Reflection
I would like to learn more about the administrative process of managing a homeless shelter or similar organization. It would have been interesting to see how a place like Andre House manages all of its volunteers and the behind the scenes of the organization. Another thing I wish I could have seen first hand is how the government manages homelessness throughout the city or state. I also wished I could have observed a hearing about homelessness, so I can see how the government responds when issues arise.
If I could do the project over again, I would try to volunteer for actual homeless shelters. Even though Andre House opened my eyes to what homelessness looks like, I still want to see what a real homeless shelter looks like and how it operates. It would have provided me with personal experience on what is currently being done and what needs to be improved, which is something that can not be experienced solely through research. I would also put more effort into advocating change instead of just volunteering. Even though volunteering at existing shelters is important, the most important part is building more shelters for those who need them.
I can continue my involvement by continuing to volunteer for organizations that help homeless people, like Andre House. I already volunteer a lot through Boy Scouts, but I enjoyed my opportunity to help those in need. I have never spent a lot of time in central Phoenix, but after visiting Andre House, I want to volunteer more often to help people experiencing homelessness.
The best way to educate someone about homelessness is to bring them with me when I volunteer. My Dad volunteered with me for this project, and he saw how homelessness can come in all shapes and sizes. Even just seeing all of the people lined up for food can be inspiring to help them out. Another way to share my project is through this website.
The most important thing I learned is what homelessness truly looks like. I used to believe some homeless stereotypes, like most of them being drunkards or they only have the bare minimum of belongings. While some of those people exist, I now know that people can become homeless for many reasons, so someone dressing fancy does not inherently mean that their are faking their condition. I can use this knowledge to be more sympathetic towards other people when I see them on the street or when I am volunteering at a shelter.
The second most important thing I learned was, even though it was frustrating, how to properly research a topic. I used to rely on Wikipedia and opinionated articles for the majority of my information, but after this project, I know how to find credible sources from the primary source, instead of secondary sources. I can use this for future projects, or when I want to avoid biased new sources in my own research.