Changing Perceptions of Homelessness -- How you can Help

As the recession continues to impact everyone nationwide, many have begun to view homelessness in a less negative light. With foreclosures running rampant and unemployment maintaining a steady pace, more and more Americans are finding themselves in unexpected situations. This could not be truer for Central Floridians, where there are nearly 4,000 people who are homeless on any given day and more than 10,000 people who experience homelessness every year. Right now in the county of Osceola alone, there are more than 900 school-aged children who are homeless. As bleak as these numbers may sound, they also denote positive change. Since it has become more evident that anyone, from any walk of life, runs the risk of becoming homeless, perceptions of who a homeless person typifies, has changed greatly. The mythical image of the grungy panhandler is becoming obsolete, as the new face hits closer to home.

Everyday more and more children are being affected, single mothers are finding it harder to make ends meet, and dual income households are barely holding on. These seemingly average people will soon be homeless, it is their faces and of those closest to you that you will begin to see as the need ceases to subside.

According to a study done by researchers from the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences on the local region’s population, about one in three (35%) people say that their opinion of homeless people has changed in the past year. Of those whose opinions have changed, 95% say they have become more sympathetic. The study also questioned whether Central Florida’s municipal and county governments should do more to fund programs that address homelessness. The resounding majority of respondents (83%) said yes.

For programs such as Helping Others Make the Effort (HOME), who provide housing and life skills to homeless women and their children, this public change of opinion has significant ramifications. The more the issue is being talked about, the more awareness there will be of the gravity of homelessness. Moreover, the huge need that organizations, such as HOME face, will become more self evident. We help clients get back on their feet by boosting financial literacy, employability, and housing stability. HOME offers on-site life skills training, counseling, and intensive case management. Now is the time to get involved and help others who were once in your shoes. Help us break the cycle of homelessness in Osceola County. Volunteering is the easiest way to make a difference, click here to sign up for our next training event.

*Post by Albery Melo, Program Assistant for HOME. Albery works to bring volunteers and HOME residents together in a partnership so that our families can become self-sufficient and manages our life-skills program. Sphere: Related Content

An in-depth look at Hotel Homelessness

The St. Louis Today did a recent photography report chronically the lives of motel/hotel families in their area. Though we are thousands of miles away from St. Louis, we too find families living in similar situations here in Osceola County. Families often place all the items they can in storage units, in their car, or pack their hotel rooms with their personal belongings so they don't lose anything while they are homeless. We have seen families in hotels with their family pets, which can add to the stress of taking care of their family, but they do not want their children to lose their dog or cat, so they must budget to continue supporting the pet as well.

Families facing homelessness is still the hidden problem in our county and across the United States. Head on over to this site to watch the stories from the St. Louis today and if you are interested in helping families like these who are in need, check out how you can get involved on our website.


*Photo from the St. Louis Today. Sphere: Related Content

Dress for Success honors two HOME residents

It's not often that the residents on the HOME campus get a chance for a day of total pampering, but thanks to the Dress for Success Program, two of our ladies are getting that chance!

Eve and Shaneek, two of our hardest working residents on campus, will be treated to an all-day make-over and spa day coming up January 20, 2010. The Ritz Carlton, Grand Lakes Orlando Spa, Dress for Success® Greater Orlando, Actualize Consulting Group, Orlando Health, AEGIS Law Firm, PA and WMFE will be giving the ladies a "Day of Hope," a day designed to empower women in Central Florida. The day will give the two HOME winners (and other deserving ladies across central Florida) a chance to make a fresh start in the new year and prepare for more job searching with a refreshed attitude.

To participate in the program Eve and Shaneek submitted applications and were selected because of their great answers to the following questions:

1. What type of employment are you seeking?
2. What challenges have you faced in your job search?
3. How would a fresh start impact your life?

Because both Eve and Shaneek have been looking for jobs daily, they had lots of information to provide, and they knew that by participating in the "Day of Hope," they could take a moment just for themselves and have a fresh start in 2010! Congratulations to our two winners, we hope you have a blast!

*Eve & Shaneek are both still looking for jobs in the Central Florida area. Eve has medical office experience and Shaneek has experience in the non-profit case-management sector. If you have any jobs leads please let us know! Sphere: Related Content

Many Students Homeless In Osceola County

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- In this economy, more of children are becoming homeless. In the past year, there's been an 18 percent increase in homeless students attending schools in the United States.

The motels along HWY-192 in Kissimmee were built for tourists, but Eyewitness News discovered they're being used by many homeless families with young children.
"Its hard when you have to humble yourself so far down where you have no where else to go," said Angie Moore who is homeless.For Angie and Eric Moore, a small motel room is a big blessing.

Last week they were sleeping in the back seat of their van with their 9-year-old daughter."We would go to hotel parking lot, hoping and praying they wouldn't find us and ask us to leave anyplace where there wasn't high traffic that's where would park our van," she said.

The Moores' got help form The Home Program, which is a non-profit organization that provides motel vouchers and temporary housing assistance.

The Moores are living next to other families who are also homeless.

"It really breaks your heart when you see kids panhandling for food," she said.

Half of all homeless students in Osceola County, about 500 of them live in motels.In Orange County WFTV found the number of homeless students increased by nearly 1,000, from 1,750 last year to more than 2,500 students this year.School buses drop the students off right in front of the hotel lobby. Many of their parents lost their jobs and then their homes.

"We have new foreclosure everyday, new evictions every day," said Carrie Eule of the Home Program.

Eule runs the Home Program, which is helping the Moore's find jobs and paying for their motel room for one month.

The Moores say they are hoping the home is only temporary.

"I want to help someone else who is going through the same thing," said Angie Moore.

The home program provides housing assistance for 300 families a year in Osceola County and they are hoping to get more federal stimulus dollars.

Copyright 2009 by wftv.com.

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The Changing Face of Homelessness -- In the News

CNN.com has a great report out today about the changing face of homelessness in America. This video report explores single moms with kids, the population that HOME works with everyday to break the cycle of homelessness.



We would also like to call your attention to this recent report on ABC News that really hit home with Helping Others Make the Effort. The children and teens were very honest about their situation, as we often find the kids at HOME are as well. Sometimes we look at the word "homeless" and we forget the statistics that a huge percentage of those who are homeless, are children.

The report can be accessed by clicking here:

ABCNEWS: Children Struggling and Speaking Out.

Sphere: Related Content

Kissimmee -- For Your Information

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Feature in Osceola News-Gazette

We were recently featured in Kissimmee's local newspaper.

Read the article here. Sphere: Related Content

Long awaited open house is a success!

We hosted about 150 people on Friday for our ribbon cutting/open house, and it was great fun! We had so many friends and supporters that were excited to check out the project- many who have been involved for close to a decade. Pastor Pete Zieg provided a meaningful and thoughtful invocation, followed by a statement from Commissioner/HOME Board Chair Paul Owen. We were lucky enough to have a resident come forward to share her moving story- I think that many of the members of the audience could relate to her struggles. After recognizing our partners and contributors, we officially cut the ribbon on the project and our guests were able to tour several apartments. Thank you to all who attended, contributed, and have supported HOME.
Ribbon Cutting

Platinum Sponsors with their special HOME-made" awards

We had some great media coverage to accompany the open house, including this piece on WFTV9 and this article on the front page of the Sentinel. Sphere: Related Content

Faces of Homelessness

If you have not been watching Local 6's features on homelessness, or want to share them with others, they are now available on the web for a limited time. I will update this post as links for the remainder of the week become available. Thank you Local 6 and Steven Cooper for covering the issue in such a sensitive and articulate way!

Monday, people living in tents:
http://www.criticalmention.com/vg/disney/2008-01-21_cbs-orlando_1737.wmv

Tuesday, family homelessness:
http://www.criticalmention.com/vg/disney/2008-01-22_cbs-orlando_1736.wmv

Wednesday, veterans:
http://www.criticalmention.com/vg/disney/2008-01-23_cbs-orlando_1733.wmv

Thursday, homeless families- includes a feature on HOME:
http://www.criticalmention.com/vg/disney/2008-01-24_cbs-orlando_1734.wmv

Friday, review and next steps for Central Florida:
http://www.criticalmention.com/vg/disney/2008-01-25_cbs-orlando_1734.wmv Sphere: Related Content

Tune in to Local 6 this week!

Just a reminder that Local 6 is running a special report, led by Steven Cooper, on homelessness. The series will air a new story nightly during the 5:30 news hour. Please spread the word and tune in! Sphere: Related Content

Another great volunteer day!

Yesterday, HOME played host to about 500 energetic volunteers from Abbott Pharmaceuticals. The group worked wonders on our campus- landscaping, putting up a fence, and cleaning building B in preparation for residents. Unfortunately, in my rush to get everything ready, I left my camera behind, but I do have one blurry pic taken with my cameraphone :).



We had such a good time, and I hope the volunteers did too. Thanks gang!

Also, a big thanks goes out to Hands on Orlando, who organized the event in tandem with HOME, and Community of Faith Church, who brought a great group of volunteers (as always!). Thank you to Fence Outlet, Groundscapes, Bermuda Builders, and Waste Management, who all provided in-kind goods or services to make the day happen.

Changing subjects... Beginning next Monday at 5:30pm, Local 6 will be airing stories of homelessness during their evening news broadcast. The segments, which will run all week, will highlight different people and their experiences with homelessness. The local media has been very supportive of the effort to address homelessness, and they hope that this show will broaden viewers' perspectives of what homelessness is, who becomes homeless, and how. I encourage you all to watch or TiVo the stories, and encourage others who are less enlightened to do the same.

Has anyone started a BOGO food drive yet? If so, leave a comment to let me know how it's going! Sphere: Related Content