JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The Jamestown premiere of the first episode of "Home. The Homelessness Crisis in North Dakota" will take place at a free public screening at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Jamestown Arts Center.
The documentary and discussion aim to dispel the myths surrounding homelessness and raise the visibility of what Louis McLeod, executive director of the Minot Area Homeless Coalition, calls the "invisible crisis" in North Dakota. The story is told through the eyes of individuals who have personally experienced homelessness and the organizations throughout North Dakota working to end the epidemic.
Sean Coffman, executive director of The Human Family, will moderate the panel discussion "Homelessness in the Jamestown Area," which will take place following the screening of "Home." Scheduled to join Sean as panelists for the discussion include David Klein of the Great Plains Housing Authority; Sonya Jensen, writer and director of "Home"; Lynn Tally of Safe Shelter; and Richard Yonick of South Central Human Services.
The 2017 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Homelessness Assessment Report attributes the largest percentage increase in homelessness in the United States to North Dakota - a 26% increase between 2016 and 2017. North Dakota also currently has the highest percentage of unsheltered families with children in the nation.
"Home" is a limited-series documenting the homelessness crisis in North Dakota. Understanding housing as a human right and as an inherent need to the health and happiness of all persons, the series examines the myths of homelessness, the individuals impacted, the causes and the community response to the epidemic.
The screening is free and open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. at the Jamestown Arts Center.
"Home" is presented by the FM Coalition to End Homelessness and made possible by the Consensus Council, Bell Bank, the Fargo Housing & Redevelopment Authority, and Family Health Care.
The Jamestown premiere of "Home" is made possible by the Change Network. Change Network is an initiative of and funded by the Bush Foundation. It is executed through the collaboration of Gail Crider, National Arts Strategies; Janice Downing, CommonSense Consulting@Work; Deryn Dudley, Community Science; Jocelyn Hale, MillerHale Associates; Charles “Boots” Kennedye, videographer; Megan Laudenschlager, Strengthen ND; Rosemarie Ndupuechi, 3E Productions; and Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension.
"Home." is produced by The Human Family, a North Dakota nonprofit dedicated to promoting human rights and social justice through film and art. For more information about "Home." or The Human Family, visit www.human-family.org.
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