Homeless Night Out

[slacker]

Irregular News for 11.10.06

 

Gainesville, FL -- Marvin Orr stood on the grass of Gainesville's Downtown Community Plaza Wednesday, soaking in the blues and watching as a pair of women danced nearby.

 

As the second annual Homeless Night Out wound down, Orr, who has been a homeless Gainesville resident for six years, said he was having a great time.

 

"Everything was great," Orr said. "I wish they had this every night."

 

Dozens of people wandered through the plaza, browsing at displays set up by homeless service providers, eating a "Very Early Breakfast" that started at 7 p.m. and listening to jazz, rock and gospel music.

 

While the audience at last year's event was split between homeless and "housed" residents, this year's night out drew a crowd of primarily homeless residents. This year's event, in addition to being a recognition of National Homelessness and Hunger Month, was designed to connect residents with services, said Alachua County Commissioner Rodney Long, an organizer of the event.

 

The plaza was ringed with service providers, who met with homeless residents while music played and politicians gave speeches lauding efforts made in the past year to end homelessness in the county.

 

The night out is a valuable way of keeping homelessness in the minds of Gainesville's residents and helping build bonds among services providers, said Xan Zaine, administrator of Joshua's Journey, a 15-month-old program that provides residential substance-abuse programs for men.

 

"This is going to stir up awareness in the community," said Zaine, who was homeless herself before entering a similar program eight years ago. "And it gets providers together so we can connect and interconnect."

 

At the first Homeless Night Out last year, residents, officials and local celebrities were encouraged to sleep out on the plaza as part of an effort to raise awareness about homelessness. The effort also celebrated the countywide 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, which was completed shortly afterward.

 

But this year, downtown businesses objected to a sleepout, arguing it would send the wrong message when they and some city officials were working to reduce the homeless presence on the plaza.

 

The event still achieved its most important goals, Long said. "Sleeping over night is just symbolically showing your support for people that have to go through this every day," he said. "The important part is the services."

 

At last year's event, Donna Summerall had just finished moving into an apartment after spending time homeless.

 

"Never forget where you came from," Summerall said as she watched the festivities Wednesday. You could always end up going back, she said.

 

source

[huskernumerouno]

Good idea

[AR Husker Fan]

 

***SNIP***

 

As the second annual Homeless Night Out wound down...

 

***SNIP***

Aren't they always out - not just once a year? I mean, they're homeless...