3/1/2019 Status Update

Hello everyone and how are you? I am doing fantastic and my thoughts and prayers go out to those living on the streets. Last night I finished researching all the information that I needed for the new program of Hope Station USA call Pathway to Self-Sufficiency. it will be a program to help them transition from living on the streets to becoming a working tax paying member of society.

We put a lot of thought into this program and do believe it to be a huge benefit to the community and society as well as to the homeless individuals who join the program. It gives them that hand up that they need to get back on their feet again.

I will place part of the grant proposal and the estimated costs here in this post so that everyone could see what the program entails and what the costs would be to get her up and running. We would use homeless individuals and volunteers to help build the little community and it would provide a few jobs per location that are constructed.

We are excited about it and the benefits outweigh anything else that comes close to helping them. I can't have my heartstrings pulled every time I see someone out there panhandling to survive when most are able to work and that is another benefit of the program and that is to get them working again.

So here is the information about the program and maybe everyone could chip in and help us out.

Pathway to Self-Sufficiency is a program created by Hope Station USA, Inc. that would provide a stable and safe place for a homeless individual to live and with the programs help, they will learn the steps to becoming a working and tax-paying member of society again.

The program consists of steps that will need to be taken in order to graduate the program and become self-sufficient. Each individual will be assessed, and the program will be tailored to the individual's needs and goals. Individuals that graduate from the program will also be considered milestones and accomplishments for Hope Station USA, Inc.

The program for each individual will be six months long, and upon their time of graduation, they will be assisted in moving into their new apartment or home. We will provide transportation to and from their place of employment and back to their assigned housing unit at Pathways to Self-Sufficiency. Each individual will be required to sign a contract stating that they will abide by the rules of the program and that they will assist in keeping everyone within the walls of the program safe and from harm.

There will be ten steps to the program with the first one being the assessment and then being assigned a housing unit. There will be twenty housing units within each Pathway to Self-Sufficiency location created. The goal of this program is to assist as many homeless individuals as we can and get them back into society.

The next step will be to sit down with them and set some goals both short term and long term. We want them to understand that they do have choices on how they live and how they want to be perceived by society. We will also assist them in building a resume if they have work experience prior to becoming homeless.

Through our computer lab, they will have access to job seeking resources and the occasional free time with the internet but under supervision and website blocking for inappropriate material. Also, there will be our version of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous which will be led by myself or a guest speaker with ten or more years under their belt. I have been clean and sober for ten years now and I cherish every minute of it.

There will be community nights where everyone will get together and hang out and get to know each other and barbeque weekends. Hope Station USA will provide them with meals and hygiene products as well as any clothing that they might need for job seeking. The purpose of these meetings will be to let everyone know that they are not alone and to give them hope.

Another step will be to teach them life lessons as we call them. Each individual will be taught the basics of living a normal life, such as cooking, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, and sewing. We want to equip them to be able to take care of themselves once out on their own.

Once they have acquired employment, then we will take them to open a bank account and teach them to budget and save money. They will have to be taught how to pay bills and live a normal life. After thirty days of working, we will require them to pay one- hundred and fifty dollars a month as a rental payment for their housing unit. This will be used as an income to keep the program going.

The next step will be to assist them in securing a source of transportation. Whether they want a vehicle or a bicycle, it will be to help them get around. Soon after they have acquired their own source of transportation, it will be time to begin saving for their very own apartment.

At their six-month period, we will assist them in moving to their own apartment and we will have a graduation party for them before they are checked out of their housing unit.

Each housing unit will be equipped with a twin bed, a micro-fridge, a small microwave, a refurbished television, a dresser, and a desk with chair and a small lamp. There will be curfews in place for their own safety and someone will be on guard overnight to maintain the safety of the community.

With this program, it will create four to five jobs per location that will be laborers, overnight people, and a housekeeper to keep the bathroom and showers clean on top of doing the laundry that is needed. This person will also check people in and out during the day in the administration building.

Costs Associated with Program-                $135,000

Property Purchase-         $26,000- 30,000              

Utilities-               $6,000- 10,000 Estimated per year

Salaries -              $80,000/ year    4 Employees      $20,000/year/each

Passenger Van- $15,000

Build Cost for Community-          $107,666.56

Fence-  $9,182.95

Administrative Building w/ Computer Lab-            $6,667.54

Dining Hall Plus Kitchen-               $5,282.87

Laundry Room- $2,344.89

Shower/ Bathroom Building-       $4,636.16

Amenities/ Appliances- $20,292.35

Tiny House-        $2,212.99 each @ 20 = $44,259.80

Miscellaneous hardware/ Tools-                $10,000

Septic-  $5,000

Total Cost of Program-  $242,666.56

2/9/2019 Status Update

Good morning everyone. How are you? My thoughts and prayers are with those sleeping on the streets tonight and may you stay warm. I have some good news to announce to everyone. I just spoke with my husband who is also a director of Hope Station USA about a charity state walk for homelessness awareness.

I attempted a walk across the country back in 2010 from Orlando, Florida to Los Angeles, California which had to end abruptly due to my support person/Treasurer getting sick that we had to return to Florida where she battled Cancer for a couple of years because of no health insurance and we lost her in 2017.

I want to raise awareness of the homelessness issue here in the United States one state at a time. I have a goal to set it up for September so that it will not be so hot out there while I walk. He agreed to let me do a state walk for each state we are registered in to show our support of the issue. I have health goals to make before doing this and I believe I can do it.

On another note, I will begin working on paperwork today to get our new program together to submit to foundations for funding. It is a good day for getting things done. I will be working on grant proposals today and every day to get some funding coming in to keep going. We might even start some door to door solicitation for money, blankets, and clothing donations. Everything is getting set to go.

I just wanted to give you an update on stuff going on and that we are moving forward. Hope Station USA has been incorporated ten years now and we are excited. Have a great day and do something nice for someone less fortunate today. Take care.

2018 Is Our Year!!

     Last year was a hard year even into the first part of this year due to health issues for me, but things will get better this year. I have faith that we will be blessed with enough funding to help us continue our efforts in assisting the homeless regain their self-sufficiently and to feed those in need. We are in the works of getting our game plan in order.
     I have become an author of three books with one being the first in a series that tells my story. This series I am writing is to hopefully help those who are facing the same issues. I am a survivor who wishes to give my experience and knowledge to those out there facing the nightmare that I lived for thirty-two years. It is not a nice place to be mentally, physically, or even emotionally. It can destroy someone and make them feel hopeless.
     It bothers me when those who are financially secure talk down about those who are in need because they are already beaten down and society makes them feel worse. Most need and desire a hand up and not a handout. I wish people would recognize when someone truly needs help and not just a bum and a beggar.
     Well, with my books sales I will be giving a percentage of my royalties and revenue to Hope Station USA to be able to help more. Join me in fighting for and supporting those who need us by clicking that button on this site if you wish to make a donation. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes and I will continue to post here informing everyone what their contribution is doing to fight homelessness and hunger. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.