t h e h o m e l e s s p r o j e c t During the summer of 2007, I began interviews with a sampling of the homeless population currently residing in local shelters, makeshift campsites, and transitional housing in Northwest Arkansas. To date, eight interviews have been collected. Each interview, conducted in private and recorded in the interviewees’ current place of residence, is guided by this questionnaire: 1. What does the term “home” mean to you? 2. What place do you consider home? Please describe your current home. 3. What makes this place home to you? (What does it provide to make it home?) 4. What defines the borders of your home? 5. Do you mark your territory? If so, how and what is the purpose of marking your territory? 6. Are there distinguishing characteristics of your home? 7. Please describe your daily routine. Is your daily routine impacted by not having your own space or transient living situation? 8. How do you feel about your current living situation (home)? 9. Do you consider your home a public or private space? Why? 10. Do you feel as if you currently have your own private space? Why or why not? 11. If you answered no to question #10, what do you miss most about the absence of private space? 12. Are there cohabitants in your home? If so, what is the relationship? 13. What items do you consider essential in your home? (necessary to survive/live). 14. What items do cohabitants need and whose responsibility is it to get needed items? Where do you go to obtain these supplies? 15. Do you have a secure place, or a private space, to keep these items? Where do you keep these items? How do you protect them? 16. Do you currently own an item that may not be necessary for survival, but that has significant meaning to you? If so, would you feel comfortable showing the item? Have you kept this item from a previous home? If so, why do you continue to carry it? 17. Do you believe your identity is shaped by your home/place of dwelling? How? 18. How much time have you spent homeless? Do you expect your home situation to change within the next six months/year? Why or why not? 19. Do you wish/have you attempted to change your living situation? If so, how? 20. When was the last time you felt like you had a real home? Please describe that home. (Have you ever felt like you had a home? Why or why not?) 21. How does that memory of home compare to your current place of dwelling? 22. Please describe your ideal home. 23. What do you believe is the biggest obstacle in being homeless? 24. Do you believe your mental health is affected by not having a home (own place/space)? Please describe. 25. What opportunities/resources would you need to change your situation/establish a home? 26. If you were granted one opportunity which would impact your living situation, what would you ask for? How do you see this opportunity affecting your life? Interviews will continue in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville through 2008. In 2009, the audio and video recordings will be presented publicly and simultaneously from several different locations in Northwest Arkansas. Thank you to Dr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Kimberly Gross, Poppi Price, Betsy Gross at Seven Hills Homeless Center, and Don Montgomery at Salvation Army for their guidance and assistance, and especially to the resilient men and women who are making this project possible.