"The Many Faces of Homelessness" Education Symposium

Head to the Peabody Essex Museum for an important community symposium on homelessness sponsored by the Samaritan Charitable Society of Salem.

Homelessness is not just someone standing at the corner with a cardboard plea for help. It is hard-working single moms and families and children. It is veterans and young people who have become prisoners of addiction. It is parents who have lost jobs and immigrants who have lost everything. Homelessness is not just about lack of housing, but also the lack of physical health care and mental health support. It is about loss of self-esteem and loss of hope. And it affects the entire community. That’s why the Samaritans are sponsoring this symposium.

• Keynote presentation by Dr. Jim O’Connell, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) and subject of Tracy Kidder’s new book, Rough Sleepers.
• Panel discussion moderated by the Rev. Liz Walker, Chair of the Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing, former minister of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church and former WBZ anchor. Light refreshments will be served after the program.

This symposium is an opportunity to learn more about the complex and interrelated issues of homelessness from those who are on the front lines, service providers and those who have experienced the trauma of having no place to come home to.

The Many Faces of Homelessness is open to everyone at no charge.