South Carolina ETV

ETV Presents a Week of Special Programming on Homelessness In South Carolina

Programs Zero-In on Various Aspects of Homelessness Beginning April 27

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2008

Columbia, SC...Beginning April 27 through May 3, ETV will air a week-long series of television programs focusing on homelessness in the Palmetto State. Understanding that homelessness is not a seasonal condition, the series, which is titled "Give Me Shelter," features local specials, documentaries, and in-studio forums on the issue of homelessness, and includes resources available for aid. 

"It was critically important that ETV produce this week-long series of diverse programs examining the many aspects of homelessness in South Carolina.  Essential to the overall effectiveness of these programs is the need to dispel the stereotypes that we apply to the homeless and often use as excuses for not addressing the issues," said executive producer Beryl Dakers."Homelessness is a year-round problem and it’s a societal problem.  It's not just their problem -- it's our problem as well.  ETV hopes to increase awareness among our viewers and to motivate them to join in the efforts to find solutions.  When we, as a community, tap into the myriad resources available to us, we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors."

A study conducted by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty states that approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year.  And in a recent one-day count by the S.C. Coalition for the Homeless, there were 5,430 adults and 1,329 children for a total of 6,759 homeless in the state.

The "Give Me Shelter" line-up includes:

Sunday, April 27

  • 11:30 a.m. - Piedmont Politics examines the issue of homelessness in the Rock Hill area.
  • 3 p.m. - Connections, with host P.A. Bennett tracks down the back stories of some of the homeless in the Midlands to determine the contributing factors that led to their homelessness.

  • 6 p.m. - Lowcountry in Focus looks at the plight of the homeless in the Lowcountry, including visits to organizations in the area that offer aid and shelter

  • 7 p.m. - A Community Responds is a profile of one Upstate community’s response to the growing problem of homelessness and highlights existing programs and resources.  This broadcast also examines how they work together, providing essential programs, building affordable housing, and collaborating with other resources in the Upstate.

Monday, April 28

  • At 7 p.m. ETV presents the 2006 Southern Lens film Lost & Found, which chronicles ETV filmmaker Betsy Newman’s search for her sister who had gone missing in 1974.  The quest began in 1999 when Newman saw a picture in the New York Times of a San Francisco panhandler who bore a striking resemblance to her sister.  This stirring documentary features updated information about Angela Flores, the woman who was thought to be Newman's long-lost sibling.  Viewers will see how this emotional kinship has endured for the last ten years and the impact it’s had on each woman.  Additionally, the program explores the critical link between social issues such as homelessness and mental illness.

Tuesday, April 29

  • 7 p.m. - No Place to Call Home examines the dilemma of homeless women and the impact of homelessness on families and children.
  • 8 p.m. - Down But Not Out is a gritty, all-access documentary that travels among the homeless of the Midlands to give viewers a look at their lives from their perspectives.

Wednesday, April 30

  • 7 p.m. - ETV Forum on Homelessness, hosted by executive producer Beryl Dakers, is a roundtable discussion of the scope of the homeless problem, which includes a look at how different communities are dealing with this issue and the resources available.

Thursday, May 1

  • 7 p.m. - State House Week, hosted by Libby Wallace investigates homelessness in South Carolina from a legislative perspective.
  • 7:30 p.m. - The Big Picture: Homelessness takes a look at the issue of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) in Columbia as the city explores building a permanent homeless shelter.  The program also addresses how communities can work together to come up with a solution to help the homeless.

Friday, May 2

  • 7 p.m. - In Our Schools: Educating Without a Home features guests from the South Carolina Department of Education and school district personnel as they discuss programs to assist homeless students and their families.

Saturday, May 3

  • 7 p.m. - Who Among Us - Through candid interviews and striking photography, this 30-minute Southern Lens documentary delves into the daily lives of people who find themselves living in homeless shelters in the Charleston area.

ETV is South Carolina’s statewide network with 11 television stations, eight radio stations and a closed-circuit educational telecommunications system in more than 2000 schools, colleges, businesses, and government agencies.

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For more information, contact Dana McCullough at (803) 737-3212 or dmccullough@scetv.org.

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For more information about ETV, contact:
Catherine Christman, Vice President, Communications
Voice: (803) 737-3259
Fax: (803) 737-3417
E-mail: christman@scetv.org