Posted on October 6, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone Many New Yorkers who witness the suffering of our homeless neighbors every day wonder what they can do to help. Actor and director Paul Bettany, a longtime supporter of the Coalition, shares several ways people can get involved in an interview on the Nerdist podcast. “In the last ten years, New York City homelessness has spiraled out of control, and you can see it, if your eyes are open, everywhere,” Paul said. Paul discusses his new film, “Shelter,” which depicts the harrowing ordeal of a woman and a man (beautifully played by Jennifer Connelly and Anthony Mackie) who fall in love while struggling to overcome homelessness and their own troubled pasts. Paul asked for the Coalition’s advice while developing the script for “Shelter,” and both Paul and Jennifer spent time in the shelters and volunteering with the Coalition’s programs to prepare for the film. In the Nerdist interview, Paul points to the erosion of affordable housing as one of the root causes of mass homelessness, and he encourages people to join the Coalition in advocating for proven, housing-based solutions. Paul also highlights several volunteer opportunities with the Coalition’s programs. “They deliver 1,000 meals to New York City homeless people every night, or you could tutor children. There’s lots that you can actually get involved in.” Most importantly, Paul reminds us all to treat our homeless neighbors with compassion. “Once you start talking to these people, they all have a story. We are one family tragedy, one job loss away from finding ourselves in that same position.” Listen to the full interview here – they begin discussing “Shelter” and the Coalition at minute 49.
