We had our first educational class and are THRILLED with our turnout! Hand Up Housing wants to help educate our community and lessen fear of those experiencing homelessness. Tuesday's Street Homeless 101 class at Riverbend Family Ministries in Wood River helped to do that.
Although no single class on homelessness could be comprehensive, we did our best to introduce thoughts and ideas that provoked our participants to think and learn more on their own and keep talking about this important topic in our community. We learned about common factors and things to look for when serving included:
1. Local statistics: calls for homeless help, numbers, encampments, and a coordinated effort to help
2. Lived life experience from someone who lived on the street and is now giving back to the community and helping others
3. Introducing a different perspective and definitions of homelessness
4. The difference between "inreach" and "outreach"
5. And so much more!
We would like to ask you to save a date to join us to talk even further. On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, we will host a larger presentation in Alton. This presentation will be on Homelessness Reexamined: Solutions for Madison County, Illinois.
To let us know you are coming to the February 11th presentation or to schedule a Homelessness 101 class for 2025 for your group, please contact us and let us know. We look forward to serving those experiencing homelessness in Madison County with you in the future!
Blessings,
Dani
Director of Community Services
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