The first episode of the documentary series “Home. The Homelessness Crisis in North Dakota” will premiere in Grand Forks on Wednesday, January 9 at 6 PM at the Empire Arts Center. Following the premiere, a panel discussion about homelessness in North Dakota, focusing on Grand Forks and Devils Lake, will take place. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets for the event can be reserved at Eventbrite.

Prior to the event, the public is invited to join the Human Family and Northlands Rescue Mission from 4 to 5 p.m. The Mission will offer free hors d’oeuvres and a tour of the shelter. Northlands Rescue Mission is Grand Forks’ only emergency homeless shelter. In 2017, the emergency shelter served 526 clients. The Mission empowers homeless men and women to rebuild their lives.

The 2017 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Homelessness Assessment Report attributes the largest percentage increase in homelessness in the United States to North Dakota – a 26% increase between 2016 and 2017. North Dakota also currently has the highest percentage of unsheltered families with children in the Nation.

“Home.” is a 12-part limit-series documenting the homelessness crisis in North Dakota. The series examines causes of homelessness, and the individuals affected. The premiere of “Home.” explores the myths surrounding homelessness and the right to housing. The premiere also introduces some of the organizations working to combat homelessness in North Dakota. The rest of the series is scheduled to be released early in 2019.

The series aims to raise the visibility of what Louis McLeod, Executive Director of the Minot Area Homeless Coalition, calls the “invisible crisis” in North Dakota.

Following the premiere, Jessica Thomasson of Lutheran Social Services will moderate the panel discussion “Homelessness in North Dakota.” The panel discussion will feature Sue Shirek, Executive Director of the Northlands Rescue Mission, Grand Forks’ only emergency homeless shelter; Dr. George Connell, Professor of Philosophy from Concordia University. Dr. Connell recently completed a semester-long sabbatical research focusing on issues of home and homelessness; and Lori Borschat, Pastor at First United Methodist in Devils Lake, and volunteer at Lake Region Community Shelter, Devils Lake’s only emergency homeless shelter.

The Grand Forks premiere of the first episode of “Home.” will take place on Wednesday, January 9, at 6 p.m. at the Empire Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. Seats may be reserved online on Eventbrite.

The event is free an open to the public. Individuals may reserve a seat online via Eventbrite. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the screening begins at 6.

The Grand Forks screening of “Home.” is funded in part by Humanities North Dakota, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities North Dakota or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“Home.” is produced by The Human Family, a non-profit organization promoting human rights through film and art. For more information about “Home.” or The Human Family, visit www.human-family.org.

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