FACES OF HOMELESS SPEAKERS BUREAU

The Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau provides a forum for currently and formerly homeless men and women to educate the Atlanta community by sharing their stories. The program’s number one goal is to break down stereotypes and foster a greater awareness of the socioeconomic conditions that contribute to and exacerbate poverty and homelessness in the United States. Through hands-on education we strive to inspire community involvement in the fight to end homelessness on the local, state and national levels.

Over the past year, the Atlanta Speakers’ Bureau has educated over 5,000 community members in high schools, colleges, religious organizations, and community groups throughout Georgia.  Generally our presentations run anywhere from 30-90 minutes, depending on your organization’s preference. 

The presentation generally follows the outline below:

  •  Introduction 
  •  Short film clip (5-10 minutes- this is optional) 
  •  Statistics and stereotypes
  •  Causes of homelessness  
  •  Personal accounts from 1-3 speakers. 
  •  Q&A and ways YOU can get involved

The presentation can be formatted for a general audience or tailored to accommodate time constraints or involve specific topics.

The National Coalition for the Homeless created the Speakers’ Bureau in response to a significant increase in crimes committed against the homeless by young adults and children as young as 10 years old. Alarming trends like this make it even more crucial for communities to understand homelessness and its causes. We have found our presentation to be an invaluable experience for youth and adults, because it is an uncommon opportunity to have open dialogue with individuals who have experienced homelessness.  The presentations are also beneficial for the men and women who are able to share their stories.  We have seen our speakers experience a remarkable amount of healing through experiencing the positive, respectful environments made possible by the organizations and community groups that participate in the program.   

For more information about the Faces of Homelessness Speaker's Bureau, contact Molly Williams at the following:

Molly Williams, Americorps*VISTA
Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau
Project Station - The Gateway Center
http://www.facesofhomelessness.org
mwillians@gatewayctr.org
404-215-6617