This weekend, we made it to Washington D.C. for the 2023 National Conference on Ending Homelessness and Capitol Hill Day. This event brings together service providers, system leaders, advocates, and people with lived experience of homelessness to learn from each other, discuss best practices, and share new innovations in the field.
The CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Ann Marie Olivia, shared her vast experience of supporting those living on the margins of society.
We also met with Jennifer Sellars, Director of Research and Advocacy at The Lord's Place in West Palm Beach, Florida for a second interview. Sellars came to D.C. to see what is new on the horizon for support for those who call the streets their home.
On Sunday, the day before the event, we walked around D.C. and had the very raw opportunity to film with several individuals who each day find themselves sleeping in a tent on the hard, hot pavement amongst the everyday passersby residents and tourists in the city.
Mary, Thomas, and Marcus who we spent time with shared their personal journeys and struggles experiencing homelessness. Even Marcus, who works as a dishwasher said he was just grateful he had a tent he can call home after a long day of work.
Mary shared with us her very insightful views on this growing problem. As I sat and talked and listened to Mary, I could not stop thinking that this extremely passionate, highly intelligent woman will teach so many of us about what it's like to be a woman living on the streets.
It's so important to understand that all they want is to be respected for the journey they are on. As Mary so powerfully stated, “Don't pretend you don't see us!!!”
It’s hard to imagine that in the shadows of the White House and other iconic government buildings, and monuments there is a homeless issue taking place. As Ann Olivia had explained in her interview, today's homelessness is far more complicated than what we once recognized 10 or 20 years ago. It is so clear that today's poverty-stricken issues stretch well beyond what we once knew as a societal issue.
We are certain that our film will build a deeper, better understanding that those living in these unimaginable conditions are no different than you or me who can go home each day to a roof over our head and a hot meal.
To learn more about the historical work they are doing at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness, please visit https://endhomelessness.org
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