NCW Libraries to host Humanities Washington Program on homelessness

WENATCHEE - NCW Libraries will host a virtual Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau program titled "Homelessness and the Meaning of Home" via Zoom on Wednesday, March 19, at 6:00 p.m..

The free public talk will feature Josephine Ensign, a professor at the University of Washington, who will explore the historical roots of homelessness and discuss its implications across Washington state.

The program addresses how homelessness, often perceived as an urban issue, affects suburban and rural communities throughout Washington. The loss of a home, whether through financial difficulties, divorce, illness, or natural disasters like wildfires, is a widespread and growing problem that can happen to anyone.

Ensign will share her research on the history of homelessness in Seattle and lead participants through a values clarification exercise that includes individual writing time.

Ensign brings personal experience to the topic, having experienced homelessness as a young adult. She now works as a professor and nurse practitioner, focusing on trauma-informed care and health inequities for people experiencing poverty and homelessness.

She is the author of "Skid Road: On the Frontier of Health and Homelessness in an American City," which was a 2022 finalist for the Washington State Book Award. Her forthcoming book, "Way Home: Ways Out of Homelessness," is scheduled for release later this year.

The presentation is part of Humanities Washington's Speakers Bureau program. Humanities Washington is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that opens minds and bridges divides by creating spaces to explore different perspectives.

Those interested in attending can register for the Zoom link at https://ncwlibraries.libcal.com/event/13858730.