Lessons Learned in Ending Homelessness Bridges Out of Poverty 2012 Arizona Housing ConferenceLloyd...

Lessons Learned in Ending Homelessness

Bridges Out of Poverty

2012 Arizona Housing Conference Lloyd S. PendletonTucson, Arizona Special Advisor

USICH Executive Director

http://www.usich.gov2

Overview and key points

• Opening Doors – Federal Plan on Homelessness – June 2010 • Goals:

1. Finish the job of ending chronic homelessness by 20152. Prevent and end homelessness among Veterans by 20153. Prevent and end homelessness for families, youth, and children

by 20204. Set a path to ending all types of homelessness

• Utah Committed to homeless plan


Utah Committed to Chronically Homeless Individuals

• Spoken at this conference the last two years about our organizational and housing first approach

• State Homeless Coordinating Committee chaired by Lt. Governor

• Organized 12 Local Homeless Coordinating Committees chaired by an elected official – each has a ten-year plan aligned with state ten-year plan

• Used pilots to test new approaches and get buy in – especially housing first

• Re-purposed homeless funding towards housing and providing supportive services with the housing

• Reduced chronic homeless population by 72% from 2005 – 542 remaining

• Committed to offer housing to all by 2015

• Today I will share concepts in working with individuals in poverty


“Men build too many walls and not enough bridges”

Sir Isaac Newton


Improving Economic Stability

• Poverty is a significant contributor to instability and homelessness • Economic classes -- poverty, middle class, and wealth – each has hidden rules (language) • Business and educational systems operate on middle class hidden rules • Middle Class hidden rules –Understanding this allows a person to increase their economic stability


Poverty

What is poverty and how is it generally

defined?


US Censes Bureau

•The Census Bureau defines poverty -- The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country.• In 2011 the US poverty threshold for a family of four was $22,350 (DHHS)


Broader Perspective

• We will explore a broader perspective of poverty• Make a paradigm shift in our view of poverty


Poverty is More than Money

A broader definition of poverty is “the extent to which an individual goes without resources” and can include:

• Emotional• Mental• Spiritual• Financial• Physical• Support Systems• Relationships/Role Models• Knowledge of Hidden Rules• Coping Strategies


Leaving Poverty

The ability to leave poverty is more dependent on other resources than it is upon financial resources.


General Types of Poverty

• Generational – Two generations or more in poverty• Situational – Caused by circumstances

• What are some circumstances that cause situational poverty?


Behaviors & Circumstances That Promote Poverty

• Dependency• Single parenthood• Negative behavior of individuals and groups• Values/work ethic• Breakup of families/family structure• Addition, mental illness• Language experience


Mental Models


Mental Models

• Are internal pictures of how the world works • Exist below awareness• Are theories-in-use, often unexamined• Determine how we act• Can help or interfere with learning


Dialogue

For a dialogue to occur we must suspend our

mental model


Economic Poverty

What does it look like?


Small Group Discussion

• Think of an adult in generational poverty.

• Imagine that you followed that person for a year, observing what happened and how he/she spent his/her time.

• Write your observations.


Mental Model for Poverty

• Fast food • Check cashing • Temp services • Used-car lots • Dollar store

Businesses• Pawn shop • Liquor store • Corner store • Rent-to-own • Laundromat

Church

Schools Police

Social Services


Generational Poverty – Mental Model

• It is a description of the concrete experience. • It is an abstract representation of poverty.• It shows part to whole.• It depicts the relative importance and interlocking nature of the elements.• It is a depiction of the trap: no future story, no choice, no power.


Creating a Future Story

• Poverty -- Living in the moment and largely based on feelings, thus three concepts need to be nurtured:• Future Orientation – Tell me how this moment plays out for me in the future• Choice – So busy surviving I do not see choice; help me see where and what are my choices• Power – Often fighting social services, healthcare, & criminal justice system; help me see my power and how to effectively use it.


Middle Class

Mental model of what it looks like in

middle class


What Does Middle Class Look Like?

• What issues do you face each day?• What activities are you involved in?• What do you think or worry about?• What businesses/stores/facilities do you frequent to support your way of life?• What relations do you have with schools, police, church, etc.?


Middle class Mental Model

Businesses

Church

Schools Police

Social Services

• Shopping/strip malls • Bookstores • Banks • Fitness centers • Vet clinics

• Office complexes• Coffee shops• Restaurants/bars • Golf courses


Wealth Mental Model


Summary

The PoorMiddle Class

WealthSurvival

Relationships

Entertainment

Work

Achievement

Material security

Political, financial, social connections


Survival

• Could you survive in poverty?• Could you survive in middle class?• Could you survive in wealth?


Hidden Rules


Hidden Rules Defined

• In all classes, groups, and cultures, there are hidden rules about food, dress, decorum, etc. • Hidden rules are the unspoken cues and habits of a group that an individual does or does not fit.• A child will learn the rules of survival in their environment by breathing – no flip chart needed• You know you have broken a hidden rule when there’s an awkward silence, or you get “the look”


What are some of the hidden rules in organizations to which you

belong, i.e. work, church, volunteer group, etc?


Possessions

POVERTYPeople

MIDDLE CLASSThings

WEALTHOne-of-a-kind objects, legacies, pedigrees


Time

Poverty – Present most important -- Decisions made for the moment based on feelings of survival

Middle Class – Future most important-- Decisions made against future ramifications

Wealth – Traditions & history most important -- Decisions made partially on basis of

traditions/decorum


Money

Poverty - To be used, spentMiddle Class - To be managedWealth - To be conserved,

invested


Food

Poverty - Did you have enough?- quantity important

Middle Class - Did you like it?- Quality important

Wealth - Was it presented well?- Presentation important


Clothing

Poverty - Valued for individual style and expression of personality

Middle Class - Valued for its quality & acceptance into norm of middle class

Wealth - Valued for its artistic sense & expression


Education

Poverty - Valued & revered but abstract and not a reality

Middle Class - Crucial for climbing success ladder & making money

Wealth - Necessary tradition for making money and maintaining connections


Language

Poverty - Casual register - Language is about survival

Middle Class - Formal register - Language is about

negotiationWealth - Formal register

- Language is about networking


Registers of LanguageREGISTER EXPLANATION

FROZENLanguage that is always the same. For example: Lord’s Prayer, wedding vows, etc.

FORMALThe standard sentence syntax and word choice of work and school. Has complete sentences and specific word choices.

CONSULTATIVEFormal register when used in conversation. Discourse pattern not quite as direct as formal register.

CASUAL

Language between friends and is characterized by a 400- to 800-word vocabulary. Word choice general and not specific. Conversation dependent upon non-verbal assists. Sentence syntax often incomplete.

INTIMATELanguage between lovers or twins. Language of sexual harassment.


Research – Children 1-3 age by Economic Households

Number of words exposed to

Economic group Affirmations (strokes)

Prohibitions (discounts)

10 million words

Welfare 1 for every 2

20 million words

Working class 2 for every 1

30 million words

Professional 5 for every 1


Key Points


Key Point

Economic class is a continuous line, not a clear-cut distinction.


Key Point

Poverty occurs in all races and in all countries.


Key Point

An individual brings with him/her the hidden rules of

the class in which he/she was raised.


Key Point

We cannot blame the victims of poverty for

being in poverty.


Key Point

We can neither excuse persons from poverty, nor scold them for not knowing. As professionals we provide support, insistence, and expectations.


Key Point

Schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms and use the hidden

rules of middle class.


Key Point

For the poor to be successful, we must understand their hidden rules and teach the rules that will help them to be successful at school, at work, and in the community.


Key point

In order to move from poverty to middle class or from middle class to wealth, an individual must give up relationships (at least for a short time) for achievement.


Key Point

By building relationships of mutual respect with those served, we are

assisting them in building resources needed to move toward stability or

maintain it, AND we can be transformed too.


“No problem can be solved from the same consciousness

that created it” Albert Einstein


Helping, Fixing, Serving

“When you help, you see life weak. When you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life a whole. Fixing and helping may be, the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul.”

Naomi Remen


• What will do differently based on what learned today?• Can you make a difference in the lives of those with whom you work?• How we “help” is very important! • Henry experience

No significant learning occurs

without a significant

relationship. –Dr. James Comer

Lessons Learned in Ending Homelessness Bridges Out of Poverty 2012 Arizona Housing ConferenceLloyd...

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