HARNESSING THE

POWER OF

COMMUNITY TO END

HOMELESSNESS

People’s Place

HO MELESSNESS I S A PUBL I C HEALT H AND

PUBL I C SAF ET Y CRI S I S .

PEO PLE ’S PLACE HELPS PEO PLE MO VE

TO WARDS PERMANENT HO USI NG BY

CO MBI N I NG CO MMUNI T Y SUPPO RT,

I ND I V I DUAL ACCO UNTABI L I T Y, AND

CO O RDI NAT ED PRO F ESSI O NAL ADVO C ACY .

W E BEL I EVE SAF E , STABLE I NDO O R

HO USI NG I S A NECESSI T Y AND A R I G HT.

Our Mission

POVERTY IS CLOSELY L INKED TO HOMELESSNESS.

WHEN PEOPLE LACK INCOME TO MEET ALL OF THEIR

NEEDS, THEY ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN

HOUSING AND FOOD OR MEDICAL CARE.

LACK OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTS

ALL OF THE PROBLEMS L ISTED ABOVE ARE

EXACERBATED WHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMIL IES

LACK A NETWORK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT.

S O U R C E S : S E A T T L E K I N G C O U N T Y C O A L I T I O N O N H O M E L E S S N E S S

K I N G C O U N T Y C O M M I T T E E T O E N D H O M E L E S S N E S S

Causes of homelessness

ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, OVER 9000

PEOPLE IN KING COUNTY HAVE

NOWHERE TO CALL HOME

S O U R C E : S E A T T L E K I N G C O U N T Y C O A L I T I O N O N H O M E L E S S N E S S 2 0 0 9 O N E N I G H T C O U N T

Homeless Epidemic

Homelessness

is a Public

Health Crisis

Being homeless

increases the risk

of death from:

•Suicide

•Murder

•Untreated illness

•Exposure

•Contagious

disease

50% of original members were coping

with serious, untreated chronic illness

Asthma

Diabetes (Type I and Type II)

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Other conditions

25% suffered acute illness

The majority had no medical coverage,

provider, or awareness of medical

services

Seeking safety in community

Current rules

restrict most

shelters from

accepting

couples,

families, or

individuals

with pets.

Many people

find shelter in

camps.

43 MEMBERS OF THE CAMP HAD NO

PLAN FOR THE MOVE.

VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZED

TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY

DONATIONS TO PROVIDE “A NIGHT OR

TWO” AT A WEEKLY MOTEL…

On September 30, Nickelsville

was removed from Terminal 107

On October 6, the group created

an identity: People’s Place

Need

The people who moved to weekly motels were

unable to access any other emergency shelter

Family with minor child and extended family unable to find

shelter for the entire group

Couples unwilling to separate

Single individuals unable to find a shelter opening

Lack of storage for belongings (family photos, tools, clothing)

Pet owners unwilling to separate from their dogs

Community

Members quickly organized and prioritized needs

Social and emotional support

Food—pooling resources & planning food bank trips

Hygiene products

Medical care

Transportation to services, appointments, jobs

Pet supplies

Inspiration

People’s Place is inspired by models in the

Seattle area and around the country.

Aloha Inn

Church Council of Greater Seattle Scattered Site

housing

Central City Concern (Portland, OR)

Pathways to Housing (New York, NY)

Corporation for Supportive Housing (San Francisco,

CA)

People’s place is more than housing. It’s supported

communal living focused on addressing the causes of

homelessness and identifying solutions.

Members create community, share resources and

support each other.

Advocates provide referrals, raise funds, and offer

concrete assistance addressing barriers—a ride to an

appointment, help budgeting, or support going into a

stressful meeting.

Our model

Intake & Assessment (October 2009)

Members met with advocates to share needs

Advocates made referrals to local resources and

provided transportation assistance and support

Donations were collected to reunite several

individuals with family

Those with urgent medical needs were connected

with health services

Funding

Donations

Most donations from individuals

Other donation sources include faith-based organizations and community groups

100% of all donations to People’s Place cover member needs

Rent/shelter costs

Transportation (local and long distance to reunite with family)

Hygiene supplies (including laundry)

Food and pet supplies

Thank you to our supporters

Organizations donated money, food, and support One4One Ministries

Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)

Church Council of Greater Seattle

Ronald United Methodist Church

United Way of King County

Jewish Family Services

University Congregational Church United

Individual donors who prefer to remain anonymous—THANK YOU!

Fiscal Agent

Muchas gracias to El Centro de la Raza for supporting

People’s Place by becoming our fiscal agent. While we are

pursuing independent nonprofit status with the IRS, El

Centro is helping us raise funds by sponsoring us under

their nonprofit umbrella.

All donations made to People’s Place after December 10,

2009 are tax deductible via El Centro de la Raza.

Thank you, El Centro staff and board!

Motel Expenses (2009)

Rent/Shelter costs

October 2009: $9200

43 members, 13 rooms

November 2009: $4850

15 members, 6 rooms

December 2009: $4600

12 members, 4 rooms

Total: $18,900

Other costs (hygiene products, transportation, etc)

$3000Average cost per person: $10/day

Success

Housing

6 members reunited with family

5 members employed in live/work arrangement

2 members moved to top of waitlist for permanent housing

5 members employed, moved into independent housing

7 members in People’s Place rental house

50% of members connected with medical services

75% connected with a new social service

100% slept indoors

SEVEN PEOPLE’S PLACE MEMBERS (AND

BUDDY THE DOG) MOVED INTO A RENTAL

HOUSE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.

THE IDEA IS SIMPLE: COMBINE THE

SUPPORT OF COMMUNAL LIVING WITH

PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY TO HELP

INDIVIDUALS MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR

GOALS.

January 1, 2010

Homeless…in a house?

Thanks to Norm of Stita Taxi Service

for helping on moving day!

House expenses (2010)

Rent: $2000

Utilities: $300

Transportation: $100

Hygiene & cleaning supplies: $100

Total: $2500

Average cost per person: $12/day

Community

Members share shopping, meal planning,

and cooking responsibilities—saving money

and enjoying greater variety

Household cleaning tasks are equally

distributed

Everyone in the group participates in

household decisions

Members support each other during

challenge & celebrate success together

Individual Accountability

Each member is responsible for creating a

budget and a personal development plan

Members meet with advocates to review

their plans and seek referrals and resources

Members address barriers: medical

conditions, legal concerns, credit problems

Advocates work with members and

coordinate with other agencies to facilitate

progress

PEOPLE’S PLACE IS A REPLICABLE

PROGRAM, FOCUSED ON HELPING

CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE

TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT

HOUSING.

WE HOPE TO EXPAND OUR MODEL BY

CONTINUING TO OFFER SUPPORT

FOR SRO/MOTEL RESIDENTS AND

OPERATING ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.

Looking Forward

Referrals

Referral criteria

Applicants must not be eligible for other

housing/shelter.

Applicants must be willing to work with advocates

and participate in People’s Place community.

Applicants must be connected with funding source.

People’s Place advocates may be able to match an applicant with a

donor

Level I membership

Individuals and couples seeking to join the People’s Place

community can apply to become Level I members.

Applicant completes an intake form and meets with People’s

Place advocate

Funding source is identified for SRO/motel occupancy

Applicant is matched with available SRO/motel space

Advocate and member work together to identify needs and

resources and create a Personal Development Plan

Level II membership

Residents at People’s Place rental home(s) are Level

II members. We are not currently accepting any new

Level II members.

After six weeks in SRO/motel, Level I members may

request assessment for Level II membership

When there is an opening in a People’s Place rental house,

Level I member applications will brought to the residents at the

house

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

INTEREST IN PEOPLE’S PLACE.

YOUR SUPPORT ALLOWS US TO

CONTINUE PROVIDING

HOUSING AND ADVOCACY TO

CURRENT MEMBERS—AND

SOMEDAY TO GROW OUR

PROGRAMS.

Thank you!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PEOPLE’S PLACE,

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

HTTP: / /PEOPLESPLACESEATTLE.WORDPRESS.COM

BECOME A FAN—PEOPLE’S PLACE ON

FACEBOOK:

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PEOPLESPLACE

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