Union Station Homeless Services Addresses Misinformation and Misconception About Homelessness

There are a lot of misperceptions and misinformation circulating about homelessness, some of which can make it harder for service providers to take needed actions to address homelesness, according to Union Station Homeless Services.

Union Station is presenting webinars called the “Changing the Narrative Series” to publicize information they believe the public needs to know about the important topic.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm., four experts will address the misconceptions they see and will share their knowledge and  insights around homelessness. 

Union Station Chief Program Officer Tyrone Friend said the “Changing the Narrative Series: What Works to End Homelessness,” aims to bring awareness to the community on certain topics within the homeless sector.

“The narrative needs to change because I think for so long, the narrative has not been true. I think most people think that homelessness is a choice. I think most people think homelessness is caused by laziness and amotivation. And that’s not true,” said Friend. 

“There’s so many different reasons why one may fall into homelessness, whether that be mental health issues, financial instability, just regular life occurrences. I lose a job, I get behind. I can’t find another job and I get evicted and become homeless. So I think the narrative needs to change because there’s still [a] negative stigma towards homelessness.” 

Increasing Rent Rates 

According to the Homeless Count published earlier this year, 512 people are experiencing homelesness in Pasadena. The number reveals a continued leveling off of the average number of people who are unhoused on a given night over the past three years. 

In 2020, 527 people experiencing homlessness were counted.

Friend believes increasing rent rates is one of the major factors that contribute to homelessness. 

“It’s been pretty hard for people, especially people who are making 40, $50,000 a year to afford housing,” he said. 

Community Blocking Homeless Shelter 

Also among the biggest factors that contribute to homelessness is the lack of infrastructure and the lack of support from the community, said Friend. 

According to Friend, housing sites are important because it gets people off the streets and it also allows them to access supportive services that they may not be able to while they are actively homeless.

“We don’t have infrastructure and we also don’t have a lot of landlords who are willing to work with us,” he said.

Friend lamented that oftentimes it is the community that is blocking the development of homeless shelters because of fear that presence of homeless people in their neighborhood would bring crime.

“Whenever a homeless shelter is even brought up by individuals, like I’ve heard it, they immediately say, ‘oh, I don’t want that in my neighborhood’.”

“So I think it’s very important for community members and Pasadenans to attend these meetings because it educates them. You may have a homeless shelter next to you, but we have supportive services to help these individuals so that we address their mental health issues so that we address their substance abuse so that it doesn’t impact the community.”

Ultimate Solution: Permanent Housing

Despite stressing the importance of providing interim housing such as tiny villages for the homeless, Friend believes the ultimate solution is still permanent housing.

“The ultimate solution is for these individuals to obtain permanent housing. “

“And for permanent housing to be obtained, interim housing is needed as well as the supportive services that interim housing sites provide like case management [and] employment services.”

The “Changing the Narrative Series: What Works to End Homelessness” is the 9th  educational series hosted by USHS to deepen community understanding of homelessness and housing.

The Oct. 26 webinar will feature panelists Eric Ares, Senior Manager of Homeless Strategy and System Change with the United Way of Greater Los Angeles; Gary Blasi,  professor of law at University of California, Los Angeles; Dorothy Edwards, Enrichment Services Coordinator at Housing Works of California; and Shawn Morrissey, Sr. Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement at USHS.

Recordings of past webinars and resource guides can be accessed at https://unionstationhs.org/changing-the-narrative-series/.

To register for the upcoming webinar series click the link below: 

https://unionstationhs.zoom.us/webinar/register/3616510071079/WN_XEcbPf4TSwKuDPVmjQg6ug