lessons learned in ending homelessness bridges out of poverty 2012 arizona housing conferencelloyd...
TRANSCRIPT
Lessons Learned in Ending Homelessness
Bridges Out of Poverty
2012 Arizona Housing Conference Lloyd S. PendletonTucson, Arizona Special Advisor
USICH Executive Director
http://www.usich.gov2
Overview and key points
• Opening Doors – Federal Plan on Homelessness – June 2010 • Goals:
1. Finish the job of ending chronic homelessness by 20152. Prevent and end homelessness among Veterans by 20153. Prevent and end homelessness for families, youth, and children
by 20204. Set a path to ending all types of homelessness
• Utah Committed to homeless plan
http://www.usich.gov3
Utah Committed to Chronically Homeless Individuals
• Spoken at this conference the last two years about our organizational and housing first approach
• State Homeless Coordinating Committee chaired by Lt. Governor
• Organized 12 Local Homeless Coordinating Committees chaired by an elected official – each has a ten-year plan aligned with state ten-year plan
• Used pilots to test new approaches and get buy in – especially housing first
• Re-purposed homeless funding towards housing and providing supportive services with the housing
• Reduced chronic homeless population by 72% from 2005 – 542 remaining
• Committed to offer housing to all by 2015
• Today I will share concepts in working with individuals in poverty
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“Men build too many walls and not enough bridges”
Sir Isaac Newton
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Improving Economic Stability
• Poverty is a significant contributor to instability and homelessness • Economic classes -- poverty, middle class, and wealth – each has hidden rules (language) • Business and educational systems operate on middle class hidden rules • Middle Class hidden rules –Understanding this allows a person to increase their economic stability
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Poverty
What is poverty and how is it generally
defined?
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US Censes Bureau
•The Census Bureau defines poverty -- The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country.• In 2011 the US poverty threshold for a family of four was $22,350 (DHHS)
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Broader Perspective
• We will explore a broader perspective of poverty• Make a paradigm shift in our view of poverty
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Poverty is More than Money
A broader definition of poverty is “the extent to which an individual goes without resources” and can include:
• Emotional• Mental• Spiritual• Financial• Physical• Support Systems• Relationships/Role Models• Knowledge of Hidden Rules• Coping Strategies
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Leaving Poverty
The ability to leave poverty is more dependent on other resources than it is upon financial resources.
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General Types of Poverty
• Generational – Two generations or more in poverty• Situational – Caused by circumstances
• What are some circumstances that cause situational poverty?
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Behaviors & Circumstances That Promote Poverty
• Dependency• Single parenthood• Negative behavior of individuals and groups• Values/work ethic• Breakup of families/family structure• Addition, mental illness• Language experience
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Mental Models
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Mental Models
• Are internal pictures of how the world works • Exist below awareness• Are theories-in-use, often unexamined• Determine how we act• Can help or interfere with learning
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Dialogue
For a dialogue to occur we must suspend our
mental model
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Economic Poverty
What does it look like?
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Small Group Discussion
• Think of an adult in generational poverty.
• Imagine that you followed that person for a year, observing what happened and how he/she spent his/her time.
• Write your observations.
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Mental Model for Poverty
• Fast food • Check cashing • Temp services • Used-car lots • Dollar store
Businesses• Pawn shop • Liquor store • Corner store • Rent-to-own • Laundromat
Church
Schools Police
Social Services
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Generational Poverty – Mental Model
• It is a description of the concrete experience. • It is an abstract representation of poverty.• It shows part to whole.• It depicts the relative importance and interlocking nature of the elements.• It is a depiction of the trap: no future story, no choice, no power.
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Creating a Future Story
• Poverty -- Living in the moment and largely based on feelings, thus three concepts need to be nurtured:• Future Orientation – Tell me how this moment plays out for me in the future• Choice – So busy surviving I do not see choice; help me see where and what are my choices• Power – Often fighting social services, healthcare, & criminal justice system; help me see my power and how to effectively use it.
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Middle Class
Mental model of what it looks like in
middle class
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What Does Middle Class Look Like?
• What issues do you face each day?• What activities are you involved in?• What do you think or worry about?• What businesses/stores/facilities do you frequent to support your way of life?• What relations do you have with schools, police, church, etc.?
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Middle class Mental Model
Businesses
Church
Schools Police
Social Services
• Shopping/strip malls • Bookstores • Banks • Fitness centers • Vet clinics
• Office complexes• Coffee shops• Restaurants/bars • Golf courses
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Wealth Mental Model
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Summary
The PoorMiddle Class
WealthSurvival
Relationships
Entertainment
Work
Achievement
Material security
Political, financial, social connections
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Survival
• Could you survive in poverty?• Could you survive in middle class?• Could you survive in wealth?
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Hidden Rules
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Hidden Rules Defined
• In all classes, groups, and cultures, there are hidden rules about food, dress, decorum, etc. • Hidden rules are the unspoken cues and habits of a group that an individual does or does not fit.• A child will learn the rules of survival in their environment by breathing – no flip chart needed• You know you have broken a hidden rule when there’s an awkward silence, or you get “the look”
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What are some of the hidden rules in organizations to which you
belong, i.e. work, church, volunteer group, etc?
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Possessions
POVERTYPeople
MIDDLE CLASSThings
WEALTHOne-of-a-kind objects, legacies, pedigrees
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Time
Poverty – Present most important -- Decisions made for the moment based on feelings of survival
Middle Class – Future most important-- Decisions made against future ramifications
Wealth – Traditions & history most important -- Decisions made partially on basis of
traditions/decorum
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Money
Poverty - To be used, spentMiddle Class - To be managedWealth - To be conserved,
invested
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Food
Poverty - Did you have enough?- quantity important
Middle Class - Did you like it?- Quality important
Wealth - Was it presented well?- Presentation important
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Clothing
Poverty - Valued for individual style and expression of personality
Middle Class - Valued for its quality & acceptance into norm of middle class
Wealth - Valued for its artistic sense & expression
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Education
Poverty - Valued & revered but abstract and not a reality
Middle Class - Crucial for climbing success ladder & making money
Wealth - Necessary tradition for making money and maintaining connections
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Language
Poverty - Casual register - Language is about survival
Middle Class - Formal register - Language is about
negotiationWealth - Formal register
- Language is about networking
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Registers of LanguageREGISTER EXPLANATION
FROZENLanguage that is always the same. For example: Lord’s Prayer, wedding vows, etc.
FORMALThe standard sentence syntax and word choice of work and school. Has complete sentences and specific word choices.
CONSULTATIVEFormal register when used in conversation. Discourse pattern not quite as direct as formal register.
CASUAL
Language between friends and is characterized by a 400- to 800-word vocabulary. Word choice general and not specific. Conversation dependent upon non-verbal assists. Sentence syntax often incomplete.
INTIMATELanguage between lovers or twins. Language of sexual harassment.
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Research – Children 1-3 age by Economic Households
Number of words exposed to
Economic group Affirmations (strokes)
Prohibitions (discounts)
10 million words
Welfare 1 for every 2
20 million words
Working class 2 for every 1
30 million words
Professional 5 for every 1
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Key Points
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Key Point
Economic class is a continuous line, not a clear-cut distinction.
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Key Point
Poverty occurs in all races and in all countries.
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Key Point
An individual brings with him/her the hidden rules of
the class in which he/she was raised.
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Key Point
We cannot blame the victims of poverty for
being in poverty.
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Key Point
We can neither excuse persons from poverty, nor scold them for not knowing. As professionals we provide support, insistence, and expectations.
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Key Point
Schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms and use the hidden
rules of middle class.
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Key Point
For the poor to be successful, we must understand their hidden rules and teach the rules that will help them to be successful at school, at work, and in the community.
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Key point
In order to move from poverty to middle class or from middle class to wealth, an individual must give up relationships (at least for a short time) for achievement.
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Key Point
By building relationships of mutual respect with those served, we are
assisting them in building resources needed to move toward stability or
maintain it, AND we can be transformed too.
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“No problem can be solved from the same consciousness
that created it” Albert Einstein
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Helping, Fixing, Serving
“When you help, you see life weak. When you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life a whole. Fixing and helping may be, the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul.”
Naomi Remen
http://www.usich.gov53
• What will do differently based on what learned today?• Can you make a difference in the lives of those with whom you work?• How we “help” is very important! • Henry experience
No significant learning occurs
without a significant
relationship. –Dr. James Comer