Homeless Response Office Coos County

11/09/2024

Thank you so much to those who were able to make it out to watch Signs of Humanity with us tonight. A special thank you to Egyptian Theatre Coos Bay for providing an incredible venue, Drew Farmer for sharing your words, and most of all Willie Baronet for making such an amazing film and sharing your journey with the world. You are truly inspiring! We feel so humbled that we could be a part of this mission.

10/14/2024

So proud that we could make such an amazing connection with our local art museum!!!

SIGNS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AT CAM

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Coos Art Museum (CAM) hosted an Art Talk with Willie Baronet whose ‘We Are All Homeless’ project is on display at the Museum through December 29, 2024. Baronet began this project in 1993 with a simple act of purchasing a sign from a homeless individual. From that first purchase, the sign collection has grown to over 2,400 signs and has toured throughout the United States and United Kingdom. The non-profit of the same name works tirelessly to join minds and hearts in a drive for social change. Change starts with an opportunity to rethink stereotypes around those experiencing homelessness, which ultimately inspires each of us to extend empathy. Baronet was connected to CAM through Ashley Horath of the Coos County Homeless Response Office. Lydia Heins, CAM’s Director, took the lead in organizing the installation at the Museum.

Baronet also produced a documentary film that examined the adjacent and delicately woven themes of home, homelessness, compassion, and humanity. As a professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, Baronet and three filmmakers traveled the US interviewing homeless people and purchasing more than 280 signs. Signs of Humanity is the documentary showcasing this effort and is available for viewing on Amazon. He continues to expand this body of work as he explores a documentary series.

With more than 95 art installations of ‘We Are All Homeless’ since 2009, Baronet shares some stories about the original owners of each sign, as well as how the signs, in their collective, evoke many emotions.

Check out the art installation at the opening reception at Coos Art Museum on Friday, October 11 from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through the end of December. Learn more ‘We Are All Homeless’ here: https://www.weareallhomeless.org/.

PHOTO- Willie Baronet (professor/artist) and Lydia Heins (CAM Director) in front of the art installation currently on display at Coos Art Museum.

10/07/2024

hosted by Coos Art Museum
Artist Talk with Willie Baronet: We Are All Homeless
Tuesday, October 8, 5PM - 6 PM

Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking evening as artist Willie Baronet shares the journey behind his powerful project We Are All Homeless. Through his collection of homeless signs, Willie brings attention to housing insecurity in a deeply personal and moving way. This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from an artist whose work is making a real-world impact.

All proceeds from wine sales during the Artist Talk will be directed to support local homelessness impact initiatives.

Hosted in collaboration with the
Homeless Response Office.

09/02/2024

https://www-opb-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.opb.org/article/2024/09/01/oregon-coast-housing-tourism-boom/?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&outputType=amp&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID =From%20%251%24s&aoh=17252866868618&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opb.org%2Farticle%2F2024%2F09%2F01%2Foregon-coast-housing-tourism-boom%2F

09/02/2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/im-creating-tiny-homes-to-end-sleeping-on-the-street-after-my-brother-became-homeless/

A man is making mobile tiny homes on wheels to provide innovative shelter for unhoused people—inspired after his brother become homeless.

07/25/2024

Homelessness & Addiction
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, substance abuse is more prevalent in people who are homeless than in those who are not.1 In many instances, substance abuse is the result of the stress of homelessness, rather than the other way around. Many people begin using drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with the pressures of homelessness.

It can be more challenging for people who are homeless to stop using substances, because they may not have easy access to treatment, often have smaller social support networks, may have decreased motivation to quit drugs or alcohol, and may have other, higher priorities, such as finding housing or food.

Read More:

Homelessness and addiction often occur simultaneously, and, unfortunately, many people struggling with both issues are unable to get the help they need. But you can help them get the help they need.

07/23/2024

https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2019/september/HomelessQandA.html

Silver School of Social Work professor Deborah K. Padgett’s scholarship upends common assumptions about substance abuse, mental illness, and ‘bad choices.’

07/19/2024

Some basic information from HUD:

How is homelessness defined, how is it measured and what resources and strategies are available to end it? This session provided an overview of the homeless services field including the federal definitions of homelessness, expectations for measuring homelessness and the context that our local Homele...

07/09/2024

These myths about homelessness are also held in Oregon, and are no more accurate here.

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around out there about homelessness in California. The data dispels several common myths.

07/09/2024

Well done Mathew Vorderstrauss and team. We are proud to work with your organization and look forward to seeing your projects come to life and benefit our community!

05/07/2024

We will be moving our HB4123 Homeless Advisory Board Meeting from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Please visit our website for other meetings and times and opportunities to engage.