1. Homelessness in Butler County Out of Sight Out of Mind?

2. Every night in America, about 750,000 people are homeless In Butler County, it can be as high as 350 people Every Night

3. We Can’t Solve this Problem in One Night On average, people remain homeless for five months.On average, people remain homeless for five months. It takes more than one night to: Save for a deposit on an apartment Pay off past bills Get a job

4. who is homeless? People who lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including people... - sharing housing due to economic hardship - living in motels, hotels, trailer parks cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate housing - living in emergency or transitional housing _

5. The Homeless… Stay in shelters, motels and cars Require medical and mental health services Need help in finding a home

6. In a year, 3 million people are homeless for some period… Single men comprise44% Families with children make up36% Single women make up13% Unaccompanied minors make up7%

7. In Addition… Butler County?

8. Potentially Homeless In 2005, an income of $19,971 was considered to be poverty level There are approximately 2500 families in Butler County making less than $25,000 Just one illness, accident, or tragedy could cause these people to become homeless One paycheck is all that stands between homeless or not

10. You could be one step from being homeless if… You experience a flood, fire, tornado, or other natural disaster You work in area of the economy or job market where your job might become obsolete You suffer from a long-term illness or accident You live in a household with no more than one full-time wage earner

11. You could be one step from being homeless if… You or your family get behind on monthly bills Housing costs in your area increase faster than wages Family member struggling with drug or alcohol addiction Family member struggling with mental illness

12. $1,400,000,000 on teeth whiteners $8,412,500,000 going to the movies last year americans spent... $15,000,000,000 on bottled water $48,000,000,000 on beauty products $9,400,000,000 on cosmetic surgery $20,000,000,000 on "anti-aging" products $32,000,000,000 on Christmas gifts $37,000,000,000 on recreational boating $3,000,000,000 on barbeques $500,000,000,000 on vacations $10,000,000,000 on video games $13,200,000,000 on valentines day _

13. If we would have used 2% of that total on rent instead, every homeless person in America would have been housed. Our teeth were We had attended We had drank We looked We had We were willing to look We had bought We purchased We had spent We had taken a We had settled for We would have been Dingier Less Movies More tap water Less beautiful Less nip and tuck Older Less at Christmas Less expensive boats Less on our grills Shorter Vacations Less video games More creative expressing our love…

14. If we would have spent less on these items by just 2% Every homeless person In America could have Been housed

15. What if… We all got more involved We thought about it like it was our problem too We remembered tomorrow the concern we have today We did something instead of thinking about doing something Beginning was as simple as taking the first step

16. Give… Some of your time Some of your money and things Some of your talents and knowledge Some love Give a little bit…it will make a big difference

17. Take Time to Consider Two Questions Will any of this be important to you in a week? What will you do about it?

18. Help raise awareness in Butler County Make and serve a meal to the need people of El Dorado Lend a hand and with renovations and maintenance of the shelter Volunteer to inform people about the need for a shelter Drive someone to a medical appointment or a job interview Sponsor a drive to raise supplies for the shelter Assist with identifying funding sources to acquire a shelter Organize a fund raiser for our shelter Commit to volunteer at the shelter Provide foster care for a homeless persons pet Call Butler Homeless initiatives and ask how you can help_

19. No More Turning Away… If stopping homelessness in Butler County is important to you, please help the Butler Homeless Initiative to provide a shelter.

20. This presentation was produced by the Business Procedures Class, Fall Semester 2007, Butler Community College. Thanks to Jay Preston and the staff of My Father’s House Community Services in Paola, Kansas. Thanks to the homeless in El Dorado, Kansas to use their faces and stories to give an account of homelessness in Butler County.