Pubdate: Wed, 16 Nov 2005
Source: Monterey County Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2005 Monterey County Herald
Contact:  http://www.montereyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/273
Author: Clarissa Aljentera

FINDING THEIR PLACE

Homeless give voice to their experiences as part of National Hunger 
and Homelessness Awareness Week

LaVerane Bustar Stevens' brown eyes can look right through you. They 
seem to penetrate into what you might be thinking about him as he walks by.

The soft-spoken 55-year-old homeless man cries when he talks about 
kicking his heroin habit six months ago.

When he was an avid user, he was diving into trash bins for food and 
selling drugs for money. He had been married and had children, but 
without a high school diploma he knew potential employers probably 
wouldn't take him seriously.

"They aren't all lazy," said Stevens of homeless people. "They aren't 
all drug users."

He wants to shake that image -- starting with a discussion he is 
participating in today at CSU-Monterey Bay.

To help recognize National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in 
the week before Thanksgiving, university students helped organized 
several events.

A panel tonight deals with the roots of poverty and possible ways to 
end homelessness.

"Not having a job," Stevens said, "it was my job to survive day to day."

Stevens and Jim Ferguson, who will be speaking to students at the 
university, volunteer at Dorothy's Place in Salinas. Both men have 
been involved in day-to-day activities, such as preparing meals.

"Without this, I don't know what I'd do," Stevens said.

Ferguson began volunteering at Dorothy's Place in 1998. From time to 
time, he holds a sign along a freeway off-ramp to collect a few 
dollars to help feed his two dogs.

Giving back to Dorothy's is a way for him to have some self respect.

"Eating is not a problem," said Ferguson, who lives with his dogs in 
a motor home. "There is food everywhere.

"Love is a problem. It just so happens that sometimes our families 
give up on us for whatever reason."

Dressed in blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt, Ferguson gently tugs 
at his graying beard as he talks about life on the streets.

He smiles when he talks about the luxury of daily showers compared to 
60- to 90-day stretches he would go without bathing.

"For me," Ferguson said, "this is the best it has ever been."

Students set up a "shantytown" in the main quad of the university 
that ends today. The display consists of several cardboard structures 
held together with tape.

"We're trying to raise awareness," said junior Kristen Costello. "We 
want students to get away from the 'university bubble.'"

Costello is one of 19 student leaders working with the service 
learning institute. The institute helps students use their 
experiences in the classroom and tie them into what goes on beyond 
the university when they volunteer in schools, agencies and 
non-profit organizations.

Student Robert Graham was huddled in one of the cardboard shacks, 
finishing homework on his laptop. Instead of hunkering down in the 
library to finish his assignments, he went outdoors and stumbled onto 
the display.

"With the ones who approach (the display)," Graham said. "I think it 
does open their eyes. I hope they appreciate their surroundings here."

Event begins at 6 p.m.   "Faces of Homelessness" panel is 6 to 8 p.m. 
today at the University Center, Building 29, at CSU-Monterey Bay. For 
information, call 582-4183.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman