Libraries for the Homeless: Feasible?

If, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, "The housing situation in the United States has worsened," (July 2010) then the call for libraries to house the homeless may not be such a stretch.

According to Ted Weisgal, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Leisure Learning Unlimited in Houston, Texas, “As a taxpayer and a human being, I don’t like to see money wasted.”  He expressed a concern that many of the library buildings and their adjacent parking lots are sitting empty and could be used as places to house the homeless.



                        

Source: Abiiba Howell

The idea may be further supported by the work of The National Alliance to End Homelessness. In their mission statement for the upcoming National Conference on Ending Homelessness, the group seeks to, "renew our homeless assistance systems by focusing on cost-effective and efficient models for prevention and housing-based methods – both of which have proven to effectively curb and end homelessness, solving the problem rather than managing it." (2011).

The group, whose website demographic, above, is comprised 100% of people who have had some level of college education (42% some college; 26% bachelor's degree; 32% graduate degrees) (Google AdPlanner), states its commitment to "revisit our ideas of permanent housing, supportive housing, and transitional housing and come together as a community to determine how best to move the Housing First Strategy forward."

While the Housing First Strategy focuses on providing permanent housing for the homeless, the library alternative offers the potential for housing, facilities and tents in a regular place that also can offer services.

 

         Source: Abiiba Howell

Kyle Kaczmarick, a patron of the Houston public libraries, among others, supports Weisgal's idea of moving the books into schools and allowing the homeless to inhabit the public library buildings.  "The school libraries often sit empty as well," says Weisgal.

                                                                                  

On the issue of safety and security for the homeless, the streets prove to hold far more dangers than a library would, according to an article by NBC4i.com. Some opponents of the homeless using libraries, according to Weisgal,are concerned about the safety of non-homeless patrons. He says that "moving the books to the schools removes that issue."


The SF Appeal Online Newspaper reports a decline in homeless numbers (May, 2011).  The city's adoption of the Housing First Strategy, according to the publication, contributed to the drop in the chronically homeless numbers from 62% to 33%.

                                                  Source: Abiiba Howell

Despite alternative means for reducing the numbers, the reasons for homelessness, according to Marilyn Fountain of the Star of Hope mission in Houston, Texas, are still varied. She asserts that people still need housing and they need services.

Source: http://www.fmhsloudspeaker.wordpress.com

Any potential opposition by stakeholders to making the libraries into shelters for the homeless is reflected in the blog post commentaries by educators and parents on the subject of whether public libraries are still relevant (eNotes, 2011).

Educator and parent, lmetcalf, appreciates that libraries group books by  age and reading level. (Jan. 11, 2011).  College freshman teacher, mshurn,  views libraries as essential and more than just a repository of books, the writer sees these facilities as places that foster the bonding of families. (Jan.19, 2011).


According to Ted Weisgal of Leisure Learning Unlimited, the impact on the schools would be lessened and the schools would benefit because the books in libraries are getting far less use because of the internet, he states that "having the public utilize the school libraries would foster a stronger sense of community and the public would be more motivated to enroll or complete their education since the services would be right there."

Continuing on, he expresses his thought that seniors can use both places as volunteer opportunities.

In 2008, the Houston Public Library reported an area population of 2,149,948 and registered users comprised of 564,608 (adult) for a total of 797,603. The libraries were open, at that time, for 350 days, with a full-time service staff of 513 and volunteers that logged in as many as 38,035 hours of service. 

Source: googletrendsonline.info

In light of major technological advances and more people needing computer access, the Houston Public Library system found itself with an average of 956 public access computers in 2009.  The daily circulation, according to the library system, was 18,205 books and 4,681,767 visitors throughout the system for that same period.


It will be interesting to see if the Houston Public Library's annual report for the year 2010 reflects an increase or decrease in the figures.


As an educator, auntlori, says in an eNotes blog, "I love the library. It is a sanctuary and a buffet all in one place."  She goes on to say,  "...there is an opportunity to tune out the world and immerse yourself in something beyond who and where you actually are." 

Regardless of what side of the fence one stands, this is one issue that will affect the homeless and housed, alike.