How to Raise Awareness in your community

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Homelessness Awareness Day 2009 Governors
Committee to End Homelessness

• How to Raise Awareness in your community

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Presentation Outline

• PHC Event
• Objectives/Overview
• Suggested Committees
• Successful GCEH PHC Event
• Other Awareness Events
• Resources

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Creating Awareness

• Project Homeless Connect

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Support for Project Homeless Connect

• Project Homeless Connect is breaking the myth
  that people do not seek assistance and services
  and would rather be on the street. The data
  prove that, when people are approached in a
  respectful and kind manner and with available
  resources, they are eager to accept help toward
  self-sufficiency
• -Mayor Gavin Newsom, City of San Francisco

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Support for Homeless Project Connect

• This is the beginning of a new way to address
  homelessness.... Project Homeless Connect is a
  one-day, one-stop shop to deliver real services
  to people experiencing real homelessness in our
  community. But this is also about a commitment
  to move from simply managing homelessness towards
  really ending homelessness
• -Mayor R.T. Rybak, City of Minneapolis

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Scope of Project Connect Events

• Project Connect events happen all over the county
  and beyond.
• There have already been 330 events in 200
  communities including Canada and Australia.
• There were more than 17 new Project Homeless
  Connect events in 2008.
• 77 events were put on in the first half of 2008.

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Background

• What is Project Homeless Connect?
• Where did Project Homeless Connect Originate?
• What are the characteristics of Project Homeless
  Connect?
• What are specific themes of Project Homeless
  Connect?
• Why establish Project Homeless Connect?

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What is Project Homeless Connect?

• One-day Event.
• One-stop for housing, support, quality of life
  services.
• One-goal ending homelessness.
• City/County or community-led.
• Consumer-centric.
• Outcome-oriented.

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Where did Project Homeless Connect Originate ?

• Fall 2004 San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
  creates the first connect event to engage and
  welcome homeless people back into the community.
• Fall 2005 Communities across the country form
  temporary one-stops to welcome newly homeless
  victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
• Winter 2005 The U.S. Interagency Council on
  Homelessness launches the National Project
  Homeless Connect Partnership.

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Homeless Connect Origins Cont.

• Winter 2006 40 Cities join the National Project
  Homeless Connect Week in December 2006.
• Winter 2007 the Third Annual National Project
  Homeless Connect event ends and over 130 cities
  have held events during 2007.
• 2008 Fourth Annual National Project Homeless
  Connect Week announced for December 1-7, 2008.

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Characteristics of Project Homeless Connect

• Hospitality Consumers are welcomed guests.
• Immediacy Same-day results for consumers.
• Community Voluntary civic participation.
• Partnership Across agencies and sectors.
• Excellence Rigorous Evaluation and Improvement.

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Themes of Project Homeless Connect

• Not business as usual.
• No waiting in line. Homeless people do enough of
  that.
• Hospitality from the whole community.
• Immediate access- not simply referrals.
• Quality of life resources- haircuts, massage and
  foot care, phone calls, eye glasses, dental and
  medical care, meals, entertainment, wheelchair
  repair, etc.

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Why Establish Project Homeless Connect?

• Enhance quality of life for the entire community.
• Engage civic leaders in solutions to
  homelessness.
• Transform homeless service delivery systems.
• Increase public knowledge and awareness.
• Debunk myths and stereotypes.
• Increase investment/momentum towards solutions.
• Re-engage our homeless neighbors.
• Offer quality of life resources.

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Ten Essentials of Project Homeless Connect

• 1. Political/Community Will.
• 2. Partnership.
• 3. Planning Team.
• 4. Site Selection.
• 5. Volunteers.
• 6. Services.
• 7. Consumer engagement.
• 8. Media.
• 9. Data and results.
• 10. Event execution.

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1. Political and Community Will

• Involve Mayor or County official leadership.
• Work to re-prioritize local government resources.
• Involve media and capture interest.
• Connect agencies in the community.
• Involve local businesses.

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2.Partnership

• As in the case in the development of 10-year
  plans, partnership of the public and private
  sector is essential.
• They offer resources and access.
• Government partners include
• City agencies, county agencies, State agencies,
  Federal agencies.
• USICH Regional Coordinator, find out who is the
  coordinator for Missouri.

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2. Partnership Cont.

• Private sector event partners can include
• United Way, businesses, banks, chambers of
  commerce, downtown associates, housing
  developers, tourism officials, universities,
  technical colleges, trade schools, behavioral
  health providers, transportation agencies,
  workforce agencies, faith-based organizations,
  law enforcement, veterans organizations,
  advocates/non-profits, consumers, libraries,
  parks and recreational agencies.

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3. Planning Team

• Planning teams should have a director and involve
  leaders in the city/county.
• The planning teams decisions should be informed
  by homeless/formerly homeless consumers, a
  representative from each partner group, those who
  have experienced a successful PHC first-hand.

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4. Site Selection

• PHC is not business as usual and a community site
  that is not associated with homelessness is
  preferred.
• The venue should be large, centrally located,
  known to the community, indoors, a
  civic/faith/corporate or university facility, and
  unusual for the consumer to visit.

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4. Site Selection Cont.

• Develop a conscious design for the use of the
  space.
• Create a welcoming and festive environment.
• Post clear signage, floor plans, and maps.
• Accommodate media and special guests.
• Assure accessibility for those with special
  needs.
• Plan for 2 hours to setup and 2 hours to break
  down.
• Ensure that consumers do not wait in lines.
• Serve meals with musical entertainment.
• Provide mobile hospitality where ever consumers
  go.

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5.Volunteers

• Volunteers are 1/2 of the connection in PHC.
• The other ½ are homeless consumers.
• Ensuring that both sides are comfortable and
  understand the nature of PHC is vital to success.
• Set a goal for volunteer to guest ratios.
• Develop a promotional video or other materials.
• Enlist partners with ties to local volunteer
  pools.
• Target corporate, civic, educational, and
  faith-based institutions.
• Conduct open recruitment by advertising.

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6. Services

• Key in the provision of services is IMMEDIACY.
• The direct provision of housing, jobs, benefits,
  and quality of life services-including haircuts
  and eyeglasses are what sets PHC apart.
• Essential Services Housing/Shelter, Employment,
  Medicaid, SS benefits, Veterans Benefits,
  Medical/Dental/Orthopedic, Drug/Alcohol/Mental
  Health, Legal, Teen/Youth, DMV, Elder Care, Pet
  Care, Credit Counseling, Transportation, Case
  Management, Mail/Phone, Food/Beverage,
  Haircuts/Massage/Foot Care, Showers/Hygiene Kits,
  Eye Exams/Eyeglasses, Bicycle/Wheelchair Repair,
  Entertainment, Education, Books/Libraries.

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7. Consumer Engagement

• PHC is centered around the consumer, the homeless
  individual or family. Marketing PHC to them
  means knowing where they are and what they need.
• Set a goal for consumer turnout.
• Create a flyer with date/map/directions to the
  event.
• Begin outreach as soon as the date and site are
  set.
• Enlist police, direct service providers, and
  consumers.
• Deploy engagement teams on the day of the event.
• Host PHCs regularly and listen to consumers.

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7. Consumer Engagement Cont.

• Many communities provide flyers to law
  enforcement and local businesses to get the word
  out.
• Some have used flyers with bus passes attached
  and maps to bus depots where free transit is
  available.
• San Francisco uses an engagement team to inform
  and engage consumers.

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8. Media

• PHC offers an opportunity to welcome homeless
  individuals and families in the community and
  debunk myths and stereotypes about them.
• Public officials offering words of welcome and
  homeless people actively seeking to move beyond
  homelessness are messages to the community
  at-large that media can assist in communicating.

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8. Media Cont.

• Partner in National Project Homeless Connect.
• Appoint and experienced point-person for media.
• Develop a communications plan and press packet.
• Invite media to cover the PHC opening rally.
• Arrange for media to track a willing client
  during your PHC event.
• Invite officials to greet homeless consumers as
  they arrive.
• Report PHC results to the media same-day.
• Contextualize your PHC as part of the National
  Partnership.

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9. Data and Results

• Quantifiable results are central to PHC. Each
  resource provider should keep and report data.
  Identify a lead to report on the following
• Clients/Vouchers engaged, persons housed, persons
  off the streets, persons employed, social
  security benefits applications, veteran benefit
  applications, food stamp/welfare applications,
  IDs issued, eyeglasses issued, medical/dental
  care received, wheelchairs/bicycles repaired,
  citations adjudicated, personal hygiene kits
  given out, lbs of food distributed,
  haircuts/massages given, phone calls made.

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10. Event Execution

• PHC is NOT about waiting in lines or signing up
  on long waiting lists, or creating false
  expectations.
• PHC IS about delivery, execution, and results.
• On event day remember to
• Be prepared to troubleshoot issues, remain
  flexible with volunteer and other resources,
  recognize and include sponsors, partners, and
  officials, be diligent in obtaining consumer
  feedback, learn from what worked and what did
  not, publicize results immediately and celebrate
  success.

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10. Event Execution Cont.

• Develop a plan for the day. For example
• Doors open at ________ for volunteers and
  staff.
• Set up.
• Volunteer orientation-review location of
  services.
• Match volunteer requests with opportunities.
• Doors open at _________ homeless consumers.
• No lines-homeless people go to meal site and sit
  at tables with entertainment.
• Mobile Hospitality Volunteers assisted by
  specialists escort consumers to resources.

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10. Event Execution Cont.

• MHV remains with consumer through every meeting.
• Typical schedule
• 830 volunteer registration.
• 900 Rally.
• 930-1000 service area assignment.
• 10-3 connecting with the homeless.
• 1130-1 lunch served.

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10. Event Execution Cont.

• Four Steps to the Day.
• Step 1 Check-in.
• Step 2 Getting the services.
• Step 3 Check out.
• Step 4 Hygiene kits.
• Volunteer wrap-up and debrief.
• Breakdown and clean up.

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PHC Sub-Committees

• Logistics Committee
• Services Committee
• Volunteer Committee
• Media/Donations Committee
• Coordinating Committee

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PHC Outcomes

• Learned more about homeless in the community
• Learned contributing factors
• Made stronger connections and built relationships
• Accessed important services
• 814 services provided
• 11 MO photo IDs and Social Security cards
• 28 Birth certificates
• 46 Haircuts
• 14 connections with Head Start
• Other services
• Raised awareness
• Volunteers had personal encounter
• Volunteers became educated
• Business community
• Educated the community through Media coverage

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Creating Awareness

• Other
• Awareness Event
• Ideas

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Planning for your Community

• Events/Activities
• Proclamation
• Media Coverage

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Events/Activities

• Most are held within the National Hunger and
  Homelessness Awareness Week in November
• A truly successful Awareness Week/Event will
  inspire people to become further involved with
  the issues of hunger and homelessness.
• One Night Without a Home
• Skipping meals
• Movie night
• Congressional letters
• Lobbying
• Faces of Homelessness Panel
• Others

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One Night Without a Home

• Spend the night outside to discuss, think and
  learn about homelessness
• Duration of 12 hours
• Select site that is appropriate to your
  community
• Invite homeless individuals, community leaders
  and residents
• Serve an evening meal or coffee/beverages
• Speakers, candlelight vigil, music, movie, etc.
• Discussion groups
• Breakfast and wrap-up discussion
• Can promote advocacy and education
• Distribute fact sheets
• Provide participants with ways to act upon their
  experience (letter writing, involvement with
  advocacy organizations, etc.)

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Skipping Meals

• One day for community members to skip a meal
• Have them donate their coffee and/or lunch money
  to the homeless service programs in your
  community instead
• Have them raise funds (pledges) for them to skip
  their meal
• They can encourage other friends and family
  members to do the same
• Have a coffee shop or restaurant set up a booth
• Encourage community members to skip their coffee
  and donate their money instead
• Encourage community members to match the amount
  that they spend on breakfast or lunch as a
  donation

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Movie Night

• Organize a movie night outside or at a local
  theater
• Have the funds from admission donated
• Show a movie that addresses the issues of
  homelessness
• Pursuit of Happyness
• Homeless to Harvard
• Easy Street
• Where God Left His Shoes
• Have You Seen Clem
• The National Coalition for the Homeless Bringing
  America Home
• Hold a discussion after the movie

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Congressional Letters

• Booth where people can write their Congressional
  representatives
• Publicize the booth ahead of time
• Draft a sample letter
• Have community members hand write their letters
• Provide resources and fact sheets at the booth
• Provide outlets for community members to
  continue their advocacy

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Lobbying

• Lobbying in your local community
• Organize a time to visit your city hall, county
  commission, local office of your Congressional
  representative or Senator
• Prepare information for handing out
• Talking points
• Fact sheets
• Local homelessness information and the unmet
  needs
• Solutions and ideas

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Faces of Homelessness Panel

• Formerly homeless and those experiencing
  homelessness
• Opportunity for questions and dialogue with the
  community
• Have panelists speak about their experiences
• Provides a personal and powerful connection
• Makes more personal connection and learning
  experience
• Statistics relate to what individuals have
  encountered from panel
• Dispel myths and stereotypes

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Other Ideas

• Other ideas
• Food/blanket/coat drive
• Encourage volunteering/community service
• Homeless Saturday/Sunday
• Hand out information
• Book reading
• Contests
• Register homeless to vote
• Benefit concert
• Educational forums/events
• Walk/run
• Closing festival

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Proclamation

• Have your City Council, Mayor, Commissioner
  provide a proclamation
• A resolution proclaiming a specific date or time
  frame your communitys Homelessness Awareness Day
  or Week
• Sample proclamation

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Media Coverage

• Have events published
• Advertise with flyers at your schools, libraries
  and grocery stores
• Insert into grocery bags
• Print bookmarks that the library can pass out at
  checkout
• E-mail community organizations
• News release
• Use your resources- schools, etc. for designing
  and printing

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Thoughts for Planning

• Plan in advance for enough notice to the
  community
• Provide ways to continue advocacy and involvement
• Number of events
• One or two well-planned and focused events
• What best suites your community?
• Who is your target?
• What is available/who is available?
• Be creative
• Use resources for ideas
• Internet
• Other Communities

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PHC On-line Resources

• USICH National Project Homeless Connect Toolkit
  www.usich.gov
• Links to local jurisdictional Project Homeless
  Connect websites
• http//www.usich.gov/e-newsletterarchive.html
• Project Homeless Connect highlights from the
  weekly USICH e-news
• http//www.usich.gov/e-newsletterarchive.html
• Google Project Homeless Connect

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Awareness Resources

• National Coalition for the Homeless
• http//www.nationalhomeless.org
• National Student Campaign Against Hunger and
  Homelessness
• http//www.studentsagainsthunger.org
• Break Away
• www.alternativebreaks.org
• Bread for the World
• www.bread.org

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• Thank you!
• Questions?