“Do individuals have more of an obligation to help the homeless than the government?” Madeline Lawrence, a junior at Sonoma State, pondered this question before listening to a talk on homelessness in Sonoma County.
Social Justice Week kicked off on February 25, with more than 40 hours of speakers planned to shed light on relevant topics including, but certainly not limited to, living wages, police brutality, rights to healthcare, and #MeToo. The talk that I attended focused on the topic of homelessness in Sonoma County.
As I’m sure most readers are aware, housing in Sonoma County is not what most would call affordable. The housing situation became even more serious after the fires in October of 2017. The housing shortage in Sonoma County is one of the biggest issues the county is facing. Everyone on the planet deserves a place to live, but that does not seem to be the case here in our own backyard.
One of the speakers, Adrienne Lauby, who works for Homeless Action!, inspired students to “start your social justice crusade where you live, on the ground you stand on.” She explained that homeless people are worth as much as any endangered species; she told us that we should care as much about helping the homeless community as we care about helping the endangered honey bees.
Celeste Austin, the keynote speaker, showed a powerful video [The Living Room Video Gallery] portraying homeless women and children seeking shelter at The Living Room. She shared a shocking statistic: over 90% of the women who have visited The Living Room have been victims of domestic violence. The Living Room provides shelter and a place to heal for these women and children. They also serve two meals a day, with 50-70 people in attendance regularly. Safe spaces are crucial for the homeless. Maria, a community member who has benefited from The Living Room, explains that “you can finally relax your soul, your mind, and your heart.”
It is easy to get discouraged while fighting the good fight for people in need, but Celeste left us with some encouraging words that I would like to share with you. “Challenge yourself to make eye contact and say hello to homeless people you see.” A simple act of kindness can go farther than you think.