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15 <br />x “So really educate people. Go out and talk to people, ask them their story. Let’s start <br />framing this as human lives and human stories.” <br />Question 6: What should be the key messages to the community about <br />homelessness and people experiencing homelessness? How can we <br />effectively share this information? <br />People with Lived Experience: Key messages brainstormed were the following: <br />ƒPeople are closer to homelessness than they realize <br />ƒNot all homeless people look the same, stop marginalizing <br />ƒEveryone has different reasons for being homeless <br />ƒStop judgment, it’s not a moral failing <br />ƒBe more accepting—lead with the heart <br />ƒUnderstanding where someone is coming from <br />ƒGive more grace—people make mistakes <br />The best way to get messages out would be social media, flyers, signs on corners, billboards, and <br />getting out in the community to share success stories. <br />x “We need to stop marginalizing people who are dealing with homelessness into a cookie- <br />cutter image….Everyone is different and they have different reasons for why they’re <br />homeless whether abuse, addiction, mental health, disabilities, anything.” <br />x “There’s something to be said for connecting with them on a deeper level…understanding <br />where they’re coming from and why they’re there.” <br />x “It doesn’t matter what you did in your past. What matters is what you’re doing now to <br />change that.” <br />Service Providers: Key messages discussed were: <br />ƒThey are human and there’s not a simple way out of homelessness <br />ƒThese are our neighbors <br />ƒMany people are just a step away from homelessness <br />ƒEducation about the societal and economic causes of homelessness <br />Best ways to get out messaging that were discussed included getting people engaged in <br />volunteering as a way to learn more about people who are experiencing homelessness, online <br />communication, virtual community meetings, and forums with people with lived experience. It <br />was also discussed the importance of having a moderator for discussions, identifying what <br />different people have in common in terms of opinions, and having information available in <br />Spanish. <br />x “They’re human people. Babies, toddlers, children, sons and daughters. There’s not a <br />simple way out.” <br />x “…how do we…get them engaged, proactive, and helping? How do we get them interested <br />in volunteering…and get them into the conversations that are happening?” <br />x “Changing a person’s personal belief and ethics is a wasted time sometimes. If you can <br />bump up the people already on board, you have more people working to change the other <br />people over time.”