UNKNOWN MILLIONS FILM PROJECT HOPES TO DOCUMENT HOMELESS WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD - WANTS YOUR QUESTIONS - KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

UNKNOWN MILLIONS PROJECT

THE PLAN IS TO FILM AROUND THE WORLD AND ASK WOMEN HOW AND WHY THEY ARE HOMELESS.  What cultural or familial considerations come into play?  Are most homeless women victims of violence?   (ADD ANY QUESTIONS YOU THINK SHOULD BE ASKED BY LEAVING COMMENTS BELOW.)

OUR OPINION AND ADVICE:

It's terrific to ask homeless people about their lives - before, during, and after - their homeless experience. ASK and LISTEN WELL to anyone who is homeless and willing to tell their story.  Very few homeless people are asked about their lives, even by educated social workers and case managers working at shelters who are making assumptions and preferring stereotypes because stereotypes are what gets funding.  (See our PAGES and WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD CASE MANAGER.)

In some cases people who are not mentally ill are urged and even threatened with being kicked out of a shelter if they don't lie to get government benefits and PLAY THE GAME because these programs use the money they get from donations to pay their staff,  and do not put money towards deposits for apartments, even for working people whose small wage is not enough to allow them to save money.

SO ASK ABOUT FRAUD IN PROGRAMS.

We think there is a serious shortage of shelters and programs for women who are single, without children, especially if they are not mentally or physically qualified to disability.  These women have probably ruined their credit and been evicted while still trying for employment and once the homeless label is stuck on them or their address is a shelter they find near no help finding employment and can't pass background checks so they are stuck.

SO ASK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT, and ANY PLANS OR DREAMS TO MAKE MONEY AND BE SELF SUPPORTING IN THE FUTURE.

Even if someone's dream seems implausible it's a good sign that they still dream of a better life.  It means they are not thoroughly beaten down.

Homeless women are subject to violence such as rape.  Besides the trauma of rape itself and the potential for unplanned pregnancy and STD's including AIDS, homeless women are solicited for prostitution, are subject to sexual harassment and are generally NOT SAFE, sadly even at shelters, and we have HOMELESS UPON HOMELESS CRIME.

SO ASK ABOUT RAPE and HOMELESS UPON HOMELESS CRIME.