“One Night Without A Home” Termed Successful

TYLER — Organizer Christina Fulsom says the weekend’s “One Night Without A Home” in Tyler was a “great event.” The 13-hour activity at the Salvation Army Community Center was designed to educate people about homeless issues. About 100 attended, with some 50 spending the rainy night at the center. Fulsom says when it was all over, everyone agreed “that they have greater awareness; that because of that awareness they have now a better understanding.”

TJC and UT Tyler students made up a significant part of the group. Among other things, they heard from people who have experienced homelessness. Fulsom says participants agreed that they’ll view the issue differently from now on — for example, “that if they encountered a homeless person, or someone made derogatory comments about a homeless person, that they would speak up.” The event was a project of Gateway to Hope, formerly the Smith County Coalition for the Homeless.