The 13th Annual Homelessness Marathon will be held beginning this coming Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm and run live and continuously until Wednesday February 24th at 9am. It will be broadcast locally on Brattleboro Community Radio, WVEW at 107.7fm and on the web: at wvew.org.

This year's broadcast will originate from Detroit, Michigan.

The Homelessness Marathon will address the problem of homelessness by speaking directly with homeless people, who will give their first-hand testimony on how they became homeless and the obstacles they face before they can be housed again.

Homeless people will be brought by bus, in shifts, so that they can participate in this event and speak directly to the nation. They will be brought by shelters, advocacy groups, and grass roots organizations formed by homeless people themselves.

The broadcast will feature, as well, such speakers as Ron Gettlefinger, president of the United Auto Workers, and two of America's most outstanding anti-poverty advocates, Cheri Honkala, director of the Poor Peoples' Economic Human Rights Campaign and Paul Boden, director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project. Prominent advocates from Detroit will participate, including Rev. Faith Fowler, director of Cass Community Social Services and Maureen Taylor, the state chairperson of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization.

Experts from elsewhere in the country will also participate, including Kathleen Johnson, director of Katrina Relief in Mississippi and Mike Rhodes, editor of the Community Alliance newspaper in Fresno, California, arguably, the cruelest city in America towards its homeless citizens.

There are two toll-free numbers for calling the Marathon during the broadcast:

Anyone (housed or homeless) can call:
(877) 662-6398.

If you are homeless, formerly homeless, or about to be homeless, you can call:
(866) 533-8688

Find out more info at:
www.homelessnessmarathon.org

..

13th ANNUAL HOMELESSNESS MARATHON -- BROADCAST SCHEDULE

The Homelessness Marathon is primarily composed of short, pre-recorded reports and longer live discussions. “Double Testimony” hours are when we have two or more guests who are not speaking on the same topic. All times are eastern.

HOUR 1: 7-8 p.m.
-Welcome from host “Nobody.” Then “There But For The Grace of God And AFG.” A panel of young women saved from life on the streets by programs at Detroit’s Alternatives for Girls.

HOUR 2: 8-9 p.m.
-Short: “Playin’ For Change - The Story of A Homeless Musician”
-Long: “Homelessness In Detroit,” co-hosts Rev. Faith Fowler, director Cass Community Social Services in Detroit, and Maureen Taylor, state chairperson of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization.

HOUR 3: 9-10 p.m.
-Short: “Foreclosed!”
-Long: TBA

HOUR 4: 10-11 p.m.
-Short: “A Rural Soup Kitchen’s Struggle To Keep Up”
-Long: “Health Care Here And There.” Homeless people in America and Canada compare notes on how they get help with medical issues.

HOUR 5: 11p.m. – 12mid.
-Short: “A Homeless Theater Company”
-Long: A Double Testimony Hour, featuring Dr. Christopher Parks of the Tumaini Center, Detroit’s shelter of last resort and Nick Monterosso, outreach coordinator for Detroit’s “211” system.

HOUR 6: 12-1 a.m.
-Short: “Collecting Bottles”
-Long: A Double Testimony Hour, featuring Mike Rhodes, editor of the Community Alliance newspaper in Fresno, California, Brian O’Neil, a Detroit musician who lived homeless to understand what it is like, and Anthony Dixon who is trying to start a shelter but getting no help from the city.

HOUR 7: 1-2 a.m.
-Short: “Pre-Natal Care for Homeless Women”
-Long: “Don’t Move On Unless You’re Marching,” a discussion on forming a homeless movement with guest hosts, Cheri Honkala, director of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, and Paul Boden, director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project.

HOUR 8: 2-3 a.m.
-Short: “A Homeless Couple in Rural Tennessee”
-Long: “There’s No Place Like Home,” a live remote from WFHB in Bloomington, Indiana, on the problems of homeless families. Then open mic time.

HOUR 9: 3-4 a.m.
-Short: “A Tent City Portrait”
-Long: First, “Live And Homeless From Los Angeles,” a discussion with homeless people in L.A.’s notorious skid row. Then “The Story of Safe Haven,” a tent community in Urbana, Illinois that is now on its way to permanency.

HOUR 10: 4-5 a.m.
-Short: “Homeless Peers Reaching Out”
-Long: A Double Testimony Hour, featuring Kathleen Johnson, director of Katrina Relief in Mississippi and Chris Hellman of the National Priorities Project.

HOUR 11: 5-6 a.m.
-Short: “A UN Inspector Tours LA”
-Long: First, open-mic time, then, talking auto industry with Ron Gettlefinger, president of the UAW.

HOUR 12: 6-7 a.m.
-Short: “Burying Homeless Dead – In France”
-Long: A Double Testimony Hour., featuring Conn Carol, blogger at “The Next Right,” and guest TBA.

HOUR 13: 7-8 a.m.
-Short: TBA
-Long: “Taking It From The Streets… To City Hall.” Homeless people in Detroit talk to representatives from the Mayor’s office (tentatively scheduled, pending confirmation).

HOUR 14: 8 – 9 a.m.
-Short: “Spare Change – The Newspaper”
-Long: TBA