Contact: Isobel Schneider
Librarian
Berkeley Public Library
510 981-6150
ischneider@cityofberkeley.info
Homelessness in Berkeley: a Panel Discussion at the Berkeley Public Library
Berkeley CA. August 15, 2016—A January 2016 report to the Berkeley City Council revealed that Berkeley’s unsheltered homeless population grew by 53% since 2009. Homelessness issues were mentioned by many community stakeholders during our strategic planning; in response we have partnered with local organizations to provide information about Homelessness. We invite everyone interested to Homelessness in Berkeley: a panel discussion on Saturday, September 10 at 2:00pm in the Central Berkeley Public Library Community Meeting Room.
The panel will dispel stereotypes, demystify homelessness, and lay the groundwork for greater public understanding and involvement. A reception with panelists and community service providers follows the formal presentation. For more information about this event call 510-981-6150.
- Dr. Julie Winkelstein, PhD, MLIS a former public librarian, moderates the panel. Her research interests include LGBTQ youth homelessness, as well as the general intersection of social justice and public librarianship. She has presented widely both inside and outside the library world on the topic of homelessness and libraries.
- Eve Ahmed works with the City of Berkeley’s Homeless Outreach Team, which is part of the Mental Health Division. She spends most of her time out on the streets.
- Sam Davis is Professor Emeritus of Architecture at UC Berkeley, author of Designing for the Homeless: Architecture at Work, and Principal at Sam Davis Architecture. He received a Humanities Research Fellowship from the University of California and a Guggenheim Fellowship for his work on homelessness.
- Gwen Austin works as a Development Associate, Community Builder, and Social Justice Instructor at Building Opportunities for Self -Sufficiency (BOSS), a nonprofit that offers crisis counseling, job training, and health/mental health services.
- Joseph is a Berkeley resident who has experienced homelessness will give us a look into the reality of life on the street.
- Sharon Alford, Berkeley Food and Housing Project and The Hub, which coordinates City of Berkeley homeless services, emergency shelter, transitional housing and other homeless housing resources.
This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library (http://www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org).
Berkeley Public Library is located at 2090 Kittredge, Berkeley, CA 94704 and is open: Monday, 12:00 am-8:00 pm, Tuesday, 10:00 am-8:00 pm, Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm, and Sunday 1:00 pm-5:00 pm. For more information about this program call 510-981-6135.
Wheelchair accessible. For questions, to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least five working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs. Visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
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