Milestone Anniversary & New Adventure

On Halloween 2005 I took the serious leap into RVing, without an RV. I sold my townhouse that day, meaning I'd need to get an RV to do this crazy project I named "HEAR US" to give voice and visibility to homeless kids.

I'd be a liar if I said I knew what I was getting into. I knew nothing about RVing. I was clueless about how to operate the video camera and assorted peripherals that I was told I needed. I didn't know if anyone would be willing to participate in this venture to let kids talk about their homelessness for what I didn't even know would be a documentary.

And I didn't have any way of knowing if I could stand the spartan downsized life that I was stepping into. My life before, while not ostentatious, was way more comfortable than necessary. The only thing I knew for sure was that I had to try. I believed that IF kids would participate, IF I could find someone to help produce the interviews onto a DVD, IF I could figure a way to market this tool to get word out, it would be worth it.

Little did I know how things would play out. I am not done yet, at least as much as I have a say. My Own Four Walls, the heralded DVD with several powerful short videos, is beginning to catch on with schools, shelters, agencies, colleges/universities, and faith communities. Other projects have evolved.

And that's where I am now. On the verge of the Learning Curve Express, an attempt to connect invisible homeless families and teens with their member of Congress via YouTube. Anyone interested in actually learning about the realities of homelessness for those who turn to a patchwork quilt of motels and friends' couches instead of sleeping under bridges can watch these interviews.

From what I've heard so far, these experts in life without a home have a lot to say. Whether anyone listens remains to be seen. This is where I need help. Will you share the short video clips with your circles? Can Learning Curve Express go viral, dispelling myths that have kept Congress in the dark about lives of families and teens who have no place to call home?

Of note, I continue to receive incredible support--financial and services--and encouragement, not to mention heart-filled thanks from the families and kids I've met who courageously stepped forward as a person often defiled in society, someone without a home. And, if you could toss a few tax-deductible bucks in our secure donation bucket, that would be helpful.

At a time when our economy swirls around the sewer, and stories about skyrocketing homelessness continue to astound even me, I'll shove off next Sunday, and see what this next chapter holds.

Whatever discomfort I will encounter pales to the constant strain and stress of not having a place for your family to safely live. I'll try to keep that in mind as I hit the eventual potholes, bad weather, shortage of electricity and water that have been my constant humbling companions. Travel with me, OK?

Appreciating Water, Electricity and Flat Spots

It's that time again, where I'm rolling across country on an insanely ambitious endeavor, the HEAR US Learning Curve Express.

And as I roll, I'm remembering that my summer's security--access to water, electricity, and dumps--is behind me. Before me are question marks. Where I'm going? Who will volunteer to participate? What support I'll receive? and What surprises I'll encounter?

Already I'm doing without--I'm low on water. I have no place to plug in, therefore no heat unless I run the generator to power the heater. And dumping will be an issue in a couple days.

But what I'm doing pales in comparison to the struggles of invisible homeless families and teens. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing--to give them voice and visibility.

Don't think I'm not just a tad irate after watching Michael Moore's latest film, Capitalism A Love Story. Fat cats ravage global economies, destroy businesses, ruin families, and gloat. Frankly, after watching this greed-busting movie, I found myself even more motivated to shine a light on homeless families.

Afflict the comfortable, comfort the afflicted.

Me and Tillie. We're going to do our best. Follow along. It could get interesting!

photos by the author

Ready to Go! Learning Curve Express

What, am I crazy? Perhaps.

In 2005, when first I set out in this bulky, spartan RV on a naive mission to capture faces and voices of kids who knew homelessness from experience, I had no idea what was down the road, literally or figuratively. What resulted was an amazingly inspiring documentary, My Own Four Walls, that lets kids unload on the realities of homelessness, including their hopes and dreams.

I would have never predicted I'd be still living in this tin can, preparing to head out on a 5th cross-country tour, still seeking to give voice and visibility to homeless kids. But I am....

Crazy? Well, my friends would be able to shed light on this topic. But, with homelessness among families and teens surging, I feel a sense of, if not insanity, a befuddlement and frustration that comes with seeing things get worse instead of better. Out of that feeling LEARNING CURVE EXPRESS was born.

LCE will take me to families and teens who desperately turn to an unpredictable rotation of friends, family and motels that may provide a nightly place to sleep. For some reason, Congress and HUD decided to exclude these folks from the homeless count, relying instead on an oft-criticized "Point In Time" street count that bamboozles Congress into thinking we don't have much of a homelessness problem, especially when it comes to families and teens.

HEAR US Inc., my nonprofit organization, is committed to giving voice and visibility to homeless children and youth. We're honing in on the issue of these uncounted children, teens and parents who really do count. I will film short interviews as they describe perils of not having a fixed, adequate and regular (part of the definition of homelessness) place of abode.

Using technology, skilled techie students in Northern Illinois University's film program, and chutzpah, I will contact the local office where our LCE participants live, ask them to watch the 3-minute video of their constituent, and invite them to get informed and involved in this issue.

Part of the success of this ambitious effort (2-min. video clip) will rely on how well my RV, dubbed "Tillie the Turtle," gets me from place to place. Most of the success will depend on getting voters in these congressional districts to weigh in with their legislator that HOMELESS KIDS COUNT! A campaign to do so is in the works.

At least I'm starting with a clean RV, with the year-old dirt blasted off by my friends at Mike's Auto and Truck Repair in DeKalb, IL. I know I'll gather more dirt, dents, and experiences along the way. I'd like to have virtual company, so travel with me and, if you have a few bucks to toss our way for this crazy trip, we'd be most happy for the support.

Getting Ready for the BIG ONE!

I've been a road-rat for the past 4 years. Having never RVed before, I have to say this lifestyle fits me in more ways than I would have imagined. I've logged over 75k miles, hitting each of the lower 48 states. Traveling mostly backroads, I've seen a side of America few realize exists.

Solo-RVing, and finding great friends along the way who graciously accommodate my non-profit organization, HEAR US, and our mission to call attention to invisible homeless kids, has been more than satisfying and successful. With this experience under my belt, I'm about to venture on the most intense project of them all--the HEAR US Learning Curve Express.

You see, for way too many years, Congress has been bamboozled by HUD and its cronies about the scope of homelessness, particularly as it affects families and youth, especially those outside metro areas. It got so bad that the bamboozlers fought to limit the definition of "homeless" to exclude folks who bounce between friends' couches and motels after they lose their place to live due to hardship. Yeah, let's make it harder on people who have lost their homes. Geez!

The way I figure, I'll land in congressional districts and find some homeless families or teens willing to talk on camera, pop those interviews on our YouTube site(with help from NIU interns), and make contact with the Congressperson (or staff) to invite them to meet with the film subjects, possibly with some media presence. That should provide a congressional learning opportunity that could yield huge results.

It's a big country, but I'm willing to meet with and film as many invisible homeless families and teens as I need to in order to convince Congress that in every district people struggle with survival because they have no place to live. With that as my goal, I may be on the road a long time.

I know this is my RVer blog--but it's as impossible for me to separate my work from my lifestyle as it is for homeless families to become "un-homeless" because they're not staying at a shelter. My task now is to let them tell that story as often as it takes until Congress gets it. It could be a long trip....check our HEAR US website soon for some exciting announcements!