Open Space Radio

How Parks and Recreation Can Support People Experiencing Homelessness – August Bonus Episode


Listen Later

The August issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today’s bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories, titled, “Homelessness: How Can I Help?

The article explores how homelessness continues to be a serious social and public health issue in the U.S., and how park and recreation agencies are increasingly helping to support their community members who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

I’m thrilled to welcome the authors of the article, Austin Barrett, NRPA’s evaluation manager, and Allison Colman, NRPA’s director of health, to today’s episode. And, we are honored to be joined by a leader in the field whose department has been providing essential services for people experiencing homelessness for years now, Greg White, the director of City of Decatur, Georgia’s Active Living Division.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about how park and recreation professionals can be part of the solution to this issue. You’ll also learn:

  • Statistics on how homelessness is an increasingly serious social and public health issue in the U.S.
  • Ways park and recreation professionals can provide support to people experiencing homelessness, even if it’s outside of their core responsibilities
  • What types of resources Greg and his staff at Decatur Active Living Division are providing people experiencing homelessness
  • How intentional partnerships, relationships and trust are central to this work
  • The importance of Community Wellness Hubs in supporting this work
  • How we can break down the stigma surrounding homelessness, and much more!

Additional Resources:

  • Parks and Recreation: Addressing Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
  • Community Wellness Hubs
  • Blog Post: Solutions to Homelessness — The Role of Parks and Recreation
  • Blog Post: Understanding Homelessness: The Extent, Causes and Local Solutions
  • City of Decatur Active Living
  • S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Local Assistance for People Experiencing Homelessness
  • HUD Exchange: Point-in-Time Count and Housing Inventory Count
  • HUD Exchange: Homelessness Assistance Programs by State
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Open Space RadioBy National Recreation and Park Association

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

40 ratings


More shows like Open Space Radio

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,754 Listeners

The Rachel Maddow Show by Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

The Rachel Maddow Show

36,998 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,137 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

22,088 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,491 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,165 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

55,956 Listeners

Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

Worklife with Adam Grant

9,208 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,937 Listeners

Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

Fiction - Comedy Fiction

6,444 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,311 Listeners