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Homeless Challenge Project (formerly “Urban Plunge”)
While the name has changed the concept has not. Challenge the people and leaders of your community to take a Homeless Challenge. This is when people from economically privileged backgrounds give up those everyday things (i.e. cell phones, warm bed, and shelter), and live on the streets as a person experiencing homelessness.
Urban Plunge
By Philip Ruzycki, Davidson College, NC Class of 2008
Ruzycki did an Urban Plunge in Washington, DC in Oct 06’ and June 07’
George Orwell, author of Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, wrote a less well known book entitled Down and Out in Paris and London in which he chronicled his experiences as he blended into the homeless population of the early 1930’s. Orwell, Jack London, and many other writers have placed themselves into such a situation without frivolous journalistic intentions, but rather to experience the situation of the less fortunate and allow their stories to speak to the general public for the otherwise voiceless homeless.
The Urban Plunge is not meant to bring participants to a full understanding of the homeless situation, but to offer experiences that may help to address the problem at hand. Having begun your experience you will feel yourself absorbed into the homeless culture of the DC area. With your duffel or trash bag containing all of your current material possessions slung on your back you will feel yourself inadvertently drop your shoulders and gaze towards the very ground on which you will be spending the next two nights. This first natural response to the way in which others perceive you will be your first hint that being homeless is not only a physical affliction but mental and emotional as well. Other experiences of panhandling, sleeping in plain view, and even just walking through a crowded intersection will only help to further this realization.
Through the program you are not only placed in a position to view the circumstances of others as you will be actually experiencing the hardships, humiliations, joys, and friendships firsthand. While participants will spend the day in small groups as to draw the least amount of unnecessary attention, homeless guides will be assigned for the evening. These guides all have very close relationships with the National Coalition for the Homeless and are more than willing to talk for hours with participants. Both times I have done the Plunge I have had John Harrison as my guide. Reclined on beds of astroturf, concrete, and cardboard I have heard John recount the past four years of his life in vivid detail without hesitation. He is not ashamed of his situation and he has a very positive outlook on his future. His story lacks drugs or alcohol but includes unfortunate circumstances that I have realized are no different from things that could befall anyone’s future. John’s story is not the outlier. While the guides offer this opportunity for in depth conversation, they are also employed to help maintain a safe environment for the participants. That being said, the Plunge is not a controlled environment and the NCH provides no liability insurance. However, in the 30 years of sponsoring plunges, no one has yet been hurt on a Plunge.
Personally, the Plunge has offered countless new experiences, friendships, and perspectives. Most of the homeless individuals I have encountered while on a Plunge have been more than helpful and have insisted upon sharing their stories and experiences. The “plungers” are readily apparent to the homeless community and most of them want to make the experience as eye-opening as possible. They know that the Urban Plunge works to their advantage as it teaches those willing to learn how they can best help the problem.
Forty eight hours cannot begin to explain to anyone the complete experience of homelessness. However, the Urban Plunge can bring the problems of homelessness to a very personal level through an otherwise impossible viewpoint of the growing problem of homelessness, societal treatment of these individuals, and the social services that are available to help them survive. The Plunge will hopefully leave participants with open eyes, open hearts, and a world of new experiences to enhance their ability to help.
Urban Plunge
By Tess Allman, Central Missouri State University, MO Class of 2009
Allman did an Urban Plunge in Washington, DC in March 07’
10am-ish March 5, 2007:
“Been homeless almost 24 hours. Sick of it. Humbled by the kindness
of some—rejected a lot. There’s barely any place to just…be. Finally
here in the library – warm and sitting down, but that took 2 hours of
waiting and a metal detector. Want out of these clothes, my feet
hurt, I want a shower and a bed…”
An hour later:
“The thing I want most right now is a nap. I don’t think we can nap
in here, though. I started to doze off, then some police officers
came through doing their rounds. I love police, but NOT when I’m
homeless! Last night we went to a park in the mall to sleep. We set
up our cardboard on the grass, tried hard to get warm and cozy (though
not successful at all), I played us some harmonica…and about 45
minutes later, there were bright headlights from a cop car shining on
us. “Ev’ning, folks.” Long story short, he ran us out of the park…
…Kyle and I look good together as a homeless couple. People are more
sympathetic to us…As hard as this 48-hour plunge is, it is nothing
because I know I have a place to stay at the hostel later, and then a
home back in Kansas City.”
I would definitely recommend the plunge to others. You really get to
know the core of yourself, and how much you can or can’t handle.
You’re raw.
If I could give advice to other plungers, it would be “Don’t cross a
really big bridge over a river. You’ll end up in Virginia.” As
for serious advice, keep your cool. Be mellow. I really almost lost
it after the cop kicked us out of the park, and it was not good for
anyone. Stay calm, and be cool
For more information or to request a Homeless Challenge Project manual, contact:
Sarah A. Rosa, HCP Director
National Coalition for the Homeless
2201 P St., NW
Washington, DC 20037-1033
(202) 462-4822 x13
Fax: (202) 462-4823
Email: srosa@nationalhomeless.org
Website: www.nationalhomeless.org
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