Sustaining Vulnerable Populations: How Can Libraries Help the Unhoused?

Friday, June 2, 2023

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM PT

Location: A4

Kimberli Buckley

Senior Community Library Manager
Contra Costa County Library/ San Jose State University iSchool
AO

Abby O'Neill

Library Services Manager
Contra Costa County Library
GP

Gia Paolini

Senior Community Library Manager
Contra Costa County Library
Chenice Jackson

Social Services Specialist
Berkeley Public Library

It’s no surprise that the unhoused are one of the most vulnerable populations among our community members. Over the last several years, libraries have been on the frontlines of the homelessness crisis. California’s homelessness statistics reveal that the number of people without a stable place to call home has increased dramatically over the last three years as well as factoring in drug addiction, socio-economic changes, health, and environmental conditions. In addition, readily available drugs are creating an epidemic that is affecting the mental capacity of many of the unhoused. Join us for a panel style forum to open up a highly important conversation on ways that libraries can sustain our unhoused patrons as well as ways to support library staff that are seeking to find resources and services for those vulnerable patrons in need. This includes the invisible, the hidden, and those on the edge of homelessness.