I present before you today a woman who had the faith to believe that life had more to offer not only to me but to my children. The experience I endured was not for me but to help others that would experience what I went through. That brings me to the introduction. Hello, my name is Joanne Washington and I am the Founder and CEO of Joanne Washington, INC Public Benefit Corporation also known as JWI. Our office is located in Pottstown, PA. JWI is not just an organization, we are an organism for the community. We feel the heart of the community and give people what is needed by using our lived experiences to inspire and create hope for a better life. Our purpose is to H.E.L.P. (Hold Excuses & Love People) pass their circumstances by helping them be personally responsible and accountable. Through our public benefit blossomed the not-for-profit entity, JWI Assistance Center that includes 70X7, Live and Work Initiative, and the Community Liaison program. Today I am here to seek your support for our Live and Work Initiative that fosters a transformative mindset to move from survival mode to thriving mode with a transition housing program that includes the utilization of transformation tools to change the behaviors of chronic homelessness through...

Housing

Education

Employment

Community Building

Family / Social Service Reunification and

Spirituality

My family experienced chronic homelessness for 8 years (2009-2017). I was a single mother of two gems and lost my job and because I could not find employment or the proper resources in a timely manner, I lost our home and vehicle within months. With systems not working together, I did not understand how to navigate or advocate for my needs to help myself out of the situation. That sent me into a downward spiral, eventually leading me to live from place to place with a shelter in between. When I did find employment, it was a struggle to find landlords that would help me with affordable, stable housing, what was needed to stay employed. Once I gained stable employment, I still could not find a landlord that would help me because I could not show I made 3 times the amount of rent for a two bedroom and I had 1 child too many for a 1 bedroom, so I financed a car to sleep in with my youngest gem and had a friend watch after my oldest. That ultimately led to a brief lapse in parenting, with me having to send both my children to live with my church family until I was able to care for them properly because I was estranged from my family. Not sure how to navigate through the hopelessness and helplessness at the time, the thought of taking my life seemed to be the only solution to this problem...

Just as so many other challenges, chronic homelessness need people to H.E.L.P. (Hold Excuses & Love People). All systems play a part in the succession on the journey to self-sufficiency. We are a society that is bound by protocols, meanwhile people are surviving, not thriving; being "maintenanced" and not maintaining. Homelessness is a condition not a person, which means everyone experiences it differently. The experience I had was a journey I knew that once I got out, I had to pull others out. I had to H.E.L.P.

This initiative is important to me because people are important to me. I want to give the wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration of breaking the chains of chronic homelessness I did not get when I went through. I remember the cries for someone to H.E.L.P. me, the struggles of just needing a job or a mandatory education program just to get housing. When you are homeless, struggling mentally... financially... physically... emotionally... internally... you feel like you have no place in communities, families, or society as a whole. Doubt starts, questions form, and reality kicks in. Now what?

This is why I started JWI, to create initiatives for people and communities that are looking for transformation and to become a benefactor of H.E.L.P. with JWI goods, services, information, and resources through programs like the "Live and Work" Initiative that offers lifestyle wellness opportunities to individuals, families and communities with housing placement and meeting of other housing need, employment / entrepreneurship opportunities, certifications / diploma through our C.A.T.A.P.U.L.T. U Education Center, community building opportunities through monthly sweat equity family and social service reunification and faith-based connections.

The saying goes, "it takes a village!" Chronic homelessness is everyone's problem. The concept of "not in my yard" is no longer relevant because it is in everyone's yard. Your help supports our efforts in stopping chronic homelessness, so it doesn't have to be in anyone's yard! Friends, I need your help. With your efforts, chronic homelessness can be a thing of the past, but we have to start now! Please take a look at the plan below to see where you can make a difference. Know I truly appreciate you! Let's make change!

Joanne Washington, INC Public Benefit Corporation is seeking sponsorship for total start-up funding of $2,648,278.00 for first year capital expenditures. The capital will be used as follows:

Building Purchase: $650,000.00

Restoration of building for services: $650,000.00

Building Insurance: $708.00

Utilities: $48,300.00

IT services: $30,000.00

C.A.T.AP.U.L.T. U School and courses registration: $15,250.00

Live and Work initiative program (housing and education): $126,000.00, yearly

~$7,000.00 per person for course, books, testing, laptop, internship

expenses, and certification at C.A.T.AP.U.L.T. U., 24-hour housing, meals,

transportation, outings / trips, laundry, and toiletries

Client Portal Records software: $350.00

Janitorial/maintenance: $70,000.00

Van / Bus purchase: $30,000.00

Insurance: $3,950.00

Furniture and Equipment $320,000.00

~Kitchen equipment: $150,000.00

~Furniture:

*Bedrooms: $70,000.00

*Dining Hall: $100,000.00

Service Contractors: $539,720.00

~Executive Director: $90,000.00

~Administrative Assistant: $50,000.00

~Intake Coordinator: $50,000.00

~Part-time Community Liaison: $33,000.00

~Kitchen Worker: $15,720.00

~Volunteers

6 Education Contractors: $300,000.00

Monitors: Volunteers

Third Party $81,000.00

~Support Services: $40,000.00

~Credit Counseling Services: $41,000.00

Miscellaneous: $20,000.00

Marketing: $10,000.00

Office Supplies: $10,000.00

Housing $63,000.00 (for people 50% under MAI)

~$50,000.00

*Up to $2000.00 per person for rental / mortgage assistance

~$10,000.00 for temporary housing needs

*Up to $1,000.00 per person

Fees: $3,000.00

Participant housing groups / trainings / certificates: $2,000.00

I truly thank you for your liberality. I am truly thankful and grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to changing lives together. For more information, please feel free to contact me.

Have a wonderful day on purpose!

Joanne