SEATTLE UNIVERSITY PROJECT ON FAMILY HOMELESSNESS PRESENTS A DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR @home @home Make it more than just a screening THE GUIDE This guide is a resource to accompany @home, a documentary film with the powerful message that everyone has a story worth hearing. In fact, one story could change everything you think you know about homelessness. @home Individuals and groups across the country can use this guide to support @home is a journey through the meaningful discussions on the film’s deeply emotional content, as well as to landscape of a forgotten America — the promote engagement and action that can lead to positive change. invisible communities of people living Take time to look through the guide before your screening or event. You can without permanent housing. select which stories to focus on based upon the time you have available and the The film explores homelessness specific needs of your audience. through the lens of activist Mark Sections include: Horvath, as he talks with people across the country about their experiences • How to host a discussion group living on the street and in shelters, who • Post-film general questions are finding their way back home. • Stories from the film of people who represent different homelessness Once homeless himself, Mark’s situations, in addition to: storytelling platform, InvisiblePeople. tv, gives an online voice to those who • Facts related to the individual’s situation are rarely heard. • Discussion questions that expand understanding of the key issues represented in the story • Activities that engage viewers in further reflection and provide information Directed and edited by and guidance for taking action Susanne Suffredin • Background information on the film and outreach campaign • Resource links for further learning Produced by Danny Alpert Website athomedocumentary.org Facebook www.facebook.com/athomecampaign Twitter twitter.com/home_campaign YouTube webisodes bit.ly/19FEAvw Run Time: 56 minutes THE SCREENING Tips for Success HOW TO HOST A SCREENING Hosting a discussion group is an effective way to turn a film screening into an educational and engagement event. Whether you’re screening the film in a large movie theatre, a church basement, or your backyard during a teen sleepover, there are basic steps you can take to make sure that the powerful messages of the film sink in after the lights go back up. Here are a few basic strategies for hosting a succcessful screening, such as the one pictured on the right, hosted by Hack to End Homelessness in Seattle. Localize It. Find a way to connect the stories of the people in the film to what’s happening in your area. Invite a guest speaker who can speak knowledgeably and answer questions for your audience. This could include someone who leads your community’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, a leader from a nonprofit organization that works to end homelessness, or people who have experienced homelessness themselves. Provide Opportunities for Reflection and Discussion. Allow people in the audience to process what they’ve just seen. Once they have had a few moments to reflect, encourage them to participate in the discussion and share their reactions. Viewing the film is an emotional experience, and your audience members may find themselves reacting in a way they didn’t expect. Sometimes it’s better to break into smaller groups for in-depth conversation, rather than addressing only a few questions with a large group. Turn Awareness Into Action. After watching a film like this, people feel mobilized to act. Give them immediate ways to take action, so that you don’t lose that momentum. You can give them a handout with a list of action steps, ask them to use social media to share reactions to the film during the event, or invite them to sign a pledge card and follow up with them later. There are many ways they can do something to make a difference. Use the checklist on the next page to help you plan your screening and discussion group. THE SCREENING Preparation CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESS To make sure your screening is successful, follow these basic steps: Pre-planning – at least 6 weeks out Event Day • Choose a date and book the venue. Test the equipment before • Recruit screening partners and assign roles & responsibilities: MC, digital guests arrive: outreach, canvassing, press, event reception, etc. • Cue up the film. Know how to • Recruit speakers/moderators/VIP attendees. turn the lights on and off. Audience Building – 4 weeks out • Try the microphones and show • Create a digital signup form for attendees (a Google form will do!). your speakers how to use them. Turn up the volume and make • Custom design and print your @home screening fliers (use our templates sure it can be heard once there’s and simply fill in your info). a hum of activity in the room. • Create a social media calendar with updates and posts, including: • Walk around and make sure • Sharable graphics (you can use photo and graphic assets provided in people will be able to see from our digital screening kit). all parts of the room. • Tweets using hashtag #athome and handles @home_campaign and @invisiblepeople. Ask volunteers to: Event Planning – 3 weeks out • Collect email/phone number signups at the door. • Write/send email announcement and ask partners to share with their email lists. • Set up station to sell your • Draft event agenda. merchandise and @home DVDs. • Plan reception: food, drink, equipment rentals (if applicable). • Run your own social media • Test DVD player, projector, microphones, and any other AV equipment channels to keep conversation needed for screening. going online. • Recruit volunteers and define their roles. Make sure everyone has a job. • Take photos and short videos of event highlights. Press Outreach – 10 days out • Project your Twitter stream • Personally reach out to your media contacts. during reception/discussion. • Send out press release to other targeted media outlets. Final Push! • Test your @home DVD. • Send a reminder email and ramp up social media outreach. • Confirm speakers/moderators/VIP attendees/volunteers. • Coordinate with press for attendance and interviews. • Print/copy literature about your organization, @home fliers, sign-up sheets, and discussion guides. AFTER THE FILM Follow up DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Choose a few of these discussion questions to get the conversation going after the credits roll. Perceptions and Awareness Reaction and Reflection 1. When you met Mark in the film, could you tell he had 1. During a presentation in the film, Becky Kanis of 100,000 experienced homelessness? Were you surprised? Why or Homes shows a photo of 11 people who were homeless why not? in the year 2000, and says that only two of them are alive today. Why do you think so many of them died? 2. What did you learn from this film about the Had you ever thought about the lack of access to health circumstances that cause homelessness? What did you care for people who are homeless and what impact it learn about possible solutions? has on their lives? What do you think are the key risk 3. Did you discover anything unexpected about the kinds factors for homeless people? of people who are homeless? Can you imagine being in 2. Dr. Sam Tsemberis says that homelessness is often their situation? viewed as a character issue rather than an economic 4. Who does homelessness affect the most? In what ways? issue. What does he mean by that? How do you think Has it affected you personally? this affects perceptions of and advocacy for people who are homeless? Compassion and Connection 3. At the end of the film, we see a “where are they now” 1. Which of the people did you most sympathize with or epilogue about some of the people in the film. How did relate to? Why? those outcomes match or contradict your expectations? 2. If you found yourself in circumstances like the people 4. Besides homelessness, what ties all these stories profiled in the film, what resources could you call upon, together? such as family, friends or savings? Where would you go? How long would your resources sustain you? Action and Advocacy 3. Neil Donovan of the National Coalition for the Homeless 1. Mark uses social media throughout the film to promote talks about Americans experiencing “compassion his cause. Is social media new to you? Have you ever fatigue” at the same time that homelessness is seen it used this way? How could you use social media becoming more visible. Have you ever experienced to help tell the stories of people who are homeless or to compassion fatigue? Does a film like this leave you help homeless people directly? feeling that fatigue, or do you feel motivated to help? 2. Take a look at Mark’s InvisiblePeople.tv website. Why 4. What part of the film moved you the most? Why? do you think it attracts such a large audience? 5. After watching this film, how might you act differently 3. Did watching the film encourage you to take action to when you come in contact with homeless people? help end homelessness? If so, what are you planning to do? If not, what barriers are preventing you from doing something? 4. Who do you think would benefit from seeing this film? What can you do to get it to them? @home What’s next? COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN The goal of our outreach campaign is to make this film widely available as a powerful tool to raise awareness of homelessness, dispel misperceptions and de-stigmatize people who are or have been homeless. @home has been screening the film across the nation — in parks and libraries, and with nonprofit and service organizations, faith-based groups and community development organizations.