Close the Gap: A Community Guide



Common Interview Questions (For All Issues)

 General Questions
  • What policies and practices contribute to the violation or denial of this human right?
  • How are these four human rights issues (e.g., homelessness, hunger, lack of adequate health care, and inadequate working wages and conditions) interrelated?
  • Are there some who benefit and others who suffer, directly or indirectly, as a result of the situation that presently exists?
  • How do people justify or explain that certain people have this basic need met (and much more!) while others do not? Do you find these explanations convincing? Explain.
  • Do you consider _________________(insert topic) to be a human right to which everyone is entitled?
  • Do you think it is appropriate and/or fair that some in the community enjoy this right while others do not?

Issue-Specific Interview Questions.

 Homelessness
  • Are there homeless people in this community? How many?
  • How many are served by shelters? How many are not?
  • How accurate are these numbers? How are they determined?
  • Have the numbers of homeless been going up or down? Explain
  • Are there characteristics that many homeless people have in common? Is there a typical age? Gender? Racial or ethnic group? How do they become homeless?
  • Has the composition of the homeless population been changing? Explain.
  • What effect have government policies had on creating homelessness?
  • What is the likelihood that those who are homeless also share other characteristics (e.g., have been deinstitutionalized, have substance abuse problems, have experienced domestic violence, have a mental or physical disability, are unemployed, and/or are under 18 years of age)?
  • What affordable permanent housing is available? What factors help them find housing?
  • Is the housing adequate (e.g., number of units, conditions)? Are there people on waiting lists for housing?
  • Are conditions in this housing healthy and safe (e.g., free of pests, lead paint, structural damage, environmental pollution, electrical/fire hazards, gang/drug related violence)?
  • Are services provided in a respectful way to those in need?
Hunger
  • Are people in this community experiencing hunger on a regular basis? Who are they?
  • How accurate are these numbers? How are they determined?
    • • Has the number of people experiencing hunger been going up or down? Explain.
  • Are there characteristics that many people experiencing hunger have in common? Is there a typical age? Gender? Racial or ethnic group?
  • Has the composition of the hungry population been changing? Explain.
  • Are there people who hold full-time employment but whose family are still hungry and malnourished? How is this possible?
  • What factors have contributed to their lacking food?
  • What services are available to help hungry people in our community?
  • Who offers these services? Are they funded by the government, private institutions, or agencies?
  • Are services provided in a respectful way to those in need?
  • Have the numbers needing food assistance increased on decreased recently? Explain.
  • Have food assistance programs been expanding or contracting recently? Explain.
Lack of Adequate Health Care
  • Are people in this community in need of health care but are unable to get it?
  • Are people denied health care or insurance? What do these people do when they are sick or injured?
  • Are there people who receive inadequate care?
  • How accurate are these numbers? How are they determined?
  • Have the numbers of those with inadequate health care been going up or down? Explain.
  • Are there characteristics that those lacking adequate health care have in common? Is there a typical age? Gender? Racial or ethnic group? How do they become lacking in health care?
  • Has the composition of the population lacking adequate health care been changing? Explain.
  • What services are available for people who cannot afford to pay for health care? Are they funded by the government or private institutions or agencies?
  • What pre- and post-natal services are available for low income mothers? Are services provided in a respectful way to those in need?
  • Has the number of people lacking health care and insurance increased or decreased recently?
Inadequate Employment Wages and Conditions
  • How would you define a living wage?
  • Are people employed in this community who do not receive a living wage?
  • Are people forced to work in dangerous or unhealthy conditions?
  • Are working conditions fair for all (male/female, black/white)?
  • Is there equal pay for equal work?
  • Are there people who are denied the right to organize at their place of work?
  • Are there people who are denied opportunities for advancement and professional development?
  • Are people forced to work to obtain public assistance benefits?
  • What are the child care concerns of low wage earners? Are they being addressed? If so, how? If not, why?
Planning for Change
  • Identify policies, practices, and/or attitudes that need to be modified, strengthened, or eliminated, as well as new ones that need to be initiated.
  • What might the participants do to help promote these human rights in their community?