Introduction from Host: So what do the follow people all have in common: the actor Jim Carrey, the singers Jewel and JLo, the financial guru Suzie Orman, the talk show host Steve Harvey? At one time they were all homeless. 2016, the Federal Reserve surveyed more than 5,000 Americans about their financial situation. Among the findings was one startling statistic: Approximately 46% of Americans stated they do not have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense, like the car breaking down, an emergency visit to the hospital, the sudden diagnosis of cancer. So many are just one or two paychecks away from being homeless with no safety net to catch them. Our next presenter speaks out about how very thin this line is between those who are experiencing homelessness and those who are the verge of homelessness. Could this raw reality change your view of people who don’t have a place to call home? What would living in Fort Collins be like for you if we didn’t view people who are experiencing homelessness as different than ourselves? Would your body language change to open your heart? Please welcome to the stage Executive Director of Homeless Gear, David Rout.
