May 2001 University Reporter

By Erika McCarthy

McGah It’s a condition that isolates more than three million people nationwide each year—nearly 6,000 of them in Boston alone, an increase of 63 percent since 1990. And even though John McGah of UMass Boston’s McCormack Institute has never experienced homelessness, he is determined to illuminate the issue for the American public.

With McGah as executive producer, the institute’s Center for Social Policy has already begun the process of creating a documentary, entitled Give Us Your Poor: Homelessness and the United States, exploring homelessness and the issues and myths surrounding it. McGah hopes that Give Us Your Poor will be a catalyst for change among us—the people who witness homelessness every day, yet too often remain complacent about an affliction that leaves far too many of our fellow Americans literally out in the cold.

At the heart of the two-hour film will be men, women, and children who have experienced homelessness. Their stories will challenge common perceptions about homeless people (such as “they choose to be homeless,” “they are all lazy,” “they are all morally deficient”) and explain the real complexities of their experience. The film will introduce its audience to a homeless family, homeless children who travel to Washington D.C. and testify before members of Congress, a homeless veteran, a mentally ill homeless person, and someone more difficult to categorize: a person out of work who met some bad luck, was detached from social networks, and eventually had nowhere to live.

The mission of the film, according to McGah, is “not to offer one solution, but more to reconnect people to the issue.” Even he acknowledges that portraying through film something that will move communities to actively fight homelessness won’t be an easy task.

While McGah’s experience with homelessness research—including his work at the McCormack Institute collecting and analyzing data for public policy, and his previous work at a public policy research firm—prepares him well to lead a 100-person production team, he’s also relying on experts close to the subject to advise on the content and accuracy of the film. One such expert is Julia Tripp, a UMass Boston student currently on leave from the College of Public and Community Service. Tripp’s expertise comes from not only from national advocacy work, but also from spending eleven years as a homeless person. Rachel McIlroy, assistant director for social services with the Massachusetts Salvation Army, has also been contributing to the film.

Give Us Your Poor will have an online presence, featuring a video and information about best practices from around the country, and listing resources, volunteer opportunities, and homeless service agencies. The Graduate College of Education is working to create companion lessons for middle and high schools.

The film treatment is being developed by Northern Light Productions and the 1988 Academy Award winner for best short documentary, Pamela Conn. The project will prepare a companion music CD presenting nationally known artists, produced by UMass Boston alumnus Mark Governor ’78, who will also score the film.

It could take nearly two more years to complete, but when done, McGah hopes this documentary will differ from others on the same subject by focusing on the larger societal issues contributing to homelessness. If he’s successful, Give Us Your Poor will be, according to McGah, “ a living, breathing piece—something with a little soul.”

Want to learn more or volunteer to help? Visit www.GiveUsYourPoor. org or contact: John McGah, 7-5550, john.mcgah@umb.edu

New Film-in-the-Making Aims a Blow Against Homelessness

By Erika McCarthy