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Megan (2010) argues that "Stigma effectively holds them [homeless] in a place in which they are unable to make forward progress".

I agree with this argument. Homeless people find it extremely difficult to get out of homelessness for varying factors. They don't have a physical address, appropriate work attire, perhaps a lack of experience, lack of access to job searching or technology to be able to search and apply for a job, lack of confidence in ones-self and discrimination from potential employers. So, they are effectively being held in a cycle of poverty

Megan, M. 2010. Stigma of Homelessness. Washington & Lee University Library, Retrieved from https://repository.wlu.edu/handle/11021/24196

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This is the facebook group I created for my Life In A Bag campaign. It shows just how people come together! There has since been a South Australian Life In A Bag set up by some friends that were inspired by the cause :)

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A photo we took after handing out the hampers to the homeless! That's me with my thumb up, all happy to have done something to help someone else :)

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This is a picture of Ted Williams who was once homeless and has now made a name for himself a as the 'Golden Voice' thanks to the help of a journalist who was passing by and stopped to video him and talk to him! This sign that Ted is holding up is very powerful. Ted also talks about the Stigma associated with being homeless, and he has set up a laundromat for the homeless to allow them to wash their clothes in an effort to not only be clean, but to try and fit in and not appear to be homeless.

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Goffman (1963) characterizes stigma as an attribute that is socially defined as "deeply discrediting", spoiling one's identity and disqualifying one from full social acceptance.

Jo Phelan, Bruce G. Link, Robert E. Moore and Ann Stueve, The Stigma of Homelessness: The Impact of the Label "Homeless" on Attitudes Toward Poor Persons

Vol. 60, No. 4 (Dec., 1997), pp. 323-337

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2787093?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

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People donated to my campaign most likely for two reasons. They wanted to help those less fortunate, but also because they wanted others to see that they are good citizens. They are playing the role of 'I am a good person because I am giving money to someone that needs it". This is probably the reason that many people give to charity, as it makes them feel better about themselves and feel that it portrays a positive picture about them to their peers.

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STIGMA - IS LIKE A MIRROR IN WHOSE APPROVAL WE SEEK. (Goffman, E.)

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STIGMA - IS LIKE A MIRROR IN WHOSE APPROVAL WE SEEK. (Goffman, E.)

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Google Image - http://sportsconflict.org/resource/case-study-stigm-of-mental-health-in-sports/

Stigma is internalised by the indivual being stigmatised and they often tend to believe their stigma :(

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This is a crowd funding page I created asking people to donate to my campaign to create 100 homeless hampers to hand out around the Parramatta NSW region. I called this campaign 'Life In A Bag' (suggested by my mother!) but I felt that these words embody what it means to be homeless. A homeless person lives out of a bag 24/7 and all his or her essentials are held within this bag.
In the end we raised $2640 for the cause...yahoo!

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Hi there!

I'm Emma, I live in Sydney and am a wife and a mum to 3 little boys (including 1 infant!). I am currently on maternity leave and have found myself having more time on my hands than usual, which made me think that instead of sitting back and not doing much, why not try to be an active citizen and help out in some way within the community.

In NSW there are around 28,200 people homeless people, and as I have been living in the Parramatta region since being in Australia this is where I want to hand out these hampers, with a view to doing this again in the future in other areas.

My goal is to make 100 hampers to hand out as soon as possible as its getting colder week by week. The hampers will include the following items in order of their importance and their approximate costs, and if possible I am trying to use Australian companies only:

Recyclable shopping bags $138 (to put the hamper items in!)
$1 each + GST & shipping

Blankets
Need to source - Am waiting to hear back from a few companies with quotes/possible donation.

Snacks
Donations from people (chocolate bars, fruit bars, granola/muesli bars, ring pull cans, potato chips, noodles in a cup etc)

Beanies $250
From Unify Collection . They are going to match the amount that we purchase, and will also give $2 off each beanie and free shipping. So $4.95 per beanie for 50 beanies and they will give the other 50 for free.

Toiletries (Mini Deodorant, Toothbrush & Toothpaste & Feminine Hygiene products)
So far we have 36 Lux soap bars, 10 dove bodywash and some deodorant, and are trying to source more

Water Bottle $238 plastic 500 ml or $512 metal 600ml
From drinkbottle.com.au waiting to see if we can get a further discount on this. Preferrably I would want to give metal, but it depends on how much we raise.

Tshirts
Need to source - Am waiting to hear back from a few companies with quotes/possible donation.
Socks $200 Mini Combs $40
Hot Drinks
I have also contacted Cafe2U to help out with hot drinks and they have kindly said they can help for 2 hours at a discounted cost of $400 total.

I will also be reaching out to some barbers to see if anyone will be interested in helping out with providing free of charge haircuts.

I have enlisted the help of family and friends to help accomplish this and am now reaching out to the wider public to also see if we can get these hampers up and running! Any help will be greatly appreciated. If we can get the top 4 items that would be fantastic but all the items will be magnificent, and if we can reach the 100 goal that would be even better!

The current approximation is at $1540 but I have set a goal of $2500 as I am still waiting to hear back regarding the blankets and T-shirts and Toiletries. Anything extra that we raise will go directly to:

Parramatta Mission - http://www.parramattamission.org.au/

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I truly hope we can reach our goal and do some good to those that are in need. If anyone wants to help out with donations of any sort directly then please get in touch. Also I am open to any suggestions for this event too!

Thanks

Emma :)
#lifeinabag

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Toothbrush & Toothpaste & Feminine Hygiene

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Click here to support Life In A Bag (Homeless Hampers) by Emma Stewart

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Hi there! I'm Emma, I live in Sydney and am a wife and a mum to 3 little boys (including 1 infant!). I am currently on maternity leave and have found myself having more time on my hands than usual, which made me think that instead of sitting back and not doing much, why not try to be an active c...

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Organisations such as Parramatta Mission make it their sole purpose to provide support for the homeless. They call on donations from the public and try to break down negative barriers and stigma that homeless people face on a daily basis.

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Westmead Mission Worker & Children 's Hospital Chaplain Parramatta Mission

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Parramatta Mission has been providing services to people who are homeless, people facing crisis and people living with mental illness for over 40 years. The Mission's broader history can be traced back to the opening of the first Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on the current head office site in 1821.