As a member of the Faces of the Homeless Speakers’ Bureau for the National Coalition for the Homeless, I get the opportunity to go out on the road sometimes. These trips are a chance to share stories of homelessness with good audiences and to see fascinating parts of the country.
Not long ago, a speaking engagement took a group of us to Erie Community College, in Buffalo, N.Y. The occasion was a fundraiser for a group called Friends of Night People. I, along with Speakers’ Bureau colleague John Harrison and NCH founding director Michael Stoops, talked about the issues that affect the homeless, the causes of homelessness and some potential solutions.
We also told our stories. The program was a way of helping Joe Heary, the executive director of Friends of Night People, raise needed funds to continue to provide services to poor, disabled and elderly people in the Buffalo area.
In addition to the typical services, such as offering meals, clothing and medical help to the needy, Friends of Night People also provides some more unusual yet important kinds of help, such as foot and eye care. It was indeed a pleasure to be part of this event. Having the chance to see Niagara Falls for the first time was an added bonus (and truly spectacular)!
James Davis, a Street Sense vendor and former Street Sense board member, plans to write about his travels with the Speakers’ Bureau in future issues.
