HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
OVERVIEW
About one – third of the adult homeless population nationwide, have served their country in the Armed Services. On any given day, as many as 250,000 veterans (male and female) are living on the streets or in shelters and almost twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Almost all homeless, general population and Veterans are male (about three percent are women). 45% of the general population of homeless individuals suffers from mental illness and (with considerable overlap) slightly more than 70 percent suffer from alcohol and/or drug abuse problems.
On an annual basis, the District serves more than 13,000 people through its shelter system. For the start of past year hypothermia season, the District added around 525 emergency shelter beds to increase the total of bed available in emergency, transitional, or permanent housing to 8,449.
According to the DC Department of Human Services, there are about 9770 homeless individual in the city.
Please click on the programs below for more information
Needs
Facts
Target Population
Project Description
Goal
The Multi-Service Non Residential Homeless Community Center
Objectives
Program Design
Specific Services
Care, Supervision and NurturingCare
Nurturing
Staff Requirements
Training
Infection control and universal precautions for staff and homeless
Clients' rights
Sustainability
Needs
There are hat is far too many homeless individuals sleeping on the street in Washington, D.C.
The homeless problem remains acute and the alternatives few. Even though homeless organizations are providing very important help, there are a still too many individuals on the streets after several unsuccessful attempts to work within conventional treatments systems.
These are DC's parks and streets dwellers, a shifting but cohesive community of outcasts who live in various wooded areas on the inner city's fringes cut off from the development that surrounds them.
They are men and women, of all ages, many of them addicts, former criminals or mentally ill. Most either shun or are banned from centers where they could be helped and monitored. Instead, they cling to shrinking patches of parks. They are “Invisible Men”, who were overlooked while they sank lower and lower, proving that in an age of heightened security and computer tracking, it's still possible to become lost in America . Some survive on government checks sent to their post office boxes, as well as on day labor, scavenged trash and their wits. Some stay year-round. Some die from exposure, suicide or alcohol-related illness. A large number of needy homeless people, are not getting the basic essential care a Living human being is entitled to: Hygienic care. A majority of the ‘out of shelters' homeless population does not have easy access to sanitation.
It is obvious that the current model of homeless assistance programs is based on a system aimed at supporting clients living in shelters. Inadequate hygiene contributes to the development of many types of diseases. The homeless population is already dealing with enough hardship and adversity. The least the society can offer them is confidence and hope. Homeless who suffer from strong delusions specifically cannot single-handedly navigate the daunting, several months long process, filled with paperwork and medical exams that the Social Services Programs requires. The problems facing homeless communities are the same as those encountered in any community: mental and physical illness, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, and unemployment. The major difference is money. Lack of money can cause a suffocating downward spiraling that is magnified by one crisis after another.
To make things more difficult for those who might want to register for a day labor, the request for utilities bills as prove of residence introduced in the registration forms made it impossible to move toward self-sufficiency.
The problem is one more of reality than perception.
The success of any organization in modern society depends heavily upon its ability to interface effectively with its environment. The organization recognizes this and has placed a high priority on making contacts with other nonprofit organizations.
Helping Hands International will seek and maintain alliances with other organizations and with Federal and State Agencies who provide Services on global issues for the purpose facilitating the exchange of ideas and information.
To prepare for this program Helping Hands International has been in a close relationship with different agencies. Such as The Department of Human Services (DHS), The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS), The Department of Mental Health (DMH), The DC Department of Health (DOH), the DC Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs Helping Hands International's network of volunteer has been canvassing the city to seek out homeless persons in need of assistance or/and other services for referrals to other services providers citywide.
It is important to involve veterans' organizations so that he nee of homeless veterans are addressed appropriately and effectively.
Helping Hands International's Helping the Homeless Program is intended to assist individual rebuild their lives through street outreach, medical and psychiatric care, substance abuse counseling, case management, life skills and job-readiness training, temporal and permanent housing.
Facts
Many of the city's homeless are dying because of lack of hygienic care. The first step to preventing diseases is the elimination of this barrier.
Until now, nobody seemed to dispute the right to a livable city or to parks free of human waste. And no one can fight to create the right to live, sleep and use streets as restrooms.
Many cities have anti vagrancy laws on the books. Such measures only displace the homeless, however.
Therefore as long as homeless people are out there, it is our responsibility to assist them get back on their feet.
Homeless people's problems are as diverse as personal histories.
Helping Hands International understands this and will take a stand on behalf of those who will turn to the agency for help because Helping Hands International wholeheartedly believe that every individual deserves to live their life peacefully and with self-respect.
It is difficult for a dirty, foul-smelling being to have confidence within the society, and Helping Hands International's program seeks to assist these individuals gain the confidence to assimilate and advance themselves in the community.
It is essential to meet homeless basic's needs.
Helping Hands International strongly believes that this program will be an effective assistance in transition from homelessness with essential services such as outreach, screening and diagnostic treatment, community mental health services, case management, alcohol or/and drug treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation, supportive and supervisory services in residential settings, and referrals to other needed services.
Helping Hands International will create an environment that supports the growth of each individual client as they pursue human betterment, develop character and achieve success.
The result could only be a healthier future for today's homeless.
Target Population
The target Population is disadvantaged homeless who live in the inner city of Washington D.C. , and have been unable to adjust to or deemed inappropriate for traditional shelters.
This population may have a history of abuse and/or neglect, emotional and/or behavioral problems, and difficulties in shelter environments. Clients with criminal histories, substance abuse issues, special needs and multiple mental health diagnoses, who live in the street and have no access to basic hygienic care will be accepted into the program.
Project Description
The homeless program Helping Hands International is striving to start is one of the most important for providing for human needs. It is a pre-requisite to successfully negotiating a healthy and adequate care system for our disadvantaged homeless population.
The purpose is to effect positive change in homeless assistance program, tackle the basic issues underlying homelessness, contribute to diseases prevention, and reduce the likelihood of a too certain early death.
Under the Philosophy of “All For One, One For All” the program involves everybody coming across a homeless individual every day. Which in other words mean all of us.
Information Cards will be given out for people to distribute them to each homeless individual they might come across.
The fundamental components of a continuum of care system are:
Homeless Prevention.
Outreach and Assessment to identify an individual's or family's needs and make connections to facilities and Services.
Immediate (Emergency) Shelter, and safe and decent alternatives to streets.
Transitional housing with appropriate supportive services to help people reach independent living; such services include job training and placement, substance abuse treatment, short-term mental health services, and independent living skills training.
Permanent housing or permanent supportive housing arrangements
Goal
Helping Hands International's goal is to build a successful prevention and intervention strategies to end chronic homelessness. Helping Hands International is dedicated to help provide decent and safe services in response to the various housing needs of low income persons, especially families with children, elderly, and individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
Helping Hands International has made a commitment to serve the needs of our communities in a caring manner that values all people and to respond with structured programs of relief assistance such as:
Multi-Service Wellness Center (Pilot Program)
Emergency Shelter Referrals for Homeless People
Transitional Emergency Relief Assistance
Senior Housing Assistance
Rental Counseling and Assistance
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
The Multi-Service Non Residential Homeless Community Center
The Strategic Plan for homelessness Continuum of Care Services in the District of Columbia : 2000-2004, contains a vision statement that reads:
"Our vision of the District of Columbia 's Continuum of care for persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless is that of a community-wide, non-segregated inclusive system of services that provides for the needs of all citizens through a variety of arrangements within the context of the larger community".
Guided and aided by technological and information supports, this Continuum program promotes the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency, while responding in a caring manner that values all people". Unfortunately the complex problems and needs of the harder-to-serve fringe of homeless are not met effectively by existing services that are fragmented, crisis oriented, discontinuous, and episodic.
Objectives
The end goal is to guide two-thirds of homeless individuals unwilling to live in a shelter from the streets to transitional housing at the end of the first twelve months period.
The main objective of Helping Hands International's hygienic care program is to go beyond the stopgap assistance to the shelters' homeless and help all the street dwellers that are unable to enter or stay in a shelter program for whatever reason, to have easy access to basic hygienic care such, as hot showers, and clean clothing.
The overall Helping Hands International homeless program will maintain a Continuum of Care, a constellation of services for Clients.
Helping Hands International knows that, simply putting individuals in housing is not enough to keep them off the streets permanently.
The lack of housing is rarely the cause of homelessness.
Helping Hands International's homeless program will be a caregiver program in addition to providing counseling and advocacy services. As the program progresses, it will go from care-giving to taking care of the individual as a whole. The Homeless Community Wellness Center will create an environment that supports the growth of each individual client as they pursue human betterment, develop character and achieve success. Helping Hands International believes that one of the most important aspects of the continuum of care for the homeless population is easily integrated availability to basic hygienic care, which is a first stop to preventing disease and illness.
Helping Hands International plans to provide a drop-in facility that provides a level of security and cleanliness that will make this program a model for cities across the country, allowing individuals to live their lives more peacefully and with increased self-respect.
The program will provide high quality service that best supports a person's independence.
Along the way, clients will receive services like:
Addiction Counseling
Literacy and Computer Training
Job Training and Placement
Help for Families Reunification
Relapse Prevention and
Life Skills Recovery
Outreach
Helping Hands International will conduct outreach targeted to local homelessness prevention agencies, D.C. agency service providers, and homeless community organizations. Information provided will indicate: type of services provided and any stipends available; client eligibility criteria; office location and hours of operation.
Outreach methods will include distributing flyers in places where there is a high concentration of homeless; placing announcements in community newspapers newsletters; and making radio announcements.
The organization's outreach officers (who are former homeless and/or actual homeless who are managing well in the system) will patrol the inner city several times days and nights to seek out homeless individuals and bring the news directly to street dwellers.
Specific Services
Hygienic Sanitation System that will provide access to:
Bathrooms
Restrooms
Laundry room
Clean Linen
Small Locker Boxes for bath accessories for every client
Clothing (client shall receive adequate supply of neat, clean, suitable clothing
A Weekly Health Screening
Electronic and Postal Mail Services
A Daily Stop Place for the Feeding Vans
Legal Aid
Social Service Benefit Application
It is important to point out that Helping Hands International will ensure all clients receive the assistance under each of the programs for which they enrolled.
Care, Supervision and Nurturing
Care
The care-giving program supports activities that promote healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare strategies as a way of life.
By helping homeless obtain public benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, and Social Security disability income, and by counseling them coping with grief or depression, drug or alcohol addiction, and physical or emotional abuse, the agencies could help homeless stabilize their lives and move towards greater self-sufficiency.
Helping Hands International will ensure that each of its clients is offered voluntary therapeutic care services and afforded his/her full rights as a citizen. As homeless and a recipient of program services, clients will be served in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the Government of the District of Columbia.
Those activities will include but not limited to hygienic care, primary health screening in the areas of physical, mental, and dental health.
In addition Helping Hands International will provide Legal Aid and Social Services including Benefit Applications, Counseling and Referrals to many other services, Electronic Mail, and Mailbox Services to clients. This will enable clients to have a registered address and easy access to e-mail, mail services and other social services.
Because of the appropriateness, quality and timeliness of services and to accommodate the needs of the client, services will be delivered around the clock for areas of access to hygienic facilities.
Social service referrals and case management services will be provided to clients.
Helping Hands International has incorporated these activities into the program as means of providing ongoing job/career counseling in order to establish and/or reinforce good work habits. The case manager will conduct once a week, a Life Skills Club that will focus on budgeting money, being responsible and accountable for one's self, job readiness training and social norms and values. Many homeless are unemployed because of lack of skills, resources and opportunities. They often have limited access to individuals who can expose them to different occupational areas and assist with their academic needs. Therefore a job readiness component will be developed that creates opportunities, increase skills, build self-confidence and provides a network of individuals and employers that will direct and hire former homeless for employment.
Nurturing
Each client is to be treated in manner that demonstrates consideration, respect, full individuality as a human being; and each homeless individual is to be free from mistreatment, neglect, abuse, including corporal punishment, and the use of physical and chemical restraints.
All staff will see each homeless as an individual with differences. Staff, will down-play their individual challenges and emphasize diversity. Staff will help each individual to make the appropriate structural changes where necessary.
All clients will be provided with daily tutorial and assistance services during their time at the center.
Staff Requirements
Helping Hands International shall employ and maintain documentation and assure that staffs possess adequate training and competence to perform the duties, which they have been assigned. The purpose of Helping Hands International's recruitment process is to bring together a diverse group of staff with the goal of helping and supporting clients with their personal and social issues.
The selection process will include qualifications and criteria that sets its aims at establishing a standard framework that will facilitate a smooth relationship between staff and clients. The staff represents a blend of administrators and clinical professionals.
Training
All staff hired must complete a core orientation and training requirements, and training shall be documented in each employee's personnel file. This includes pre-service training, training during an individual's orientation period, and on going in service training, as specified in any RFP (request for proposal). Training shall include, but not be limited to:
Characteristics and needs of homeless people, and people with developmental disabilities, including an overview of mental health issues and other developmental disabilities, definition and classification, causes, associated health implications including medical/medication issues, the history of care of people with developmental disabilities, basic human development, and daily living skills.
Infection control and universal precautions for staff and homeless
Emergency procedures including first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Heimlich maneuver, disaster plans and fire evacuation plans.
Clients' rights
All employees shall attend a mandatory orientation that includes the agency's philosophy and goals. An overview of the organization and its programs, program practices and procedures, goals, as well as a review of applicable laws, regulations and agreements important to the operation of the facility and the care and treatment of people with developmental disabilities in the District of Columbia. It is essential that continuity of services be provided and maintained. Therefore, in the event that the awarded grant expires or is terminated, Helping Hands International shall maintain services to clients. These activities will continue as long as the problem of mitigate homelessness conditions that threaten health will exist.
Sustainability
Helping Hands International plans to provide a drop-in facilities, that provide a level of security and cleanliness that will make this program a model for cities across the country making the program attractive to future grantors.
The organization innovative programs and activities are designed to attract new and continuous support from governmental units, general public and other charitable organizations.
Helping Hands International will seek and maintain alliances with other organizations and with Federal and States Agencies who provide services on global issues for the purpose facilitating the exchange of ideas and information
National Alliance to End Homelessness, 202/638-1526, http://www.naeh.org
National Coalition for the Homeless, 202/737-6444, http://nch.ari.net
National Housing Institute, 973/678-9060, http://www.nhi.org
