It’s so important that we talk to our friends, neighbors, and loved ones about homelessness and the issues surrounding it. Everyone is taking in information all the time and the only way to build a more compassionate community and to reduce harmful stigma and stereotypes around homelessness is to have real and honest conversations together. Below are some conversation starters that we used for our virtual mixer at the June 15th Building Bridges Event. Give them a try with folks in your community and let us know how it goes!
Depending on who you’re engaging with, it might be helpful to start with some basic community agreements for your conversation. Here are four to get you started:
- This is a kind and compassionate space. Hate speech will not be tolerated. If you don’t agree with something said, respectfully challenge the idea—not the person.
- Be aware of power dynamics. Consider the space you consume and that everyone has different life experiences than you.
- Engage and be present. Practice mindful listening, share your thoughts and take care of yourself while doing so.
- We are all learning together. Approach ideas and topics with curiosity. Sometimes new ideas can feel uncomfortable—take a moment to sit with that discomfort and explore what comes up.
POLL #1
Question: Which of the following statements is false?
- For every person housed in San Francisco, there are nearly three people newly experiencing homelessness.
- Most individuals experiencing homelessness in the Bay Area come from somewhere else.
- It costs $700,000 to create a single, new unit of permanent affordable housing.
- San Francisco spends over $5,000 per tent per month to shelter individuals experiencing homelessness outside, which is 2.5 times the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco
Answer:
False: Most individuals experiencing homelessness in the Bay Area come from somewhere else. While a lot of people may cite anecdotal evidence to the contrary, according to the most recent Point-in-time count, 60% of people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco have been living here for 5 or more years. 43% have been living in SF for at least 10 years. This shows us that many of the people who are experiencing homelessness are not, in fact, recently here from somewhere else. And, even if they are, there are plenty of reasons that people move to San Francisco, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have access to support and services.
Follow Up Discussion Questions:
- Were you correct/incorrect?
- What was your source of information?
- What led you to you choosing the answer that you did?
- What did you learn, if anything?
- What are some additional questions you have now?
POLL #2
Question: Who is ultimately accountable for advancing a solution to homelessness?
- The city of San Francisco (city departments and elected officials)
- Local nonprofits
- Local institutions that contribute disproportionately to growing inequality
- Individuals experiencing homelessness are responsible for getting help for themselves
- Other
Answer:
This is an opinion question and there is technically no “correct” answer. See how people responded and start a discussion with the following questions to guide you.
Follow Up Discussion Questions:
- What did you choose and why?
- If you chose other, what was your answer to the question?
- What made you choose your answer?
- How do you think these different groups need to work together?
POLL #3
Question: On a scale of 1-10, how much of a role do you think that you have to play in working towards a solution to chronic homelessness (1 being no role at all; 10 being very involved)?
Answer:
This is an opinion question and there is technically no “correct” answer. See how people responded and start a discussion with the following questions to guide you.
Follow Up Discussion Questions:
- Where did you put yourself on the scale and why?
- What role do you have to play?
- How can you get involved?
- What ideas do you have?
- How will you hold yourselves and each other accountable?
Got Questions or Feedback?
We hope these serve as a helpful jumping-off point for having conversations with the people in your community. Let us know if you have any questions or feedback about these prompts by emailing us at [email protected].