When you hear the word "homeless" an abundance of images come to mind:

Bag Ladies	Alcoholics	Drug Abusers
Certain races	Lazy people	Uneducated

We may be surprised to discover that poverty strikes people of all races, religions and ages. It is important for us to confront the stereotyping that we assign those who find themselves on the street so that we can begin to see these people for the unique individuals they are...each one with a different story of how they became homeless.

To prepare for this assignment read:

Homeless Myths

Homelessness Can Sneak Up on Anyone

 

For this assignment you will be giving a survey to twenty people. The questions you will ask will seek to uncover how people perceive those who make the street their home. Your survey can be given in person or by using an online survey tool called Freeonlinesurveys.com 

Using your results you will create a visual (ex: chart, PowerPoint, overheads etc) and write a short report about your findings. You will present the results to your survey to your class. you will be marked on your ability to communicate the results of your survey and share what you learned from those who you surveyed and from yourself.

Your survey should include the following questions:

Describe the picture that comes to your mind when you think of a  

       homeless person.

If a homeless person asked you for money, would you give it to him or 

       her? Why or why not.

Do you think that homeless people are living on the street by choice or 

       because of some fault of their own?

You may add two of your own questions. Be careful that they wording of 

       your questions does not include any bias.