How to Better How to Better Serve the Serve the Underserved - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

How to Better How to Better Serve the Serve the Underserved Underserved

Presenters Presenters -PINNACLE Institute 2018 PINNACLE Institute 2018

• 2019

2019

Angel Abounader Angel Abounader

• Commerce Public Library

Jeff Fisher Jeff Fisher - Forsyth County Public Library Asha Hagood Asha Hagood - GLASS, Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services Heath Lee Heath Lee - Sequoyah Regional Library

This template is free to use under Creative Commons Attribution license . 2

Serving the Underserved Serving the Underserved

• Homeless

Homeless Patrons Patrons

◈ Who and Where are homeless patrons? ◈ Staff-working to serve ◈ Best Practices

3

Homelessness in the United States Homelessness in the United States

4

• 550,000 per night in US

550,000 per night in US (2018) (2018)

• 65% sheltered

65% sheltered

• 20% rural

20% rural

• Over 50% found near 50

Over 50% found near 50 largest cities largest cities

• Slight increase in last three

Slight increase in last three years years

• Causes

Causes ○ Job loss Job loss ○ Domestic abuse Domestic abuse ○ Housing costs Housing costs ○ Disabilities Disabilities ○ Mental/Physical illness Mental/Physical illness

Homelessness in Georgia Homelessness in Georgia

5

Photo Credit: Ruhrfisch

• 1.72% of total United States

1.72% of total United States homeless population homeless population

• 62% sheltered

62% sheltered

• 9,499 homeless on a given night

9,499 homeless on a given night

• 9 homeless for every 10,000 people

9 homeless for every 10,000 people

• Homeless population is declining

Homeless population is declining

Serving Patrons Who Are Homeless Serving Patrons Who Are Homeless

◈ Staff ◆ Don’t see the results of their help ◆ Dissatisfaction ◆ Results Accountability ◇ High Quality Service ◇ Don’t see the quality of service

6

Through the Eyes of Georgia Librarians

7

Resources Accomodations

Share resources, Guest passes, A restricted PINES card Space to sleep, Allow food & beverage HV AC Public Computers,WiFi Comfy Seating Books, magazines, etc. WiFi Bathrooms,water

Perception

• Invisible -Pity
• Mistrust -Mental illness
• Accepting -rule breakers
• Compassionate
• Body Odor -Welcoming
• Non-judgemental
• Unsafe -Indifference

Partnering

8

• Local Churches -Police Departments
• Health Dept -Family Promise
• United Way - DFAC
• Dept Human Resources
• Chatham-Savannah Authorities
• Family Connections - Y MCA
• Homeless Resource Network
• ACTS -TILT
• Oconee Area Resources
• Advantage Behaviour

Through the eyes of librarians continued

9

Training

Up to date referral list Social Worker

Space

Shelter Contact Toiletries

Shower

Laundry 16 Not Aware Many were aware & interested in training A few had participated in training

Anecdotes of Engagement

10

Using computers Turning a blind eye to sleeping on the porch. Allowing homeless to sleep in chairs & snor Writing an accomodation for work It is open to all patrons Donating weeded books to shelters Trying to ignore smells

BEST PRACTICES As the numbers of poor As the numbers of poor children, adults, and children, adults, and families in America rises, families in America rises, so does the so does the urgent urgent need need for libraries to for libraries to effectively effectively respond to their respond to their needs needs . . - ALA Website ALA Website

11

THE SUPER 7!

• ESTABLISH A POLICY
• CONSIDER ASSEMBLING

STATISTICS

• ESTABLISH REGULAR

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• COMPILE A LIST OF

LOCAL RESOURCES

• ESTABLISH A SAFETY

PLAN OF ACTION

• CONSIDER APPOINTING

A STAFF PERSON

• ESTABLISH

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

12

Resources

13

Georgia Family Connection Partnership - tool for gathering stats and indicators of child, family and community well- being http://gafcp.org/georgia-profiles/ Outreach to the homeless http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/outreachtounderservedpopulations/servicespoor United Way 211

https://www.unitedway.org/find-your-united-way/

HUD Homeless services https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/homeless

Resources continued

14

Georgia CoC (Continua of Care) https://tinyurl.com/y3ru83s2 Serving Mentally Ill patrons (often intersects with homelessness) https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/c-d/continuing-ed/conted-ials/archives-webinar/serving-mentally-ill GLASS (Disability often intersects with homelessness as well)

https://georgialibraries.org/glass/

2017 Report on Homelessness

https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2017_bos_coc_pit_report_final_2017.pdf

THANK YOU!

15

CREDITS Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free: ◈ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival ◈ Photographs by Unsplash This slide presentation has been made screen This slide presentation has been made screen reader accessible for individuals with visual reader accessible for individuals with visual impairments. impairments.

16