Echo Fields, retired SOU professor of sociology, will join the Jefferson Center for a discussion of Homelessness in our Region. The discussion will focus on key issues relating to homelessness.
These include: problems in gathering reliable data on the homeless population; how this information relates to stereotypes about homelessness arising from stigma, emotion, and punitive impulses; what needs to change in our social systems in order to implement solutions to homelessness; and what kinds of actions individuals and non-profit organizations might undertake.
Blaming and trying to change homeless individuals is unlikely to resolve the problem, and such approaches let “comfortable people” off the hook for the need for system changes. Changing these intersecting social systems takes time and requires collaboration among government, non-profit organizations and citizen volunteers.
How do we get there? The program will be held in the Jefferson Center space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak St., in Ashland. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. If you have questions, please contact Tony Davis (tonydavis0@ gmail.com).
