Wisconsin Union Directorate Community Service and WUD Contemporary Issues hosted the panel discussion of former and current homeless individuals at the Memorial Union Thursday.

The panel discussion focused on general misconceptions of homelessness and how to properly view the homeless. They stressed that the homeless are individuals who have systemic problems that involve multiple conditions.

“People tend to think of homelessness as personal failings on the part of human beings,” Mona Wasow, clinical professor emerita of social work, said.

“The main reason for homelessness in the United States, the richest country in the world, is lack of low-income housing,” she added.

According to Melody Brinne DeGagre, leader of Chicago Coalition who has been homeless for two years, the homeless face problems such as the lack of proper living wages, affordable housing and domestic violence.

“I was shocked to find out that all the shelters I called had waiting lists and I couldn’t find one single solitary open bed for single female in the city of Chicago for two weeks,” said DeGagre.

Helen Smith, advocate for Chicago Coalition and formerly homeless, said she could not get any job, housing or temporary housing program because of her homelessness and felony background.

“You have to be there for six months before you can get any type of assistance,” Smith said. A lot of homeless face problems such as lack of shelter and difficulties getting a decent job.

According to DeGagre the main challenge for the homeless is to feel like a human being.

“Everybody crosses the street and acts like I don’t exist and nobody wants to talk to me and that hurts,” DeGagre said.

DeGagre said that she rarely comes across students that will talk or even look at her.

“I challenge the UW-Madison students to approach the homeless and make a direct connection. Maybe it’s just having a conversation with homeless people to make them feel like human beings.”