Profile of participant:
Name: David Fayne
Age: 58
Time spent homeless: 6 years
Time in weather amnesty program: 3 weeks
Hometown: Elkhart
Employment status: Unemployed
Date of Observation: February 16, 2017
Location: Kraz Weather Amnesty Building
Type of Observation: Interview
Themes:
1. South Bend services are insufficient.
David previously lived in Salt Lake City and experienced the Housing First model. He feels there need to be more accessible services similar to this. He does not like that there are so many barriers to entering the shelter programs. He also dislikes that the weather amnesty shelter is temporary, and it is only accessible from 8pm to 8am.
2. The drive for improvement
David showed a passion for improving the homeless community. He dreamed of creating a 24-hour shelter/center for the homeless that would choose to help, rather than turn away, people with issues like substance abuse. He was determined to talk to local politicians, churches, and university resources about his idea.
3. Optimism for the future
David felt confident in himself that he would be able to find a job and housing soon and start implementing his ideas for improvement.
Memorable Quotes
“Having a place where people could stay 24 hours would be more sufficient than spending money on these seasonal programs because we could get to deal with people and we could get to place people.”
“By people jumping around like popcorn, they’re never going to get the help they need. They’re never going to be in the facility long enough to figure out what their problem is.
“You’re gonna have to let the drug addicts in if you want to help them.”