I do not usually begin my writing by shouting from the mountaintop. But today, I want to be heard, and I need your help. I seek answers and suspect you brilliant souls have them.
Help me understand.
Here we go. Without judgment and finger-pointing, I simply intend to share my personal experience and recognize I stare at you with a “nativity” tattoo stamped on my forehead and my mouth hanging open in disbelief.
You know the statement, “You don’t know what you don’t know?” Well, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. And months later, I still do not know.
In March of this year, I reached out to a dear friend, Dennis Pitocco, The For-Good Man. He is the Chief Reimaginator of the award-winning 360° Nation. I wanted him to help me turn a vision into reality. My goal was to create an anthology with real stories from those living on the streets/homeless/unsheltered. We met and never turned back. Unsheltered: Voices from the Street was born.
Gathering genuine and authentic stories is not easy, even for those who want to publish their own novel or hope to educate the world. When it comes down to dumping your emotions and real-life experiences on a piece of paper and throwing it out into the world to judge, it is damn scary. I have worked with hundreds of authors and six anthology projects over the past two years, so trust me when I say gathering stories is a challenge. And now, I wanted to share stories from those experiencing a global epidemic such as homelessness. Was I crazy?
Dennis and I knew we needed patience, compassion, persistence, and to ensure our story collectors were “safe.” We hopped on the educational roller-coaster of a lifetime.
Again, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
It didn’t take long before we realized we needed a team, those who were willing to offer their experience, knowledge, and time for this “for-good” project. We sought support from those willing to give their time to elevate this project and spread our message of changing the narrative and perception many have towards the homeless or unsheltered. We sought a publisher, editors, marketers, media partners, and nonprofits. As we launched this project, supporters quickly jumped on board. David Berenbaum, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has written the Foreward. Renato (Ron) Rampolla has graciously offered his magnificent photo for the cover. And our team has gradually grown. With one exception…
Where in the hell are the nonprofits?
Naively, I believed nonprofits would be the first to fall out of the woodwork praising us for our efforts. AFTER ALL, they have screamed for help on every commercial I have ever seen. This project is getting global attention, and we are shouting, “We are here to help!” And no one is answering our cries.
As we began gathering stories, I thought nonprofits would be the safest place to collect stories; it is their lane, and they would know which subjects need the most attention and offer examples of how we can all help. It is their population, their “customers.” These organizations and their volunteers dedicate every waking hour and hard-earned dollar to reduce the number of those on the street. So…
WHERE ARE YOU?
As I began writing today, I reiterated that I am sharing my personal experience. I do not have the answers. I am seeking them.
We have contacted multiple nonprofits via radio shows, podcasts, writing, email, phone calls, word of mouth, and NOT ONE…that is right…NOT ONE has joined our team or even responded. Did you hear me? NOT ONE!
I am sad, but I am also livid. This project offers a pro-bono team to shine a light on what they do and need. We have created a section of the book to share their mission with the world, educate us on their population and programs, and offer recommendations so we can be a part of the solution, not the problem. Help us reduce the judgment and inaccurate perceptions many have of the unsheltered. Mutilate the myths! I heard something put so eloquently the other day regarding not all homeless people are druggies. “The streets introduce many to drugs, and drugs introduce many to the street.”
I ask you, what can we do? How can we help organizations understand we are here to help? We are here to learn. WHAT CAN I DO?
After working with clients, customers, and employees for over three decades, I wonder if the lack of action is due to the dark, dreary news of the world: wars, economy, or simply exhaustion. You tell me.
Talking about wanting to take action IS NOT taking action.
We cannot share stories with the world if we do not have stories to share. We need to listen and ask those in need what THEY need. If this doesn’t happen, then we can remain uneducated, naïve souls rambling our mouths while sitting in our recliners complaining about the problem and not taking action.
Help me understand. Please! And if you’re a nonprofit serving the homeless population, help us help your mission by contacting us here.
