A Shelter of Hope and Healing

Enchanted Makeovers' mission is to transform shelters for women and children into heartwarming havens, uplift the human spirit and empower individuals from all walks of life to pursue their dreams.Interior design Terry Grahl founded the organization in 2009, after spending several years working with women's shelters as a side project of her interior design business. The organization works on a project basis, gathering volunteers and donors to create a lasting impact at shelters. Projects can mean a complete redecoration of the physical space with handmade items and furnishing, or it can mean offering programs and activities such as: gardening, yoga, inspirational hands-on activities, personal makeovers, sewing and cooking classes, handmade gifts provide by crafters from around the world, and the sharing of personal stories.

The organization is guided by the following beliefs:

• Everyone is worthy of surroundings that will nurture their soul and allow their greatness to emerge
• Without attention to their spirit, there can be no healing
• Handmade items are very important to the recovery process. It comes with the love and hope of the creator
• A donor's story is woven into each handmade item that is donated
• An Open Mind and Open Heart policy- we reach out and help everyone no matter what background or faith
• To see ourselves in everyone
• It's very important to think and behave in a loving way to ALL people
• Actions speak louder than words
• If you can tap into your imagination you can get through remarkable things
• The journey is just as important as the destination
• In helping everyone to fall in love with who they are
• Love should be in the smallest detail
• Everyone has value and needs to be heard
• Child-like faith
• In Unity- the state or quality of being one; oneness
• In Dignity- respect for the worth of every person
• In Integrity- honesty and justice
• In Character- moral and ethical strength
• In Serving- the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others (Mahatma Gandhi)

What drew me to this organization, was its understanding that providing shelter is just one step in healing process- a physical change in conditions. That in order to truly help these women and children, they need spiritual and emotional nurturing as well. Everyone deserves to live their life with dignity. Enchanted Makeovers is making that possible; in many cases restoring it.  For more information please visit Enchanted Makeovers

Project H.O.M.E.

Project H.O.M.E (Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care, Education)

None of us are home until all of us are home.

Background

Since 1988, Project H.O.M.E has been a leader in providing comprehensive and effective services to persons who experience chronic homelessness. The organization empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness, address the structural causes of poverty, and attain their fullest potential as members of society.

Co-founded by Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson-McConnon, Project H.O.M.E is a nationally recognized organization that provides supportive housing, employment, education and health care to enable chronically homeless and low-income persons to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Under their leadership, Project H.O.M.E. has grown from a winter shelter to 447 units of housing and three businesses that employ formerly homeless individuals.

What makes this organization so effective, is its mission to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, not simply treating the symptoms and its commitment to the dignity of every person.  They strive to create a safe and respectful environment where everyone supports one another in their struggle for self-esteem, recovery, and the confidence to move towards self-actualization. This mission is achieved through a continuum of care comprised of street outreach, a range of supportive housing, and comprehensive services. Project H.O.M.E. addresses the root causes of homelessness, through neighborhood-based affordable housing, economic development, and environmental enhancement programs, as well as providing access to employment opportunities; adult and youth education; and health care.

Project H.O.M.E is committed to social and political advocacy. An integral part of Project H.O.M.E.'s work is education about the realties of homelessness and poverty and vigorous advocacy on behalf of and with homeless and low-income persons for more just and humane public policies. It is also committed to nurturing the spirit of community among persons of walks of life, all of whom have a role to play in making this a more just and compassionate society.

The organization's website provides resources and facts about homelessness, particularly in Philadelphia, where Project H.O.M.E. is based. It is also important to note that Project H.O.M.E.'s board of directors include residents from the housing units, as well as program alumni.

Values 

The work of Project H.O.M.E. is rooted in their strong spiritual conviction of the dignity of each person. They believe:

• that all persons are entitled to decent, affordable housing and access to quality education, employment, and health care.
• in the transformational power of building relationships and community as the ultimate answer to the degradation of homelessness and poverty.
• that working to end homelessness and poverty enhances quality of life for everyone in the community.
• that the critical resources entrusted to Project H.O.M.E. to achieve its mission must be managed honorably and professionally.

Programs

Housing & Street Outreach- designed to deal with the complex issues of persons with special needs such as mental illness and addiction. The program consists of street outreach, a range of supportive housing from entry-level to permanent housing, and comprehensive services including health care, education, and employment.

• Street Outreach: Outreach Teams develop trusting relationships with homeless individuals who have severe mental illness or substance addiction.
• Women's Emergency Respite Center: serves women with a long history of street homelessness, many of whom are incompatible or resistant to city-run shelter services.
• Supportive Housing & Services: enables each person to break the cycle of homelessness, move towards self-sufficiency and achieve his or her full potential.
• Alumni Program: provides residents with the opportunity to stay connected to Project H.O.M.E. community even after moving out of the supportive housing programs.
• Affordable Rental Housing: an eleven-story building developed to help address the gap in Philadelphia's affordable housing inventory.
• Affordable Homeownership Program: designed to stimulate housing production in North Philadelphia, create positive community impact and scale, and increase development and transformation of a distressed urban community into an attractive place to live. The program includes Block Preservation and Place Making Initiatives, and  the Homebuyer Reservation Program

Community Development- The organization's revitalization work is focused in the North Central Philadelphia community known as 'St. Elizabeth's/Diamond Street" neighborhood and Ridge Ave commercial corridor, (a 33-square block neighborhood).

Since 1995, Project H.O.M.E. has been working in partnership with neighborhood residents, corporations, foundations, government, faith communities and others to revitalize this neighborhood. Efforts include the development of affordable rental housing, renovation of affordable homes for homeownership, greening of vacant lots, adult and youth education and enrichment programs and community based health care services.

• Economic Development: the program addresses the persistent challenges of long-term economic disinvestment: "vacancy, blight, and high rates of unemployment."
• Health Services Program: is committed to addressing the health and wellness needs of the urban community.
• Community Organizing: works in cooperation with local Block Captains and civic associations on activities such as community emergency food banks, block clean-ups, and the nationally ranked youth drill team, the North Philly Footstompers.
• Honickman Learning Center & Comcast Technology Lab: programs at this 38,000 square foot, three-story technology center are tailored to help residents of the community- children, youth, adults and families- move towards greater prosperity by increasing their educational and employment opportunities.

Education & Employment- Project H.O.M.E recognizes that education and employment are critical tools to help all people improve the quality of their lives. This is particularly vital for formerly homeless people and people from economically distressed neighborhoods that may not have access to meaningful educational and employment opportunities.

• Honickman Learning Center & Comcast Technology Lab
• Kindergarten-Sixth Grade Program
• Teem Program
• Adult Education and Workforce Development
• Employment Services
• Employment Initiatives
• Art Program
• Social Enterprises: Cafe & Thrift Shop

Awards & Honors

(Just to name a few)

• The National Alliance to End Homelessness' Nonprofit Sector Achievement Award
• STAR award from The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
• Named as one of the "16 most efficient and innovative charities [they] know of anywhere," by Philanthropy Roundtable.

Click here for more information on Project H.O.M.E.'s initiatives.

I'd love to hear about any organizations in your city that are addressing the underlying causes of homelessness and poverty in the community.

Fourth Street Clinic

I was fortunate enough to be made aware of today's organization by a member of the  Fourth Street Clinic's fantastic Development team, Joseph Dane. Joseph was also kind enough to provide the following on the incredible work the Clinic does, and why our support is vital:

" Fourth Street Clinic is a nonprofit organization that works to end homelessness by providing comprehensive health care and support services to homeless Utahns. For many of our patients, we are their first and only chance at better health and a way out of homelessness.

Executive Director Allan Ainsworth, PhD. founded Fourth Street Clinic in 1988 to give Salt Lake City's homeless, uninsured, and often very sick population access to primary care service. Opening with a part-time nurse, Fourth Street Clinic is now a full-service health home that offers 6,000 patients coordinated primary care, behavioral health and pharmacy services. Services are provided by 40 staff members, 35 in-house m

edical volunteers and over 300 off-site specialists who see patients on a pro bono basis.

In working to end homelessness it is important to understand the interconnected relationship between health and housing: It is simply impossible too be successful in one without the other. People cannot pay for housing without the presence of good health; it is impossible to achieve good health without a safe, permanent home. Homelessness is very bad for your health evidenced by homeless people being three to six times as likely to experience illnesses than those who are housed. Also, bankruptcy is one of the major causes of homelessness, and half of all personal bankruptcies in the United States result from health problems.

For our patients, if poor health did not cause or contribute to their homelessness, then stress brought on by continuous exposure to extreme weather conditions, malnutrition, violence and communicable diseases and parasitic infestations quickly makes way for a number of chronic and acute health conditions. Common examples are circulatory, dermatological and musculoskeletal issues due to excessive walking, standing and sleeping while sitting up. Sleep deprivation, the emergence of mental illnesses and the need for relief offered by alcohol and drugs then often exacerbate and compound theses illnesses into urgent or emergency medical conditions.

With no health insurance and a life consumed by poverty, our homeless patients often come to Fourth Street Clinic with three or four chronic health conditions requiring continuous treatment, drug therapy and follow up. However it is here that we have found a turning point out of homelessness. Once our patients are properly diagnosed, begin treatments and feel well again, hope returns and housing soon follows.

So join us in providing basic, cost effective health care and a way out of homelessness to thousands of Utahns. $150 will fund one comprehensive office visit. $10 will fill a prescription. All gifts are tax deductible and will help save a life. Visit www.fourthstreetclinic.org today."

Thank you to the Fourth Street Clinic and, in particular, thank you Joseph for providing information about your organization and shining a spotlight on healthcare for the homeless and insured.

Manna

Manna is a Washington D.C. based nonprofit developer of affordable housing. They take abandon buildings and vacant properties and make them into new homes for low and moderate income families. In addition the organization works with nonprofit and for-profit developers to provide sales, marketing, and consulting support.

The organization's mission is to "empower individuals, strengthen families and foster sustainable communities in Washington D.C. by collaborating with stakeholders to create quality affordable housing for low-income families, to support and train families both before and after they purchase their homes, and to foster community and economic development activities."

Founded in 1982, as a faith based and community based producer of affordable home ownership, Manna was established to purchase, renovated and sell homes to formerly homeless families graduating from transitional housing. To date the organization has completed and sold nearly 1000 homes, and has helped buyers accumulate over $60 million in combined home equity.

To assist buyers, the organization has created the Manna Homebuyers Club, which helps low-income individuals understand the process of buying a home. The Manna Mortgage Corp, Washington D.C.'s first and only nonprofit licensed mortgage company, offers home purchase and refinance loans targeted to traditionally underserved low-income homebuyers and homeowners.

The organization has also developed several for-profit affiliates to help lower administrative costs to the nonprofit entity, as well as to generate revenue to help further advance Manna's mission. 

Manna affiliate divisions include:

1. Real Estate Development Consulting- to serve real estate needs of other organizations as well as itself. Consulting services include:

• Construction Management
• Construction Estimating
• Project Sales and Marketing
• Develop Finance
• Environmental Compliance Issues
• Home Buyer Education Off-site
• Condo and Coop Board and Member Training
• Tenant purchase and Deal Structuring

2. Studio M Architecture Design- utilizing Manna's in-house staff to help other nonprofits with their building needs.

3. Providence Construction- provides construction management and general contracting services to both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

This organization gives insights not only into the incredible work being done to help low-income individuals know the confidence and pride of homeownership, but Manna is also a great resource for nonprofit organizations to assist with their building needs.

For more information on Manna's work, or how you can get involved please visit their website.

Inspiration Corporation

Today's feature is  Inspiration Corporation, a Chicago based organization fighting poverty and homelessness, by providing dignity and respect and cultivating self-reliance to the people they serve.

The organization's mission is to "help people who are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self- sufficiency though the provision of social services, employment training and placement, and housing."

The Inspiration Corporation is formed from the Inspiration Cafe, founded by Lisa Nigro in 1989. The Cafe started as a red wagon delivering meals to the homeless. From there it grew until it opened as a formal restaurant, where homeless men and women can sit down, order from a menu, and be served. 

In 2003, Inspiration Cafe joined forces with The Living Room Cafe, founded by Jennifer Kihm, a former Inspiration Cafe intern. The Living Room Cafe offered meals and supportive services to a community on Chicago's South Side.  The merging of the two organization created Inspiration Corporation. Two years later the organization merged with The Employment Project, founded by Luke Weisberg. The Employment Project provided homeless and low-income Chicagoans with employment training, career counseling and job placement. Together these three organizations have formed one organization to have a greater impact and achieve their shared vision. 

Today Inspiration Corporation serves 2,500 individuals per year, by providing meals, support services, housing, employment preparation, and vocational training and free voice mail - serving as a catalyst for self reliance. 

For more information please visit Inspiration Corporation's website.

Common Ground

Common Ground's mission is pretty direct: to end homelessness.

Founded in 1990, by Rosanne Haggerty and based in New York, Common Ground promotes the development of supportive housing and other research-based practices that end homelessness.  The strategy has three components:

• affordable housing
• outreach
• prevention

The organization includes the following programs:

Street to Home- which assists individuals who have been living on the street for a year or more to move into housing.

Homelink- reducing family homelessness in Brownsville, Brooklyn- one of ten NYC neighborhoods producing the highest number of homeless families each year.

Re-Entry Housing Initiative- provides individuals who have served their time in prison with housing assistance and the help and structure they need to build a new life. 

To date the organization has enable 4000 individuals to overcome homelessness. In fact, their housing costs less- significantly less- per night to operate than public expenditures for a city shelter bed or prison cell. Common Ground's site offers even more eye opening statistics.

For more information please visit Common Ground's site. 

Homeless Children's Playtime Project

Founded in 2003,  Homeless Children's Playtime Project (HCPP) is dedicated to nurturing healthy childhood development and reducing the trauma of children living in temporary housing programs in Washington D.C. The organization also promotes affordable housing.

The organization's vision states, "We believe that play is a human right that all children deserve, regardless of housing status. We seek to help create a city that provides every opportunity for homeless children to succeed by advocating for affordable housing and safe shelters for all families."

HCPP's trained volunteers from the community provide children in emergency shelters and transitional housing with arts and educational activities, healthy snacks, sports and recreation, special events, and bicycle, equipment, and toy drives.

In the past five years, 200 volunteers have served more than 500 children at six playtime sites in Washington D.C.

I urge you to visit HCPP's website for more information on how you can get involved.