Interview with Yoseph Boku, a volunteer director at Y2Y:
1. When did you start working for Y2Y/what about Y2Y drew you in?
I started as a break time volunteer last year. I was drawn by the need to help out those experiencing homelessness in Cambridge.
2. What is your knowledge of the homeless situation in Boston/Harvard square? What is your knowledge on U.S. homelessness?
There are more people experiencing homelessness than one would expect. Many of your friends or classmates might have been homeless. It’s not a visible condition. Yes, you do see people who are homeless carrying large bags but there also people who are homeless that you would have never expected. This is a status that affects everyone and one that we need to reduce stigma for.
3. What are Y2Y’s goals? What are the plans to achieve them?
Y2Y aims to eliminate homelessness, particularly youth homelessness. We task ourself with doing this with our robust case management program. We help our guests apply for jobs as well as housing.
4. What makes Y2Y different from other youth shelters?
What makes us different is our peer to peer model. We have youth serving youth. The common age range between our volunteers and guests helps the bridge the gap between service provider and service recipient.
5. How do Y2Y’s pathway programs help youths out of homelessness?
We connect our guests with job openings and Massachusetts Housing programs. Also, we have deep connections within Massachusetts so that we can connect our guests to health care services, and even legal advice.
6. What are the biggest struggles Y2Y have faced?
One struggle is trying to get enough volunteers during the winter and spring break. Since most of our regular volunteers are away from campus, it’s hard to maintain fully staffed shifts.
7. What are some of the successes and failures of Y2Y?
A success is that we are able to serve 27 guests every night. One thing we can improve on is being better about recycling as well as composting.
8. What seems to be/you believe are big causes of homelessness of youths (in the area or in general)?
Most of it is youth aging out of the foster care system, or LGBTQ youth being kicked out of their homes due to arguments with their family members.
9. What is the most beneficial way for people to help? (Are there other ways besides donating and volunteering?)
Those who are in college can also apply to become a staff member. Staff members have further training and also have larger responsibilities in the shelter such as approving shelter policies.
10. Do you think homelessness is discussed enough? How do you spread awareness of the problem? How does spreading awareness help(if it does)?
Homelessness is certainly not discussed enough given the large amount of people it affects. Spreading awareness helps for advocacy efforts. If more people are concerned about ending homelessness, then lawmakers will invest money into solving it.
1. When did you start working for Y2Y/what about Y2Y drew you in?
I started as a break time volunteer last year. I was drawn by the need to help out those experiencing homelessness in Cambridge.
2. What is your knowledge of the homeless situation in Boston/Harvard square? What is your knowledge on U.S. homelessness?
There are more people experiencing homelessness than one would expect. Many of your friends or classmates might have been homeless. It’s not a visible condition. Yes, you do see people who are homeless carrying large bags but there also people who are homeless that you would have never expected. This is a status that affects everyone and one that we need to reduce stigma for.
3. What are Y2Y’s goals? What are the plans to achieve them?
Y2Y aims to eliminate homelessness, particularly youth homelessness. We task ourself with doing this with our robust case management program. We help our guests apply for jobs as well as housing.
4. What makes Y2Y different from other youth shelters?
What makes us different is our peer to peer model. We have youth serving youth. The common age range between our volunteers and guests helps the bridge the gap between service provider and service recipient.
5. How do Y2Y’s pathway programs help youths out of homelessness?
We connect our guests with job openings and Massachusetts Housing programs. Also, we have deep connections within Massachusetts so that we can connect our guests to health care services, and even legal advice.
6. What are the biggest struggles Y2Y have faced?
One struggle is trying to get enough volunteers during the winter and spring break. Since most of our regular volunteers are away from campus, it’s hard to maintain fully staffed shifts.
7. What are some of the successes and failures of Y2Y?
A success is that we are able to serve 27 guests every night. One thing we can improve on is being better about recycling as well as composting.
8. What seems to be/you believe are big causes of homelessness of youths (in the area or in general)?
Most of it is youth aging out of the foster care system, or LGBTQ youth being kicked out of their homes due to arguments with their family members.
9. What is the most beneficial way for people to help? (Are there other ways besides donating and volunteering?)
Those who are in college can also apply to become a staff member. Staff members have further training and also have larger responsibilities in the shelter such as approving shelter policies.
10. Do you think homelessness is discussed enough? How do you spread awareness of the problem? How does spreading awareness help(if it does)?
Homelessness is certainly not discussed enough given the large amount of people it affects. Spreading awareness helps for advocacy efforts. If more people are concerned about ending homelessness, then lawmakers will invest money into solving it.
INTERVIEW WITH E. M. (Student at Newton North)
- What do you know about homelessness, in our community or in general?
- “It happens more than we know in our area. And we need to work on it. America needs to work to make more jobs available and more opportunities.”
- Have you ever discussed homelessness in school? If so, in what setting? If not, do you believe it should be talked about more? Explain.
- “No, but I believe we should talk more about it because it is a worldwide issue”
- Do you see homelessness as an important issue that needs to be addressed? Why?
- “Yes, because a lot of people are not aware of how common the problem is and don’t acknowledge it enough”
- What do you believe is a cause for homelessness? Why?
- “Lack of availability of jobs for people and people are not given the opportunity for higher education.”
INTERVIEW WITH M. Y. (Student at Newton North)
- What do you know about homelessness, in our community or in general?
- “I feel like Newton is definitely removed and as such, I don't see many homeless people around here but in Boston, I see them everywhere.”
- Have you ever discussed homelessness in school? If so, in what setting? If not, do you believe it should be talked about more?
- “I've never discussed it in school. It should be talked more about as conversation can lead to change”
- Do you see homelessness as an important issue that needs to be addressed?
- “I believe homelessness is an important issue because I believe that all people deserve a roof over their head.”
- What do you believe is a cause for homelessness?
- “I think the cause of homelessness isn't just one thing. I think there are a lot of factors involved that would cause someone to be homeless.”
INTERVIEW WITH A.A. (Student at Newton North)
- What do you know about homelessness, in our community or in general?
- “I know that in my community as in where I live (Newton) it’s not that common but in people with the same race as mine there is a lot of poverty but idk if it’s necessarily homelessness”
- Have you ever discussed homelessness in school? If so, in what setting? If not, do you believe it should be talked about more?
- “Yes, but referring to veterans”
- In what class?
- “American history when we talk about wars and like its effects”
- Do you see homelessness as an important issue that needs to be addressed?
- “Yes, because it is growing in the population due to debt”
- What do you believe is a cause for homelessness?
- “Debt, veterans without a plan, lower class oppression”
INTERVIEW WITH X.D. (Student at Newton South)
- What do you know about homelessness, in our community or in general?
- “I know the homelessness is sometimes caused by bad luck people being addicted to drugs or just having hard times in general”
- Have you ever discussed homelessness in school? If so, in what setting? If not, do you believe it should be talked about more?
- “My school actually did talk about homelessness but only in one class. I feel like it should Be talked about more for people to realize these are just people with bad luck and that they need help”
- Do you see homelessness as an important issue that needs to be addressed?
- “Homelessness is a really important issue Like why should people look away from people suffering freezing going hungry that’s just wrong and needs to be fixed”
- What do you believe is a cause for homelessness?
- “I mean there can be a lot of things. Drugs, poor choices, bad education, friends”
INTERVIEW WITH N. L. (Student at North Quincy)
- What do you know about homelessness, in our community or in general?
- “homeless people are everywhere in Boston, you can’t walk a block without seeing one homeless person on the sidewalk begging for money.”
- Have you ever discussed homelessness in school? If so, in what setting? If not, do you believe it should be talked about more?
- “No, we do not talk about homeless people at our school. personally, I do not believe that we need to talk about it in school since most of us are exposed to it when we walk outside our school or go into Boston”
- Do you see homelessness as an important issue that needs to be addressed?
- “Yes, I believe homelessness is an important issue. Nobody deserves to be left outside in the rain or cold to freeze to death. also, people deserve a second chance in life. However, with the right methods, we are able to help decrease the homelessness percentage in Boston.”
- What do you believe is a cause for homelessness?
- “I believe for homelessness is the lack of jobs, also people being addicted to drugs and sell everything they have for it. Also, a huge trauma in their life that makes them not care about anything anymore.”