How to Better How to Better Serve the Serve the Underserved Underserved
Presenters Presenters -PINNACLE Institute 2018 PINNACLE Institute 2018 -2019 2019 Angel Abounader Angel Abounader -Commerce Public Library Jeff Fisher - Forsyth County Public Library Jeff Fisher Asha Hagood Asha Hagood - GLASS, Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services Heath Lee Heath Lee - Sequoyah Regional Library This template is free to use under Creative Commons Attribution license . 2
Serving the Underserved Serving the Underserved -Homeless Homeless Patrons Patrons ◈ Who and Where are homeless patrons? ◈ Staff-working to serve ◈ Best Practices 3
Homelessness in the United States Homelessness in the United States ● 550,000 per night in US 550,000 per night in US (2018) (2018) ● 65% sheltered 65% sheltered ● 20% rural 20% rural ● Over 50% found near 50 Over 50% found near 50 largest cities largest cities ● Slight increase in last three Slight increase in last three years years ● Causes Causes ○ Job loss Job loss ○ Domestic abuse Domestic abuse ○ Housing costs Housing costs ○ Disabilities Disabilities ○ Mental/Physical illness Mental/Physical illness 4
Homelessness in Georgia Homelessness in Georgia ● 1.72% of total United States 1.72% of total United States homeless population homeless population ● 62% sheltered 62% sheltered ● 9,499 homeless on a given night 9,499 homeless on a given night ● 9 homeless for every 10,000 people 9 homeless for every 10,000 people ● Homeless population is declining Homeless population is declining 5 Photo Credit: Ruhrfisch
Serving Patrons Who Are Homeless Serving Patrons Who Are Homeless ◈ Staff ◆ Don’t see the results of their help ◆ Dissatisfaction ◆ Results Accountability ◇ High Quality Service ◇ Don’t see the quality of service 6
Through the Eyes of Georgia Librarians Accomodations Perception Resources -Invisible -Pity HV AC Share resources, -Mistrust -Mental illness Public Computers,WiFi Guest passes, -Accepting -rule breakers Comfy Seating A restricted PINES card -Compassionate Books, magazines, etc. Space to sleep, -Body Odor -Welcoming WiFi Allow food & beverage -Non-judgemental Bathrooms,water -Unsafe -Indifference 7
Partnering -Local Churches -Police Departments -Health Dept -Family Promise -United Way - DFAC -Dept Human Resources -Chatham-Savannah Authorities -Family Connections - Y MCA -Homeless Resource Network -ACTS -TILT -Oconee Area Resources -Advantage Behaviour 8
Up to date Through the eyes of librarians continued referral list Social Worker Training Space Shelter Contact 16 Not Aware Toiletries Many were aware & interested in training Showe r Laundry A few had participated in training 9
Anecdotes of Engagement Using computers Turning a blind eye to sleeping on the porch. Allowing homeless to sleep in chairs & snor Writing an accomodation for work It is open to all patrons Donating weeded books to shelters Trying to ignore smells 10
BEST PRACTICES As the numbers of poor As the numbers of poor children, adults, and children, adults, and families in America rises, families in America rises, so does the so does the urgent urgent need need for libraries to for libraries to effectively effectively respond to their respond to their needs needs . . - ALA Website ALA Website 11
THE SUPER 7! ● CONSIDER ASSEMBLING ● ESTABLISH A POLICY STATISTICS ● ESTABLISH REGULAR ● COMPILE A LIST OF PROFESSIONAL LOCAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ● ESTABLISH A SAFETY ● CONSIDER APPOINTING PLAN OF ACTION A STAFF PERSON ● ESTABLISH COMMUNITY 12 PARTNERSHIPS
Resources Georgia Family Connection Partnership - tool for gathering stats and indicators of child, family and community well- being http://gafcp.org/georgia-profiles/ Outreach to the homeless http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/outreachtounderservedpopulations/servicespoor United Way 211 https://www.unitedway.org/find-your-united-way/ HUD Homeless services https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/homeless 13
Resources continued Georgia CoC (Continua of Care) https://tinyurl.com/y3ru83s2 Serving Mentally Ill patrons (often intersects with homelessness) https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/c-d/continuing-ed/conted-ials/archives-webinar/serving-mentally-ill GLASS (Disability often intersects with homelessness as well) https://georgialibraries.org/glass/ 2017 Report on Homelessness https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2017_bos_coc_pit_report_final_2017.pdf 14
THANK YOU! 15
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