND
URBAN
%AREAS.
%>>
ABSOLUTELY.
%THERE'S VERY
INTERESTING%RESEARCH THAT
IS
COMING
OUT
THAT
%WAS ACTUALLY
FUNDED
UNDER
THE
%RUNAWAY YOUTH HOME
ACT
AT
THE
%FEDERAL LEVEL
FROM
THE
CHAPLAIN
%HALL
FINDING
FREQUENCY OF
%HOMELESSNESS
IN
URBAN
YOUTH
IS
%THE
SAME,
FOLLOWING
USE
UP TO
%THE
AGE OF
24,
IT'S
1
IN
10,
%IT'S
REMARKABLY
COMMON,
AND
%YOUTH UNDER
18,
IT'S
1
OF
30.
%>>
SO,
WHAT
ARE
THE
NUMBERS
OF
%CHILDREN
SLEEPING IN
CARS
OR
%SHELTERS AS
OPPOSED TO
KIND
OF
%COUCH SURFING
ON
THE
THING
THAT
%HE
FOUND
HIMSELF
DOING?
%>>
SO
THOSE
NUMBERS WOULD
BE
%REFLECTED IN THE POINT
IN
TIME
%HOMELESS
COUNTS,
AND
I
DON'T
%HAVE THE
NUMBERS
READILY
%AVAILABLE, BUT THE
NUMBERS
%REFERENCED IN THE
BEGINNING OF
%THE
DOCUMENTARY
THAT
WE
ARE
%LOOKING AT
15,000
TO
19,000
%STUDENTS THAT ARE
HOMELESS EACH
%NIGHT.
%>> DO YOU
GET
THE
IMPRESSION
%THAT
THE
GENERAL
PUBLIC
%UNDERSTANDS
OR
IS AWARE OF
THIS,
%THESE
KINDS O
F
NUMBERS, THESE
%CHILDREN, THESE FAMILIES?
%>> I THINK
IT'S
SHOCKING.
%I
THINK
THAT
MOST OF
THE
GENERAL
%PUBLIC WOULD BE
SHOCKED
BY
HOW
%COMMON THIS
IS,
AND
THOSE
%NUMBERS
REFLECT,
NOT
NECESSARILY
%THEY ARE
YOUTH IN
THE
STREETS
SO
%THE POINT
IN
TIME
COUNTS W
E
LOOK
%AT
DO
NOT
NECESSARILY
REFLECT
%THE
FULL
SPECTRUM
OF
YOUTH
%INADEQUATELY
HOUSED, AND I
THINK
%WHEN
YOU
LOOK
AT
JAVANTE'S
%EXAMPLE, HE'S NOT
SHOWING
UP
ON
%THAT IF HE
HAS
A
COUCH
TO
STAY
%ON
OR
A
FRIEND
WHO
WILL
LET
HIM
%STAY FOR
A
COUPLE
NIGHTS,
THEN
%HE'S NOT
SHOWING
UP IN THE
%NUMBERS.
%HE
MIGHT
NOT
EVEN
B
E
REFLECTED%IN THE
SCHOOL
DISTRICT
NUMBERS.
%>> HOW
WELL
IS
WISCONSIN
%POSITIONED TO
HELP
THESE
%CHILDREN AND
THEIR
FAMILIES?
%>> WE HAVE
SOME
ENORMOUS
%STRENGTHS IN
OUR
STATE.
%THERE'S
BEEN
GOOD THING THAT IS
%HAPPENED ON
THE
STATE
LEVEL I
N
%TERMS O
F
MOVING
THE
SYSTEMS TO
%WORK MORE
CLOSELY
TOGETHER,
AND
%SO WE HAVE
RECENTLY
MOVED
THE
%JUVENILE
JUSTICE
CHILD
WELFARE
%RUNAWAY AND
HOMELESS YOUTH
%SERVICES TOGETHER UNDER THE
%DIDN'T
OF
CHILDREN
AND
FAMILIES,
%WHICH
IS
ALSO
HOUSING
OUR
%EFFORTS
AT
ANTI-HUMAN
%TRAFFICKING, AND THERE'S
A
REAL
%RECOGNITION BY PEOPLE WHO
ARE
%WORKING
THE
STATE
DEPARTMENTS%THAT THESE
ARE
NOT
INDIVIDUAL
%SILOS
OF
YOUTH,
THAT
THE
YOUTH
%THAT WE'RE
SERVING
OVERLAP,
AND
%THAT YOUTH
WHO
ARE
EXITING
THE
%CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEMS,
YOUTHS
%EXITING
THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE
%SYSTEMS
ARE
INCREDIBLY AT
RISK
%FOR
HOMELESSNESS,
AND
%RECOGNIZING THAT
AND
FOCUSING
ON
%THE
KIND
OF
OUTCOMES I
TALKED
%ABOUT
EARLIER, THAT
WE
ARE
%FOCUSING
ON
POSITIVE
OUTCOMES
%FOR THE YOUTH
AND
GIVING THEM
%SOMETHING TO
MOVE
TOWARDS
PUTS
%US
IN
A
GOOD
POSITION.
%THAT'S A
STRENGTH WE
HAVE
IN
%WISCONSIN.
%WE
NEED TO DO
MORE.
%WE
NEED
--
W
E
DO
NOT
HAVE
A
%COMPREHENSIVE
GUARANTEE OF
%SERVICES AS
OFFERED ON
THE
%FEDERAL LEVEL AND
AS
IS
OFFERED
%IN
SOME
STATES.
%MINNESOTA'S
A
GOOD
EXAMPLE OF
%THAT.
%THEY
HAVE
A
COMPREHENSIVE
%RUNAWAY YOUTH
ACT
THAT
FUNDING
%FOLLOWED, AND THAT'S
ALLOWED
%THEM
T
O
EXPAND THE
SERVICES
THAT
%THEY OFFER IN
TERMS
OF
SHELTER,
%IN
TERMS
OF
STREET
OUTREACH,
AND
%IN
TERMS OF
GIVING YOUTH
WHAT
%THEY
NEED,
WHETHER THAT
IS,
%LIKE, A
PLACE
TO
CHARGE
A CELL%PHONE AND
GET
A
MEAL
THAT
NIGHT,
%OR
TO
MOVE INTO
EDUCATIONAL
AND
%VOCATIONAL
SERVICES.
%>> WHAT
IS
THE
BIGGEST
RISK
FOR
%HOMELESS OR
RUNAWAY
TEEN
?
%>> WE
KNOW
THAT
THE
TIME
ON
THE
%STREET,
THE
FIRST
4
8
HOURS
IS
%INCREDIBLY RISKY,
AND
WHEN YOUTH
%ARE IN
THAT
SITUATION,
ONE
IN
%THREE WITHIN 48
HOURS WILL BE
%LURED INTO
PROSTITUTION.
%THESE
YOUTH
ARE
RESORTING TO
%USING THEIR
BODIES
TO
MEET
BASIC
%NEEDS, AND
THOSE
NEEDS
MAY
%INCLUDE MONEY, BUT
THEY ARE
ALSO
%A
PLACE
TO
STAY,
ALSO
JUST
A
%MEAL,
THAT
THE --
THERE'S
A
%LEVEL
OF
GRIMING
THAT
OCCURS
OCCURS%THAT IS
OFFERED THAT
NIGHT
THAT
%RESULTS I
N
GREATER
CRIMES.
%THAT'S
AN
ENORMOUS
RISK FOR
T
HE
%YOUNG PEOPLE
AND E
ENORMOUS COST%TO THE
SYSTEMS IN
THE
LONG TERM.
%>> WHAT ARE
THE
EMOTIONAL
TOLLS
%FOR YOUTH
IN
THESE
%CIRCUMSTANCES?%>> ONE OF
THE
POINTS
MADE IN THE
%DOCUMENTARY WAS
REGARDING
THE
%TRAUMA THAT'S
ASSOCIATED WITH
%LOSING YOUR HOUSE.
%THE
MOST
EFFECTIVE
SERVICES
FOR
%YOUTH
RECOGNIZE
THAT
TRAUMA THAT
%IS
INHERENT,
AND
THAT
ISN'T
T
O
%SAY
THAT EVERY
YOUTH
THAT
W
E
%WORK
WITH
HAS
PTSD,
BUT
WE
KNOW
%THAT
THE
RATES
OF
SUICIDE
AND
%DEPRESSION AND
PTSD
ARE
THREE
TO
%FOUR
TIMES
HIGHER
IN
RUNAWAY
AND
%HOMELESS
YOUTH
AND
THERE'S
AN
%INCREDIBLE RISK
ASSOCIATED WITH
%THAT.
%EVEN
WHEN
THE
EVENTS
THAT HAVE
%HAPPENED DON'T
LEAD
TO
%MANIFESTATION OF
THOSE
SYSTEMS,
%THE IMPACT
OF
WHAT HAS
HAPPENED
%IS STILL
THERE,
AND
SO
%RECOGNIZING THAT
YOUNG
PEOPLE
%THAT
RECEIVE
SERVICES
NEED
TO
%DEFINE
HOW
THOSE
HAPPEN
IN
THEIR
%OWN
WAY,
WHAT
THEY
NEED,
WHAT
%FEELS
SAFE
FOR
THEM,
THAT
WE
%CAN'T SAY
THIS
IS
HOW
THE
%SERVICES
NEED TO BE
PROVIDED,
%AND
THIS
IS
WHAT
YOU
NEED TO DO%IN ORDER
TO
HAVE
A
BED.
%>>
NOW,
YOU'RE
ENGAGED IN
STREET
%OUTREACH.
%WHAT
DOES
THAT
LOOK LIKE?
%>>
STREET OUTREACH
IS
ONE
%SPECTRUM OF
SERVICES
THAT CAN BE
%PROVIDED TO
RUNAWAY AND
HOMELESS
%YOUTH.
%IT
REALLY
DOES
USE
A
HARM
%REDUCTION
MODEL, SO
KNOWING THAT
%YOUTH ARE ON
THE
STREET, THE
%WORKERS
OFFER, OF
COURSE,
ACCESS
%TO
A
SHELTER.
%THAT
IS
A
PENNANT
OF
SERVICE
%PROVISION,
BUT
ABOUT, WHAT
DO
%YOU
NEED
TODAY?
%WHAT DO YOU
NEED TO
BE
S
AFE?
%WHAT
D
O
YOU
NEED
TO
PREVENT
%THOSE
CHOICES W
E
TALKED ABOUT
%THAT
IF
THERE'S
SOMEBODY
AROUND
%THE CORNER
OFFERING
YOU
%SOMETHING ELSE,
WHAT
DO
YOU
NEED%IN
ORDER TO BE
ABLE T
O
MAKE
YOUR
%CHOICE ON
YOUR
OWN?
%SO
MAYBE
THAT'S
A
BED,
MAYBE
%IT'S
TRANSPORTATION,
MAYBE
IT'S
%ACCESS T
O
A
HEALTHCARE
CLINIC,
%FOOD,
VOUCHERS FOR
MEALS.
%>> VERY
BRIEFLY,
WITH
ONLY 3
0
%SECONDS
LEFT,
HOW
DO
PEOPLE
THAT
%NEED
THEM
CONNECT TO THE
KINDS
%OF
SERVICES
PROVIDED
BY
PEOPLE
%LIKE
YOURSELVES
AND
OTHER
%ADVOCATES?%>>
THERE'S
THE
NATIONAL
RUNAWAY
%SITBOARD, THE
NATIONALLY
FUNDED
%HOTLINE.
%CONTACT
OUR
AGENCY
THROUGH
OUR
%WEBSITE,
AND WE
HAVE
16
LOCAL
%PROGRAMS
THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN
%THAT CAN
BE
ACCESSED THROUGH
OUR
%WEBSITE.
%>> ALL
RIGHT, THANK
YOU,
AN%THANK YOU
FOR
YOU
R
WORK.
%>> MY
PLEASURE, THANK YOU.
%>>> THAT IS
OUR
PROGRAM
FOR
%TONIGHT.
%FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
O
N
YOUTH
%HOMELESSNESS
INCLUDING
LINKS
TO
%AGENCIES
PROVIDING
HELP,
CLICK
%INTO
THE "HEAR &
NOW" WEB
PAGE
%AT
WPTV.ORG/HEREANDNEW.
%I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
%HAVE
A
SAFE NEW YEAR'S
HOLIDAY.
%♪ ♪
%>>>
FUNDING
FOR "HEAR &
NOW" IS
%PROVIDED
IN
PART
BY
FRIENDS
OF