Listening
exercise
MPR: Serving the homeless – the Listening House
St. Paul
drop-in center celebrates 20 years
by Lorna Benson, Minnesota Public Radio
December 17, 2003
Direct link to MPR audio file:
http://server-us.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/b?cg=news-clickthru&ci=us-mpr&tu=http://news.mpr.org/play/audio.php?media=/features/2003/12/17_bensonl_listening
Vocabulary:
| Listening
House folding chair unique mission philosophy to preach to fix Rose Marie Reger Rumsey executive director founders to base approach to meet needs physical material homeless gesture vital valued accepted to liken s.t. to grandma's cheating occurrence under way gingerly to wind one's way across to be jammed with lounging chair sofa occupied to be dubbed to have to do with primarily nap one of a lucky few couch to squint sheepishly quick to point out idleness fatigue factor to be connected with oftentimes to overlook shelter to overflow |
to be
identified off and on (or on and off) the high point of one's day particularly winter months mittens snack to survive cancer Vietnam drop-in center a negative side to abuse drugs to deny substance abuse drug dealing angel staff to focus on unfounded suspicions to shut down for good City Council members to be upset about to harbor criminals to lose a lease ordinance to zone a place out of (an area) en masse City Hall every form of media to gain allies Mayor (Norm) Coleman (served 1993-98) to be instrumental in to negotiate with Catholic Charities James Clark permanent housing gratitude to volunteer to be a magnet for street-based social workers |
to try
to track down clients Julie Grothe supervisor Hearth Connection to be funded by Legislature persistent mental illness access to Elizabeth Cowan People Incorporated outreach team makeshift camps bridges remote park area to convince to turn down outdoor gear shelter staff up front at to manage to do s.t. to build relationships to be intended to to be founded on religious principles over the years religious symbols to fade to be met with outrage to demand to reinstalled to this day requested item rosary crucifix (figure of Jesus nailed to cross) desperate to maintain sobriety optimistic to restore to rely on donations corporations individuals |
Listening
comprehension questions:
1. How long has Listening House been in operation?
How large was it when it first started?
2. Does Listening House offer a permanent home
for the homeless? If not, what does it offer?
3. Why do people like Sandra get so tired? How
does she herself seem to feel about having taken a long rest during the day?
4. What is one drawback of Listening House?
5. What is the real purpose of Listening House?
Why is this important for the homeless? What process do the Listening House
staff hope to help set in motion?
6. Why was Listening House almost closed down in
1995? What saved the situation?
7. Why does James Clark offer free haircuts at
Listening House?
8. What additional function does Listening House
serve for street-based social workers?
9. Where do the homeless tend to live?
10. Why do some formerly homeless individuals sometimes
still return to Listening House even after they get permanent housing?
11. What function does a rosary serve for some
guests, at what times? Which part of the rosary means the most to them?
12. How is Listening House funded?
13. What is currently being done for the homeless
in Taiwan?
14. What do you think would be the best way to
deal with homeless people in Taiwan?