Fact Sheets and Talking Points
What does a homeless person look like? Who is homeless? Old men who drink too much? A bum? Someone who sleeps under a bridge? Often, people imagine someone who is:
- Dirty
- Dangerous
- Intoxicated
- Crazy
Worst-case stereotypes like these feed into the dehumanization and the voicelessness of homeless persons. The fact is there is no one answer.
Homeless persons are any age, race, gender-men, women and children-who often work and may be indistinguishable from anyone else riding the bus or shopping at the grocery. The reasons for their homelessness vary across a wide range of issues, including:
- Women escaping from domestic violence
- People encountering sudden and severe financial setbacks
- Young people exiting from the foster care system
- And many other situations
The series of fact sheets and talking points in this Toolkit will help give you current local information on the real stories of homelessness in Indianapolis. They are designed to give you the tools you need to talk to decision makers, your organizations and neighborhood groups, and to your friends to help them better understand the issues involved and to make them advocates as well.
Misconceptions can only be corrected through information, education and advocacy. Lend your voice to the voiceless. Help tell their stories
