Life of Wry

I joined Maria at a screening tonight for Out Here, a documentary short about the unhoused community in Sacramento. The film presents homelessness in Sac through the eyes of Mark, a social worker who, according to the film, has emerged from his own troubled past to work on the front lines of what they describe is an escalating social crisis. Mark — who was sitting right behind us in the theater — is still, today, working to house and improve the lives of Sacramento’s chronically homeless, navigating incredible institutional challenges and roadblocks.. including, often, substantial resistance from the very folks he’s trying to help.

The film was so poignant. The connections he sometimes made (not always) with folks was hopeful, but also frustrating. It was clear that every single case is unique.. people’s needs are entirely unique to them. It’s clear the solution to homelessness is not a one-size-fits-all.

I was glad to see Vet’s Memorial Theater was packed. It was an event put on by supervisor Sheila Allen, who was sick and couldn’t be there. Her staff thanked and acknowledged lots of folks. In the acknowledgment category, she included Maria, mentioning that she was David’s sister. It was moving to see a film about homelessness in our region, especially as the stabbing trial began this week and two of the victims were unhoused.

The program opened with a piano player (and his dog). This gentleman was featured in the doc:

They also invited another subject in the documentary to read a poem. His sister was on hand, as part of a panel discussion following the film:

In addition to the poet’s sister, the film maker, and two other formerly unhoused women (who now work for agencies providing services to the homeless community) made brief comments and answered questions.