F*$k Homelessness

Today, I’m excited to announce a new civic solution which can forever change how homelessness is perceived in America. Though most people think the homeless are mentally unwell and destitute, the reality is that most of those experiencing homelessness are more than capable of getting back on their feet if only given the chance. That’s why I’m building Community Transition Centers, the missing link in alleviating homelessness across America.

Community Transition Centers provide housing, vocational training, and counseling services to impoverished individuals in need of assistance getting their lives back together. Our goal is to get people back on track and back into the community. In return, residents can either pay rent or work on community service projects — meaning anyone willing to do community service will now have access to housing and a group of people dedicated to supporting them. I know it sounds simple, but as homeless services go, this is a major innovation!

The Details

Transition Centers house up to 125 people, including faculty, such as life coaches, caseworkers, teachers, and workforce specialists, which we’d like to have live alongside the people they are helping. Similar to Americorps, we believe this integrated live/work model will have the most impactful results, as it will ensure excellent living conditions on-site and that everyone gets the help they need, the moment they need it.

Transition Centers include a computer lab, co-work space, dining hall, kitchen, donation center, car share, bike share, community garden, bathrooms, lounges, laundry room, showers, and free WiFi. Most of these amenities are open to the public, which we hope will help people to see that most homeless individuals are no different than you or me. Best of all, the entire center operates on a zero-cost basis, as our transitional workforce crowdfunds for the neighborhood betterment projects they do, all of which are requested from the community.

Transition Centers are built upon temporary land, similar to the community gardens of the past. Any land owner with a parking lot or baren parcel can lease the lot to us for 1–5 years in return for a handsome tax rebate. We only use temporary structures and the entire site can be raised within 2 weeks. Because of this, we are able to avoid most government pitfalls that build up costs, as well as scale Transition Centers easily across America.

Who can Join

Because we plan to build Transition Centers near neighborhoods, public safety is our top priority. Both substance abusers and the mentally ill are not accepted at our centers, as they jeopardize the safety and security of others. The mission of Transition Centers is to set a standard for which homeless can be considered responsible and accountable, ultimately utilizing that reputation with both future employers and the community as a whole.

We estimate Transition Centers can help up to 80% of people who have been homeless for up to 6 months and 30% of people homeless longer than a year.

For everyone who Transition Centers can not help, there is the current homeless system to support them. As evidenced by developments in Salt Lake City, we believe that shelters and respite centers are better suited for treating those with addiction, while free supportive housing is the best option for individuals unable to work due to disabilities.

How did we Get Here?

Transition Centers are the brainchild of my journey over the last year, researching homelessness, sleeping in homeless encampments, visiting shelters, and speaking with hundreds of non-profits, government officials and people currently and formerly homeless. What this led me to understand is that most of the homeless are fully capable of caring for themselves, but because our government operates on a one-size fits all solution, most people are unable to tell the difference between homeless people who are a danger to society and the masses who are simply poor and searching for an opportunity to get their life back on track.

Along with shelter, food, safety, and other basic needs, Transition Centers help people overcome the major mental blocks holding people back from fulfilling their potential. The biggest being depression, self-doubt, and the confidence to learn new skills. By building a healing and supportive environment, inspiring an ethos of community service, and training people on the skills necessary to make it in the digital world today, we believe we can achieve this.

If this is all starting to sound a little bit strange to you, that’s only because homelessness is dealt with so poorly today. Our current homeless system causes almost as much harm to communities as it does benefits. If we started building solutions from scratch, based on what we know now, I believe Transition Centers would be at the heart of helping people with transitional homelessness. Shelters would be for those who need lots of special care and rehabilitation. And free housing with 24/7 support services would be reserved for individuals incapable of working and sustaining themselves.

Feedback and Support

With that said, I believe it’s time we started moving things in the right direction and making Transition Centers a reality. It’s time we started getting people back to work and changing the face of homelessness in America. My team and I are currently scouting for a first location to run a pilot program, either in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, or New York. All we need is a 1 year lease on a large plot of land and a little community support.

To learn more about Transition Centers, visit www.transitioncenters.org

To give feedback or become a part of the project, email [email protected]