By Al Benson
Naperville resident Diane Nilan’s life’s mission is being an advocate for homeless families.
In a 90-minute appearance Monday, Nov. 30, she described traveling the U.S. for 16 years in a van to interview hundreds of homeless families for books, films and legislation to support the homeless.
Nilan spoke at the Fox Valley Park District’s Prisco Center where she took questions and accepted donations of disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products for Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.
According to Nilan, legislators need to remove barriers to affordable housing to prevent homelessness. “Poverty is a big factor,” she said. “It affects both physical and mental health of homeless persons.”
Before going on the road, Nilan recorded three decades of running homeless shelters, including Aurora’s Hesed House shelter and a shelter in Joliet. She is the founder and president of Hear Us, Inc., a nonprofit advocating for the homeless.
Nilan has filmed and produced two award-winning documentaries–“My Own Four Walls” and “On the Edge: Family Homelessness in America.” Books she authored are “Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness,” “Dismazed and Driven” and “Changing the Paradigm of Homelessness,” a college textbook she co-authored.
She showed one of her films, “Parking Lot Survival.” Nilan said Texas is among several states that commissioned her to make films on homelessness. She has given numerous university and congressional addresses on homelessness.
—Al Benson