Homelessness and Housing

Mentally and emotionally preparing for FYSOP

Homelessness & Housing — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:38:23 +0000

As FYSOP draws nearer and as everything comes together, FYSOP is becoming more real to me. In a short time, my whole summer will culminate with a week and a half of amazing education and service in Boston, combining the efforts of over 1,000 eager volunteers at Boston University.

Get ready. The week of FYSOP may not change the world, but it is the flame that ignites the passion in so many students at Boston University to go out and make the world a better place. Prepare yourself for a life-changing week, I cannot wait to experience the energy when everyone arrives!

Check out this creative message I made to express my hopes for FYSOP!
Our passion will change our lives…

H&H LOVE,

Sam Bernard and Alex Reese

A sneak peek at some of our sites…

Homelessness & Housing — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:48:56 +0000

Hey everyone!

We’re getting really excited as FYSOP draws nearer and everything is falling into place. We’ve booked speakers, planned awesome activities, and scheduled many great sites for Homelessness and Housing to volunteer at. Here is a quick look at three of our sites.

Just-A-Start’s YouthBuild

“YouthBuild is an alternative education, training and service program. Out-of-school youth spend approximately half their time in education, counseling, and leadership development activities, and earn a high school diploma or GED. The other half of their time is spent in renovating affordable housing and other community service. The program focuses on career development, life skills and employability; community service; intensive follow-up to support graduates in the transition to employment, vocational training or college preparation.”

Bridge House Family Shelter

“Today at Bridge House, 11 families participate in a comprehensive service plan that includes benefits assistance, workshops and classes that target the development of tenancy skills and other life skills, such as parenting, health care services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment or prevention programs, domestic violence prevention services and referrals to any other programs necessary to assist our families.”

Pine St. Inn

“Every night, over to 7,000 men, women and children in the City of Boston have no home. Founded in 1969, Pine Street Inn serves more than 1,300 homeless individuals daily and 10,000 annually, providing the full spectrum of services to help men and women reach their highest level of independence and get back to a place they can call home. Pine Street’s mission is: to be a community of respect and hope for each guest it serves; to be a resource through which neighbors and friends can help to meet the basic needs of others; and to serve as a national leader in the fight to end homelessness. Services Include: permanent supportive housing, emergency and transitional shelter, food, street outreach, job training, and mental health support & substance abuse treatment.”

H&H LOVE,

Sam and Alex

H&H Films…Let us know what you think!

Homelessness & Housing — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:06:45 +0000

There are many great films out there that deal with Homelessness and Housing. Here are three that we have found to be inspiring. Watch the clips and take the poll to let us know which film you think is most relevant and interesting. Maybe you’ll be seeing it during FYSOP?!

This film is called “Stone Pillow.” It stars Lucille Ball as Florabelle, who befriends a naive young college graduate working at a homeless shelter to learn about the homeless. Taking her into the streets, she teaches her about survival including rubbing vinegar on her feet to toughen them. The main difference between the women is that the college student gets to return home after her experience. (description from IMDb) Here’s the opening scene!

Here is “Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story.” In this true story, Martin Sheen plays Mitch Snyder, a DC-based Vietnam veteran who fights for America’s homeless by staging hunger strikes and battling with various government agencies, eventually winning the attention of several city officials. (description from Hulu) The whole movie is available for free on Hulu. Here’s the link, check it out!

http://www.hulu.com/embed/fa2xSNPuGYXAn40a6m8LCg

“Kicking It.”… The lives of homeless people are changed forever through an international soccer competition. This film follows six players as they set off for Cape Town, South Africa to play in the Homeless World Cup. (description from IMDb)

Hope you enjoy these! Let us know what you thought with this poll!

View This Poll

H&H LOVE,

Sam and Alex

Did you know…

Homelessness & Housing — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:32:54 +0000

Massachusetts guarantees emergency shelter to young, homeless families. The head-of-household must be 21 years old or younger and have children or be with-child (pregnant). They must be homeless due to disaster or the direct recipient of abuse. Homelessness and Housing will be working with an Emergency Assistance Shelter during FYSOP, St. Ambrose House. We are excited to be helping such a great shelter!

H&H LOVE,
Sam and Alex

Site Visit!

Homelessness & Housing — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:49:05 +0000

Hey everyone! Alex and I went on a site visit to Casa Nueva Vida, a great family shelter that houses and rehabilitates 16 families. Here’s some footage of our visit !

http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=2FQyhPhD

H&H LOVE,

Sam and Alex

How much do you know about homelessness and housing?

Homelessness & Housing — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:40:13 +0000

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/widget/v3/?id=244619&bgcolor=ffffff&fcolor=000000&tcolor=000000&w=420&h=295&ff=1&fs=medium&pplink=1&socialmedia=0&embedlink=1&showpage=1&btncolor=000000

How much do you know about Homelessness? You might be surprised, we were… » funny quizzes

First Video Blog

Homelessness & Housing — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:34:13 +0000

Hello! Here’s our first issue area video blog. This is just a quick introduction to the two Homelessness and Housing Coordinators, Sam and Alex. Follow all of us on Twitter to keep updated with our summers and the progress of FYSOP. Follow the Community Service Center @BUCSC, Sam @SamBr33zy, and Alex @Alexandra_Emery! You can track the issue area with #helphomeless #FYSOP22. You can also get in touch with us via e-mail at fysophh22@gmail.com.

http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/interface/swf/player.swf

H&H LOVE,

Sam and Alex

Hey FYSOP!…Hey What?!

Homelessness & Housing — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Welcome to FYSOP 22 Homelessness and Housing! We are so excited to be working on the First-Year Student Outreach Project this summer to make it the best FYSOP ever. Follow us here on the blog to see what we are up to throughout the summer, leading up to a great week of service and fun for 1,000 first-years and 225 upperclass staff. Get excited for all the great things to come!

H&H LOVE,

Sam and Alex