The challenges surrounding homelessness can seem overwhelming. The homeless people taking refuge in your library have intractable problems, maybe mental illness, maybe an addiction. Homelessness itself has deep societal causes ranging from affordable housing to income disparity. What can a library possibly do, right?
Actually, a lot.
This live webinar offers two compelling perspectives on this topic.
Jared Oates, Niche Academy COO, shows how the most effective libraries are acting as a powerful catalyst within their own communities to implement practical and locally relevant solutions.
Ryan Dowd has been working with the homeless for decades and is currently the executive director of the second largest homeless shelter in Illinois. Ryan presents actionable advice on dealing with problems that arise every day in the library.
Participants will:
* Learn how to dealing effectively with the difficult situations that arise every day within the library--diffusing conflicts, enforcing rules, and responding with compassion.
* Discover how other libraries are acting as a powerful catalyst within their own communities to implement practical and locally relevant solutions to the challenges of the homeless.
* Discover additional resources and training opportunities.
Effective Approaches to Working with Homeless Patrons
Jared Oates is a former engineer and director of product strategy at SirsiDynix. He is currently the chief operating officer at Niche Academy.
Ryan Dowd is the executive director of Hesed House, the second largest homeless shelter in Illinois and the author of The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness, published by ALA.
