summer 2009

Dear Friends:

I recently read an article in the Dayton Daily News titled “Economy forces adult children to move home.”  I was struck by the article and the familiarity of its story.  I have seen all too many times this scenario and have become accustomed to this housing option for many people facing homelessness.  I often use this type housing arrangement as an example when talking to groups about homelessness.  Many people have taken relatives and friends in to stay after losing a job, going through a divorce or even a domestic violence situation, without recognizing that what you are doing is helping someone who is homeless.  What many people don’t understand is this too is the face of homelessness. 

When I speak to groups about homelessness I often tell them that someone doesn’t wake up one day and say this is the day I will become homeless, kids don’t grow up and choose to become homeless, homeless people don’t remain homeless because they want to.  Ask a homeless person what they want and I will bet you their response will be to have a home.  We all can agree that we want our economy to pick up, jobs to be created and/or retained, healthcare to be manageable, education to be attainable, our retirement secure and housing to be affordable.  Homeless people are no different than you and I in terms of their hopes, wishes and dreams.

There is a different face of homelessness now.   This face could be your family member, your neighbor, your friend, or your coworker.   It is someone who can no longer afford to live in their home, who has lost their job, their home and might have suffered from an illness, and did not have the family support system similar to the one in the newspaper article, they have no one to turn to.    

The Other Place has become the support system for those without anywhere to turn to for help.  We are seeing record numbers of newly homeless people, those who have lived their entire life without assistance and are now faced with the reality of entering into a homeless shelter.  They enter scared and embarrassed and unable to navigate a social system that is completely foreign to them.  It is our goal to house these people immediately in affordable housing, assist them in securing employment and appropriate benefits and most importantly to help regain the self respect that has been lost in these difficult times.  We can not do this alone!  The Other Place wants to continue to provide support for those in need, but we need your help.  I ask you to step up like you have so many times and help us help others!

Respectfully,

Tina M. Patterson

Tina M. Patterson
Executive Director

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