"Gotta Go" - An Insider's Look at Homelessness

Tags:  community, prejudice/discrimination, rural/urban, activism, affordable housing, documentary research methods, homelessness, 21 to 60 mins
Year: 2008
Length: 29:11
Access: STREATS TV

Summary: This episode of STREATS TV portrays an insider's point-of-view on many of the day-to-day realities and struggles facing homeless people, struggles that non-homeless people largely take for granted, which include access to transportation options, safe places to sleep, locations to shower, and places to use the restroom when you "gotta go." Putting a human face on homelessness, this video was created, filmed, acted, and directed by people who are or recently were homeless, focusing on the homeless community in Washington, DC. Other topics discussed include challenges involved in accessing social services, managing public perceptions of the homeless, and issues of activism and community-building among the homeless. This clip would be useful to show students in a social problems class, particularly during lessons on homelessness, affordable housing, urban gentrification/community displacement, welfare policies and our social safety net, among others. Moreover, the clip might be useful to use as a template for a class assignment in which students are required to create a DIY video project highlighting a social issue of concern. 

Submitted By: Ralph ("Spirit Man") Dantley and Valerie Chepp

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