Tiny Homes:Shelter For The Homeless
Donation protected
Dying for a coffee, I slip into this cool little cafe. The young guy at the counter serves me and we have a laugh. Thinking about that morning's news I say,
'Work's a bit hard to find here.'
'Nah, housing's the problem..'
His face drops, he can't look me in the eye any more. He says,
'I find myself sleeping in my car these days.'
I felt sick.
He was the first of many I would meet of the 'working homeless' struggling to save enough to pay 4 weeks bond and 4 weeks rent to live with dignity. And he's lucky, he's got a car.
People become homeless for all sorts of reasons. A lady sleeping rough told me,
'My rent went up and I lost one of my jobs and that was it! I had to couch surf and it went downhill from there.'
I used to walk past the people who sleep on cardboard on the hard concrete and determinedly not look at them. I didn't want to think about what they were being subjected to-
..terrible weather, constantly being moved on, harassment, bullying, being robbed and worse..
Tiny Home Solution
According to the latest census, homelessness is up 44% in our region. A group of us in the community got together last year to develop a simple solution to end involuntary homelessness:
To involve people experiencing homelessness in the building of their own Tiny Homes!
This charity program is an early intervention model for local homeless people referred by social services, who are relatively new to rough sleeping, can demonstrate stability and are seeking change.
(According to Homelessness NSW, evidence shows that the needs of a person experiencing long-term homelessness is vastly different to a person new to rough sleeping.)
Our executive committee is made up of people with over 20 years of business experience, Lifeline crisis support experience, Tiny Home construction experience and actual lived experience of homelessness. We have undergone professional governance training so that we operate with integrity and our processes are documented and transparent.
We are now incorporated as a community association called One Roof Byron Inc.
We are working with Local Government and Specialist Homelessness Service Providers to provide an integrated approach. Currently we deliver food to supply different homeless breakfasts and lunches in the region, giving us opportunities to do local outreach.
We have taken part in the Homelessness Summit organised by Homelessness NSW, as well as Red Cross Emergency Planning for Homelessness Service Providers.
However, Local Government need to see a proof of concept trial before considering funding or assisting the program with resources.
What We Have So Far..
1. The use of an industrial unit- (donated)
space in which to build Tiny Homes and store tools and materials
2. Temporary respite shelter- (donated)
to provide safety and dignity until the Tiny Home is completed
3. Screening assessments-
Specialist Homelessness Services Assessment and Risk Management Screening Tools
4. Buddy network- (volunteer)
members of One Roof Byron who help to provide wrap around care
5. Builders-
who can build, supervise and teach thehomeless participant skills to build their own Tiny Home on Wheels or on skids and assist in certifying their skills
6. Permaculture garden-
where the participant can also learn skills to grow food
7. Pro bono solicitor- (donated)
generous provision of free legal advice and services
8. Social or case worker advice (volunteer)
9. Homeless candidate- fitting our screening criteria
10. Permanent site for completed Tiny Home (donated)
So with all of that in place, we are ready to ask for donations to build our first Tiny Home, and get people off the streets!
Building a Tiny Home requires power tools, new and recycled materials. We estimate this will cost approximately $20,000.
We really need your help
With the cold weather upon us, we would like to see the homeless participant in their own Tiny Home in its permanent location soon.
Just a few short months and we will have ended homelessness for our participant and together with social services dealt with the issues that led to that situation in the first place.
Importantly, we will have successfully completed the proof of concept trial and demonstrated the viability of such projects, giving Local Governments the confidence to provide full support for larger projects with greater impacts. This will be a win for the many many others experiencing homelessness nationally, perhaps even world wide.
This can only happen with YOUR help.
If you believe in what we’re doing; if you want to do something about people sleeping on the street, in cars, on the beaches; if you want to be a part of One Roof history as a founding donor of the very first Tiny Home that proved the concept that it's not that hard to give people back their dignity, then
Donate Now.
Raise Money Now.
Speak to people Now.
Every cent will go to buying, building & operating the first Tiny Home Shelter for the Homeless to prove the concept.
Share the Tiny Home Shelters for the Homeless story with everyone you know.
Introduce us to businesses or corporates that are interested in what we’re doing.
Start a campaign, at work or at home and raise funds for the first Tiny Home.
Donate money
Donate building materials or tools
Let's make it happen.
Thank you!
Genevieve
for One Roof Byron Team
For more information, see our FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/oneroof2481/
'Work's a bit hard to find here.'
'Nah, housing's the problem..'
His face drops, he can't look me in the eye any more. He says,
'I find myself sleeping in my car these days.'
I felt sick.
He was the first of many I would meet of the 'working homeless' struggling to save enough to pay 4 weeks bond and 4 weeks rent to live with dignity. And he's lucky, he's got a car.
People become homeless for all sorts of reasons. A lady sleeping rough told me,
'My rent went up and I lost one of my jobs and that was it! I had to couch surf and it went downhill from there.'
I used to walk past the people who sleep on cardboard on the hard concrete and determinedly not look at them. I didn't want to think about what they were being subjected to-
..terrible weather, constantly being moved on, harassment, bullying, being robbed and worse..
Tiny Home Solution
According to the latest census, homelessness is up 44% in our region. A group of us in the community got together last year to develop a simple solution to end involuntary homelessness:
To involve people experiencing homelessness in the building of their own Tiny Homes!
This charity program is an early intervention model for local homeless people referred by social services, who are relatively new to rough sleeping, can demonstrate stability and are seeking change.
(According to Homelessness NSW, evidence shows that the needs of a person experiencing long-term homelessness is vastly different to a person new to rough sleeping.)
Our executive committee is made up of people with over 20 years of business experience, Lifeline crisis support experience, Tiny Home construction experience and actual lived experience of homelessness. We have undergone professional governance training so that we operate with integrity and our processes are documented and transparent.
We are now incorporated as a community association called One Roof Byron Inc.
We are working with Local Government and Specialist Homelessness Service Providers to provide an integrated approach. Currently we deliver food to supply different homeless breakfasts and lunches in the region, giving us opportunities to do local outreach.
We have taken part in the Homelessness Summit organised by Homelessness NSW, as well as Red Cross Emergency Planning for Homelessness Service Providers.
However, Local Government need to see a proof of concept trial before considering funding or assisting the program with resources.
What We Have So Far..
1. The use of an industrial unit- (donated)
space in which to build Tiny Homes and store tools and materials
2. Temporary respite shelter- (donated)
to provide safety and dignity until the Tiny Home is completed
3. Screening assessments-
Specialist Homelessness Services Assessment and Risk Management Screening Tools
4. Buddy network- (volunteer)
members of One Roof Byron who help to provide wrap around care
5. Builders-
who can build, supervise and teach thehomeless participant skills to build their own Tiny Home on Wheels or on skids and assist in certifying their skills
6. Permaculture garden-
where the participant can also learn skills to grow food
7. Pro bono solicitor- (donated)
generous provision of free legal advice and services
8. Social or case worker advice (volunteer)
9. Homeless candidate- fitting our screening criteria
10. Permanent site for completed Tiny Home (donated)
So with all of that in place, we are ready to ask for donations to build our first Tiny Home, and get people off the streets!
Building a Tiny Home requires power tools, new and recycled materials. We estimate this will cost approximately $20,000.
We really need your help
With the cold weather upon us, we would like to see the homeless participant in their own Tiny Home in its permanent location soon.
Just a few short months and we will have ended homelessness for our participant and together with social services dealt with the issues that led to that situation in the first place.
Importantly, we will have successfully completed the proof of concept trial and demonstrated the viability of such projects, giving Local Governments the confidence to provide full support for larger projects with greater impacts. This will be a win for the many many others experiencing homelessness nationally, perhaps even world wide.
This can only happen with YOUR help.
If you believe in what we’re doing; if you want to do something about people sleeping on the street, in cars, on the beaches; if you want to be a part of One Roof history as a founding donor of the very first Tiny Home that proved the concept that it's not that hard to give people back their dignity, then
Donate Now.
Raise Money Now.
Speak to people Now.
Every cent will go to buying, building & operating the first Tiny Home Shelter for the Homeless to prove the concept.
Share the Tiny Home Shelters for the Homeless story with everyone you know.
Introduce us to businesses or corporates that are interested in what we’re doing.
Start a campaign, at work or at home and raise funds for the first Tiny Home.
Donate money
Donate building materials or tools
Let's make it happen.
Thank you!
Genevieve
for One Roof Byron Team
For more information, see our FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/oneroof2481/
Co-organizers (2)
Genevieve Lee
Organizer
Suffolk Park, NSW
Helen Barratt
Co-organizer