Life on the streets of Dallas is not easy. The summer hosts extreme temperatures of over 100 degrees while the windy winters often reach near freezing temperatures. Many are forced to sleep on the streets during these extreme temperatures due to lack of homeless services.
Given current economic conditions, the number of homeless rose by 14% in the past year. There are now 5,869 homeless people in Dallas County (Horner, 2008). If this trend continues (assuming it does not worsen), by 2009 there will be an additional 822 people without homes.
The need for additional services for the homeless was made all more apparent with the opening of The Bridge in May 2008. The Bridge, which was designed to sleep 300 people a night is “overwhelmed.” It is now sleeping hundreds more a night than it was designed to hold (Horner, 2008). The Bridge has provided exellent service to many but has indicated that there are far too many homeless in Dallas and not enough services.
Dallas Life, along with the Bridge, also provides shelter to the homeless. However, both of these organizations cater toward the “chronically homeless,” which the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development defines as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years (Chronic Homelessness).”
Programs for the chronically homeless are generally aimed at making life more livable for the homeless, however, they are not generally aimed at moving individuals out of the cycle of homelessness. Night-by-night shelters (shelters that offer a bed for the night if you sign up early enough), for example, provide a temporary fix to a long-term problem. A bed for a night is nice but fails to provide any stability necessary for employment or ownership of personal property.
Many homeless people are perfectly able and willing to work. However, without a place to store belongings, get a proper night’s sleep, and take a morning shower, there is little hope of them landing a job. Homelessness is a vicious cycle that becomes hard to escape.
There is a lack of programs for the homeless of Dallas that are intended to rehabilitate individuals out of the cycle of homesslessness. Until now…
By evaluating successful programs for the homeless, we have developed a comprehensive plan to combat homelessness. Our concept is inline with those endorsed by Pew Partnership for Civic Change and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. We have developed our solution based upon successful models such as St. Vincent de Paul Village of San Diego, which like the SoupMobile, started out by distributing sandwiches to the homeless (Vissions and Mission, 2008). Further guidance for The SoupMobile Shelter is based upon the knowledge of the needs of the homeless from SoupMobile founder, David Timothy.
The core concept of the SoupMobile Shelter is that Dallas needs short-term, permanent housing. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “[This] Housing First…approach to ending homelessness…centers on providing homeless people with housing quickly and then providing services as needed.” “This approach has the benefit of being consistent with what most people experiencing homelessness want and seek help to achieve. (Housing First)”
The SoupMobile would like to acquire a small, multiunit building to offer temporary housing for individuals whom meet specific qualifications. We will provide these individuals with various other services including job placement, counseling, and a soup kitchen. We will further have a shared computer lounge to teach skills necessary for today’s employment and a interfaith chapel to help people overcome their problems in a spiritual manner. In doing this, we hope to rehabilitate several of the 822 people who will become homeless within the coming year. After establishing ourselves as a successful shelter, we will expand into a full-scale shelter providing hope to thousands.
Location is a key issue when planning a homeless shelter.
The SoupMobile Shelter must be removed from central business districts but
close to services such as public transportation. The SoupMobile is currently
working with real estate and zoning professionals to find a suitable location.
Currently, the SoupMobile is exploring several possibilities in between I-30
and I-45 in South Dallas.
All buildings will require some degree of renovation. The
proposed concept involves converting the inside of the building to multiple
dorm-like cubicles. Other renovations, depending upon existing building
features, would include creating a kitchen, communal meeting space, and
communal bathroom.
Services Offered
There are many reasons that contribute to homelessness. Our goal is to address as many of these as possible given our limited operation. The purpose of the SoupMobile Shelter is to cover all expenses people will incur as to allow them to save their hard earned money for the future.
The SoupMobile has succeeded based on a generous supply of volunteers with different skills and expertise. The programs outlined below represent the minimum amount of services that will be provided. However, as we make associations with people of different talents, additional services will be offered.
Room and Board
Every individual or family approved to live in the SoupMobile Shelter will be given room and board. The rooms will consist of a private bathroom with shower and living quarters. Thus rooms will resemble an average hotel or apartment minus a kitchen.
Soup Kitchen
We will have a soup kitchen in a common area that will serve three meals a day. The purpose is to assure that people have adequate nutrition and can conserve their money for future use.
Counseling Services
We will appeal to a variety of counseling professionals within the area to volunteer and help us build a vast array of services for the people of our community based upon their needs.
Job Placement
The SoupMobile Shelter will use volunteers to help in job seeking by helping with resumes, setting up online profiles, etc. The SoupMobile Shelter will form relationships with local businesses to try and fulfill their employment needs with our candidates.
Shared Computer Center
It is important for all people to be able to use computers today. We envision having several computers available for general use by our residents so that they may check email, search for jobs, and familiarize themselves with computer usage. We will use some of our volunteers to help with any necessary training.
Interfaith Chapel
A room will be converted into an interfaith chapel to allow people to practice their individual beliefs. We feel that practicing religion is important to overcoming obstacles in people’s lives that may contribute to their economic situation.
Savings Program
As the goal of a
transitional shelter is to break the cycle of homelessness, it is important
that money management skills are taught. After the first month, it is expected
that our homeless guests pay a small amount of money to stay at the shelter.
This small price of $5-$10 per day will be collected from a guest and placed in
an account for that person. Assuming that they successfully complete the
program, the money will be returned to them at the end of their stay. We
hope that this money will go toward the deposit and first months’ rent at their
new residences.
The goal of the SoupMobile Shelter is to rehabilitate people from a cycle of poverty by assisting in a time of need. Thus, the number one qualification is that people have a desire to rehabilitate themselves. This includes active job seeking and refraining from use of drugs or alcohol.
To qualify for housing, individuals must:
Be unable to provide housing for themselves based on financial reasons.
Actively engage in job seeking or be employed.
After one month, individuals must be employed full-time or volunteer full-time at the shelter or another nonprofit organization until they find paid employment.
Be able to pass a preliminary drug screening and agree to refrain from drug and alcohol usage while living at the SoupMobile Shelter.
Not allow non-residents to enter the grounds of the shelter without approval.
Be willing to allow random room inspections.
Be willing to have a weekly meeting with a shelter staff member to evaluate progress.
Failure to fulfill any of the above responsibilities will result in removal from the shelter.
