Activist and filmmaker Diane Nilan is kicking off another cross-country trek to chronicle the state of homeless in America starting in her adopted hometown of Naperville.
Dubbed the HEAR US 2020 VisionQuest, her 9,000-mile, 25-state trip along U.S. Route 20 in the north and Interstate 20 in the south will launch from the Naperville Riverwalk on July 20.
Since 2005, Nilan has been a bit of a vagabond in her recreational vehicle, traveling more than 500,000 miles on mostly back roads through all of the 48 lower states. She put 400,000 miles on her first RV and she’s up to 136,000 miles on her second one.
Naperville is her “home” because it’s where her homeless awareness nonprofit HEAR US is based.
On her journeys over the past decade and a half, Nilan has produced documentaries for state education departments, shedding light on the invisible homeless student population. Thus far she’s made films for Texas, Kansas, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Hawaii.
“Route 20 was one of the first routes I took east toward Massachusetts,” she said. “I always wanted to stop to film and photograph in these small little towns.
“Fifteen years later, I thought why don’t you do Route 20 in 2020,” Nilan said. “I’ve got the time and the desire to do it.”
To raise money and awareness for her latest adventure, Nilan will present two of her short films from her ongoing series, “Worn Out Welcome Mat,” July 12 at the monthly Just Views film and discussion group sponsored by the DuPage Peace through Justice Coalition.
This film screening is set for 7:20 p.m. at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 1828 Old Naperville Road in Naperville.
The films raise the issue of invisible families and youth, who are not recognized as homeless because they are doubling up in an apartment or moving from place to place to live with family or friends.
Nilan disputes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2017 assessment that 554,000 people are homeless in America on a given night.
She said figures miss the families or youth who pay for a motel room or stay with family or friends temporarily because they have nowhere else to go.
These situations, Nilan said, often are unstable and unsafe, and children are more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the experience.
Legislation to change the HUD definition of homeless is being considered by the U.S. House Finance Committee, on which both Naperville-area Congressmen — U.S. Reps. Bill Foster and Sean Casten — sit, Nilan said.
Under the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2019, children and youth whose homelessness has been verified by one of eight specific federal programs would be eligible for HUD homeless assistance.
Nilan said the revisions would bring would bring much-needed federal assistance to those invisible families and youth in all communities, even Naperville.
While the faces of the homeless change from state to state, their stories remain the same, she said. Her HEAR US 2020 VisionQuest aims to recount more of their narratives.
Nilan’s plan is to leave on her journey at the conclusion of a kick-off event she’s planning with the HEAR US board from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 20 at the Free Speech Pavilion on the Naperville Riverwalk.
The group is collecting disposable baby diapers and wipes and packages of children’s socks in all sizes to distribute to local shelters and pantries.
In turn for bringing a diapers, wipes or socks, donors will receive a free copy of Nilan’s “The Charlie Book: 60 Ways to Help Homeless Kids.” It provides ideas on how people and groups can help homeless families and children in their communities.
Nilan has been working directly with the homeless population for nearly four decades.
In the mid-1980s, she spearheaded Joliet’s first homeless shelter – Will County Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or PADS – that would become the Daybreak Shelter.
Nilan went on to run the PADS shelter at Hesed House in Aurora for many years while advocating for legislative efforts giving Illinois homeless the right to vote and guaranteeing homeless students access to education.
For more information about HEAR US, contact Nilan at diane@hearus.us or leave a message at 630-225-5012.
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