Homeless Awareness Month: Homeless Book Clubs?

The CBS Evening News ran a short segment by Steve Hartman who describes the unlikely friendship which developed between a suit and tie lawyer and a homeless man in Boston Common. The video story recaps the origin and outcome of this unorthodox relationship which lead to the formation of a homeless book club.

One homeless woman states, “just because you’re homeless doesn’t mean you don’t read.” Rob and Peter over the course of several months of meeting in the park became good friends. After months of talking they found they were running out of topics to discuss. Peter gave Robert a copy of his favorite book and soon after it occurred to them that their was an interest by others in reading and discussing books.

Since the start of this club the idea has spread across the country. Homeless book clubs are developing in cities around the country. The power of books and learning have become a powerful way for homeless to escape the streets, if even just for a while. Watch the video and hear what Steve Hartman has to saw about this serendipitous relationship.

The month of August is National Homeless Awareness month. To learn more about homeless children in Rancho Cordova follow this link.