Love Don’t Pay the Rent - Housing Action Ilhousingactionil.org/downloads/conference2016/... ·...
Transcript of Love Don’t Pay the Rent - Housing Action Ilhousingactionil.org/downloads/conference2016/... ·...
LoveDon’tPaytheRentFundraising+AdvocacyinEvanston,Illinois
TheCommunicationsIdealAlong-termcommunicationsplanthat:• Hasacohesivenarrative• Addressestheinterestsofdifferentaudiences• Usesmultiplecommunicationschannels• EducatesANDincitesactionANDraisesmoney• Canbeadaptedtochangesinprogramsandpriorities• Canincorporatenewideasandefforts• Allowsyoutobenimble
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TheReality• Startwithanidea—acorethemeormessage• Makeaplan• Changetheplan—continuously—butmakelinkstowhatcamebefore• Useoffersforhelp—whentheymakesense
OurStory(thisyear)
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LoveDon’tPaytheRentProbonooffer—anunknownwithpotentiallygreatvalue• Timingwasgood—beginningoffiscalyear• TiedtothebookEvicted• Wantedtomakeasplash• Focusedonthevaluesofthecommunity:• CradletoCareer—focusonchildren• Diversityà Equity• Prideinthecommunity
• Challengedtherealityofthosevalues• Startedaconversation
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CoreoftheCampaignPosterswith4keyelements:• Aproposition:LoveDon’tPaytheRent• Astory(photo,photo+words)• Achallenge:Evanstoncandobetter.• Anactionplan/solution:Findouthowatconnect2home.org.
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StoriesYardsigns:• Storiesareinthephotos—loveorloneliness.Theyportraythepeoplewhocometousforhelp.
Postersforretailers:• Storiesarealsointhewords,whereposterswillbenearfoottraffic.
• Thewordsgivesfacts+anemotionalstatement+avalueschallenge.
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TheChildStoryOver70%ofhomelessadultswerehomelessaschildren.
Thetragedyandtraumathey’veexperiencedhavedarkenedtheirlivesasadults.
InEvanston,morethan400kidsarehomeless.
ThisisEvanston.Wecandobetter.
Findouthowatconnect2home.org.
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TheYouthStoryAlmost200ETHSstudentsarehomelesseveryday.
About300District65gradeschoolstudentsarehomelesstoo.
Howdoyouconcentrateonatestduringthedaywhenyoudon’tknowwhereyou’regoingtosleepatnight?
ThisisEvanston.Wecandobetter.
Findouthowatconnect2home.org.
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TheAdultStoryWelookrightpastthem.
It’shardtoseetheirfear.Theirpain.Theirshame.
InEvanston,over7500neighborsarehomelessorat-risk—that’s10%ofourpopulation.
Atminimumwagethey’dneedtowork3jobstoaffordtherent.
ThisisEvanston.Wecandobetter.
Findouthowatconnect2home.org.9
Distribution&PRPlannedactivities:• Push+Opt-Outapproachforyardsigns• Canvasapproachforretailers• Blogpostingthathighlighted:• Why“LoveDon’tPaytheRent”?• EvanstonCanDoBetter• connect2home.org(rollingoutournewURL)
• E-newsletterarticle• Pressconference(alsoannouncinganeventfeaturingtheco-authorof$2.00aDay) 10
Distribution&PRReactions:• Positive—“on-targetmessaging,”“lovetheposters,”“howcanIgetaposter?”
• Confused—“Idon’tgetit.”• Negative—“Badgrammar!”,“ThisisinsultingtoAfrican-Americans,”“Areyoutryingtomakepeoplefeelashamed?”
ALLledtoproductivediscussion.
Unplannedactivities:• Distributiontopeoplewhorequestedyardsigns• Conversationswithdonorswhocalledwithquestions• Invitationtodoaguesteditorialinthelocalpaper
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MovingForwardCarryingthethemeforwardthroughouttheyear:• Casestatement• Fallappeal&holidaycard• Video&messagingaroundgalainFebruary• E-newsletter&blogentries• Community&volunteereventsinthelatewinter&spring
Allusionstothecampaigncanbeexplicitorimplicitbutalwaysfocuson:• Thechallenge• Thesolution• Thevalues
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CaseStatementTobetailoredforusewith:• Majordonors• Corporations• Civic&communitygroups• Foundationmeetings• Volunteergroups
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On any given night in Evanston...
…1,000+ People Are Homeless
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2,873
1,176
404692
178272109549
Peopleinhouseholdswithoutchildren
Peopleinhouseholdswithchildren
Chronicallyhomelesspeople
InDistrict65
InDistrict202
(ETHS)
TotalLastYear
OnanAverageNight
HomelessStudents
…and Many More Are at Risk
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Almost10%ofhouseholdsinEvanston(7,500)areatriskofbecominghomeless:
That’sthenumberthatmakelessthanhalftheareamedianincome($34,146)andpaymorethan30%oftheirincome($853amonth)onhousing.
Tobeconsideredaffordable,housingshouldcostnomorethan30%ofone’sincome.
Housing Is Too ExpensiveArecentsearchfor1-bedroomapartmentsonApartments.comforEvanston*showed:
• 0availablefor<$1,000/month• 22availablefor<$1,500/month
MarketraterentsinEvanstonareunaffordableforthoseworkingfulltimeatlessthan$20anhour.
*July201617
Costs of HomelessnessCoststothecommunity:
“Somestudieshavefoundthatleavingapersontoremainchronicallyhomelesscoststaxpayersasmuchas$30,000to$50,000peryear.”Thesecostsresultfromstaysinhospitalemergencydepartmentsandinpatientbeds,detoxprograms,jails,prisons,andpsychiatricinstitutions.-- UnitedStatesInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness(https://www.usich.gov/goals/chronic)
Coststothehomelessperson:Chronichomelessnesscuts20to30yearsoffahomelessperson’slife.
-- “HealthcareandHomelessness,”NationalCoalitionfortheHomeless,July200918
Greatest Burden on the YouthChildrenwhoarehomeless…
• Havehigherratesofacuteandchronichealthproblems
• Aremorelikelytohavebeenexposedtoviolence
• Aremorelikelytohaveanxiety,depression,withdrawal,andaggressivebehavior
• Arelesslikelytofinishschool
• Are60%morelikelytobehomelessasadults 19
Housing is the Foundation
20Stable Housing
Withoutstablehousing,itisnearlyimpossibleto:
• Excelinschool• Holdajob• Careforafamily
Our Mission at Connections
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Wepreventpeoplefromlosingtheirhomes
andre-housethosewhohavebecomehomeless,
tohelpmoveindividualsandfamiliesoutoftheshadowsofhomelessness
andreachthegreatestpossiblelevelofself-sufficiency.
Solutions—Long-TermWeKnowWhatWorks:HousingFirstProvidinghousing,alongwithothersupport,isthemosteffectivewaytomovepeopleoutofhomelessness.
Itgivespeopletheplacefromwhichtoworkon:Employment Education PhysicalHealthMentalHealth SubstanceUse FamilyTies
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Butuntilpeoplecanfindhousingtheycanafford,weneedothersolutions.
Connections’ On-Ramps to Homeless Services:
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Outreachworkersengagehomelesspeoplewheretheyare– streets,parks,publicspaces.
EntryPointisadaytimedrop-incenterco-locatedatHilda’sPlace.Itprovidesaccesstoshowers,computers,phones,outreachworkersandcasemanagers.
Hilda’sPlaceisashelterthatprovidesdormitory-stylehousingforadults,withthegoalofmovingintohousinguponexit.
Connections’ Housing for People with Special Needs:
SupportiveHousing providesongoingsubsidizedhousingandcasemanagementtoindividualswhoaredisabledandchronicallyhomelessandtofamiliesthatincludesomeonewithadisability.
Tenant-BasedRentalAssistanceprovidesa2-yearhousingsubsidyandcasemanagementforworkingfamilieswithchildreninEvanstonschools.
OurHouse isaresidentialprogramforhomelessyoungadultsbetweentheagesof18and24. 24
Services Provided
Clients
BasicNeeds:Shelter,food,clothing,
hygiene,accesstocomputerand
phoneHousing
Assistance:Location,appli-cationassist-ance,rentsub-sidies,tenanteducation
LifeSkills:Workshops,tutoringandmentoring,socialskills
CareerServices:Jobreadiness
training,employmentcounseling,
academictesting,education
HealthandWell-Being:Medicalandmentalhealthcare,children’sadvocacy,parent
education
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TotalServed:733PeopleServedinFY16
HousingProgramsRe-Housing(includingHilda’sPlace) 142SupportiveHousing—Individuals 39SupportiveHousing—Families 84(includingkids)RentalAssistanceforFamilies 64(includingkids)TransitionalHousingforYouth 7youngmenHomelessnessPrevention 0(duetotheState
budgetimpasse)
SupportiveProgramming(theseservicesoverlapwithhousingservices)Outreach&BasicNecessities 344HealthServices 150EmploymentSupport 93Education 166
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Reach of Connections’ Programs
1.ProvideYourOwnFinancialSupport• Jointhe365Clubandpledgetogiveadollaraday
• Increaseyourgivingby10%
• Signupforrecurringgiving
• Makeamajorgift
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2.HelpUsGetOtherFinancialSupport• Recruitfriendsandrelativestostartgiving
• Solicitgiftsfromyouremployers
• Signupforcompanymatches
3.HelpUsSpreadtheWord• Inviteustospeakatyour
workplace
• Inviteustospeakatyourchurch,synagogue,temple,ormosque
• Hostacoffeewherewecantellguestsaboutourvision
• FeatureConnectionsatameetingofyourlocalRotary,Kiwanis,blockorotherclub
• Talkaboutusonsocialmedia
How You Can Help…
AStoryofSuccess:LAMONTLamontstoppedbytheofficetotalkwithhiscasemanagerandproudlyshowedoffthenewcarthathehadrecentlybought.Hisfiancéewaswithhimwithabeautifulengagementringonherfinger.Hetalkedabouthispositionatalocalwarehousewhereheisthesupervisorwith50employeesreportingtohim.Humbly,heconfirmedthathehasbeencleanandsobersince2014andisreconnectedwithhisfamily.
HelookedremarkablydifferentfromthemanwhohadinitiallyinterviewedtostayatHilda’sPlaceShelter.Atthetime,Lamonthadagoodworkhistorywithatremendouslevelofexperienceinhisfamily’sbusiness,buthealsohadahistoryofviolenceandsubstanceabuse.Hewas,actually,awaitingacourtdateforsentencingonanassaultcharge.
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Everythingstartedtochangeforthebetterwhen,duringtheinitialinterviewsandmeetingsatHilda’sPlace,hefinallyadmittedthatheheardvoices. Lamonthadbeenhearingvoicesfor30yearsandtoldnoone. Hetriedquietingthevoicesandtheviolencethat“they”elicitedwithdrugsandalcohol.Theunpredictableviolenceandaddictionwerethecauseofhisseparationfromfamily,lostemployment,andhomelessness.
Thedaythathesharedhismentalhealthsecretandtrustedsomeonewiththatrealitywasthedaythathewasabletostartgettinghislifeback.LamontwasreferredtothepsychiatristonsiteatConnections,wasdiagnosed,andwasabletoreceivetherightmedicationthatfinallysilencedthevoices.Astaffadvocateaccompaniedhimtohiscourtdate(morethanonce),makingapleatothejudgethathelpedhimreceivedrugrehabandaspotinahalfwayhouseinlieuofjailtime.
WhatifLamonthadneverspokenupandtoldthetruthabouthisstruggles?Whatifthejudgehadn’tbeenwillingtoofferanalternativesentence?ConnectionscreatedtheopportunitiesforthesecriticalpivotpointsinLamont'slifetogotherightway.WehelpedLamonttochangethequestionstopositives.WhatifLamonthadthemedicationheneededandadvocacyheneededtoregainemploymentandstablehousing?WhenLamontstoppedbytheoffice;wesawtheamazinganswer.
AStoryofSuccess:MALIKMalikhadhadstablehousingthroughmuchofhighschoolandwasfortunatetobeinvolvedinanafter-schoolprogram.Whenhegraduated,hegotajobworkinginafacilityforadultswithdisabilities.Shortlyaftergraduation,helosthishousingduetoadifficultfamilysituationand,withnowheretolive,hebegansleepingonthetrains.Eventually,heheardaboutConnections'OurHouse,whereinSeptember2015hebecameoneofourfirstresidents.
WhilelivingatOurHouse,Malikfocusedheavilyonemploymentandfinancialsecurity.Hewentthroughtrainingtobeasecurityguard,obtainedthePERCcardneededtoapplyforsuchjobs,andfoundemploymentasaguardinoneofthedormitoriesatNorthwesternUniversity.Atthesametime,heworkedcloselywithafinancialliteracytutorandbegantopro-activelybuilduphiscreditrating.
29Hopingtogetbetter(notovernight)hours,Malikwasrecentlyjob-hunting,whenFoundKitchen&SocialHouseinEvanstonapproachedConnectionslookingforemployees.Malikappliedandisnowworkingfull-timeatFoundinajobwithagoodwage,aschedulethatworkswellforhim,andgreatpotentialforadvancement.
Thank You!
www.connect2home.org