program plan title
Extending Hands for Hope
executive summary
Homelessness plagues Philadelphia neighborhoods. It is estimated that there are 650 people living in the streets in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ at any given time, with about 300 living in Center City (Facts on Homelessness, 2016). This project focuses on children (up to age 18) who currently reside in homeless shelters in Philadelphia. Traumatic stress from experiences that forced a child into homelessness makes coping with the challenges of daily survival on the streets, and the ultimate goal of overcoming homelessness, very difficult. Surviving proves even more challenging when the shelters children depend on for daily, basic necessities cannot provide for their needs. The goal of Extending Hands for Hope is to aid underperforming homeless shelters so they can provide children with basic living necessities, and to teach children the valuable tool of personal resilience through arts-based trauma-informed programming.
introduction
Homelessness is a global, national, and local issue. According to a 2005 United Nations survey on homelessness, 100 million global citizens were reported as homeless and as many as 1 billion lacked adequate housing (Global Homeless Statistics, n.d.). A “snapshot of homelessness” in January of 2015 reveals that in 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States, and of that number 206,286 were people in families, and 358,422 were individuals (Snapshot of Homelessness, 2016).
Every year, more than 2 million children in America will face a period of homelessness (Covenant House Our Mission, n.d.) and one in 50 American children experience homelessness each year. There are many causes of child homelessness but the main cause of youth homelessness is physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse from a parent or guardian. Child homelessness does not exist in a vacuum – other social issues plaguing children such as poverty, violence and abuse can lead a child to living on the streets. Issues such as human trafficking, lack of education, and hunger are exacerbated by a homeless status. Children who experience homelessness have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children (Bassuk, Volk & Olivet, 2010).
Children, more than any other age group, internalize negative experiences which have detrimental effects on self worth and self-concept (Camilleri, 2007, p.22). Buffering homeless children’s resilience factors guards against negative life outcomes and decreases their ‘at-risk’ status. Through collaborations with local homeless shelters for children, Extending Hands for Hope will work toward ending child homelessness by assuring that children are provided with the basic living necessities and tools for empowerment to help them overcome adversity.
Every year, more than 2 million children in America will face a period of homelessness (Covenant House Our Mission, n.d.) and one in 50 American children experience homelessness each year. There are many causes of child homelessness but the main cause of youth homelessness is physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse from a parent or guardian. Child homelessness does not exist in a vacuum – other social issues plaguing children such as poverty, violence and abuse can lead a child to living on the streets. Issues such as human trafficking, lack of education, and hunger are exacerbated by a homeless status. Children who experience homelessness have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children (Bassuk, Volk & Olivet, 2010).
Children, more than any other age group, internalize negative experiences which have detrimental effects on self worth and self-concept (Camilleri, 2007, p.22). Buffering homeless children’s resilience factors guards against negative life outcomes and decreases their ‘at-risk’ status. Through collaborations with local homeless shelters for children, Extending Hands for Hope will work toward ending child homelessness by assuring that children are provided with the basic living necessities and tools for empowerment to help them overcome adversity.
problems addressed
Homeless children and youth living in shelters have many unique needs. Extending Hands for Hope has identified a significant problem to be addressed, that is, homeless children are at-risk for possessing a deficit of protective factors, among many other negative effects. Reports have found that children who have experienced homelessness, or frequent relocation, are at a higher risk of developing cognitive, behavioral, mental health problems, and physical health problems such as asthma. They are less likely to perform well academically in school (Rice, 2014). Studies have also found that children in crowded housing, a risk for some children at crowded shelters, score lower on reading tests and complete less schooling than their peers. This program focuses on the specific task of building homeless children’s resilience.
Underperforming homeless shelters that fail to provide adequate basic living necessities such as clothing, food, and shelter, further weaken the children’s ability to be resilient and thrive despite their homelessness. A Hunger and Homelessness Survey from the United States Conference of Mayors presented results that indicated that 76% of emergency shelters in 22 cities had to turn away homeless families with children because they could not supply enough beds (Imbery, 2016). Additionally, shelters in 61% of the surveyed cities had to turn away unaccompanied individuals. This program also seeks to provide resources to underperforming shelters.
Underperforming homeless shelters that fail to provide adequate basic living necessities such as clothing, food, and shelter, further weaken the children’s ability to be resilient and thrive despite their homelessness. A Hunger and Homelessness Survey from the United States Conference of Mayors presented results that indicated that 76% of emergency shelters in 22 cities had to turn away homeless families with children because they could not supply enough beds (Imbery, 2016). Additionally, shelters in 61% of the surveyed cities had to turn away unaccompanied individuals. This program also seeks to provide resources to underperforming shelters.
vision statement
We envision ending child homelessness in Philadelphia because a child deserves safe and clean food, water, and living conditions.
mission statement
Our mission is to support homeless children with basic living necessities and social supports while teaching them the valuable tool of personal resilience to overcome challenges associated with homelessness.
scope of work
We partner with underperforming and under-resourced shelters for homeless Philadelphia children that fail to meet the needs of the children who depend on their services. Through financial donations, fundraising, in-kind support, and grants, we offer financial support to the shelter so adequate clothing, shelter, food, and medical attention can be provided. In addition to helping to supplement basic daily living necessities for the children living at the shelter (i.e. hygiene items, clothing, sleeping linens or a sleeping bag, food, etc) we offer on-site creative arts classes. Our arts-based curriculum teaches life skills through trauma-informed creative arts experiences. The curriculum theme always includes art experiences to promote self-expression and artistic mastery, an educational lesson that increases knowledge of the world, while including activities that increase the protective factors, or resilience, of the children participants.
Due to the temporary and unpredictable nature of shelter-life, child attendees of the art classes will come and go. As children check in and out of the shelter over the course of time, attendance will likely fluctuate, therefore, the curriculum will have only four lessons to try and cater to children who stay in the shelter for only a short amount of time. Each art class will focus on a different academic theme, introduce an artistic medium or skill, and identify and reinforce a protective factor to increase resilience in each child participant. Even if a child completes only one class session (consisting of four lessons), he or she will hopefully leave the shelter with increased knowledge of resilience factors available.
The Theory of Change below illustrates our program procedures and clearly states the impact we desire to see from Extending Hands for Hope's arts-based programming.
Due to the temporary and unpredictable nature of shelter-life, child attendees of the art classes will come and go. As children check in and out of the shelter over the course of time, attendance will likely fluctuate, therefore, the curriculum will have only four lessons to try and cater to children who stay in the shelter for only a short amount of time. Each art class will focus on a different academic theme, introduce an artistic medium or skill, and identify and reinforce a protective factor to increase resilience in each child participant. Even if a child completes only one class session (consisting of four lessons), he or she will hopefully leave the shelter with increased knowledge of resilience factors available.
The Theory of Change below illustrates our program procedures and clearly states the impact we desire to see from Extending Hands for Hope's arts-based programming.
goals and objectives
The measurable goals and intended objectives can be found in the Theory of Change. They are:
- To provide resources and support to homeless children living in shelters so they can be resilient and thrive despite their homelessness
- Children will have increased sense of personal resiliency
- Children will have adequate clothing, food, shelter, and medical attention while staying at the shelter
- Shelters will have the resources to meet all of the immediate basic needs of the homeless children they serve
timetable
The following timetable illustrates the first 4 months of the program -- from the first planning stages up until to the completion of the first month-long art class. At various times during the year, actions will cycle on again so that every few weeks, for example, personnel and volunteers will actively seek new funding opportunities and write curriculum for upcoming months. Throughout the entire planning and implementation stages, our personnel will be constantly evaluating our processes and actions to inform "best practices" in Year 2 of our program. Our program is largely run by volunteers so we recruit and provide training opportunities throughout the year for new volunteers.
budget
There are varied funding sources such as federal, state, and private grants, donations, fundraising events, in-kind donations, and Go Fund Me and Kickstarter fundraising campaigns. After the first year of successfully offering services, Extending Hands for Hope would like to publish a thorough evaluation and impact report to entice local businesses to donate money or resources. A corporate sponsorship is another goal as we prepare for a second year of supporting underperforming shelters and offering resilience-infused art classes to homeless children.
personnel
- Program Director: Oversees general program operations. Securing funding and proper allocation of funds to support various services is a key responsibility of this role. Director is involved in developing arts programming with art teachers and volunteers. The Director is responsible for managing the organization’s external relationships with funders, media, government, organizational partners and is the liaison between Extending Hands for Hope and homeless shelters. Program director oversees the CFO, art teachers, and volunteers.
- Chief Financial Officer: Responsible for maintaining the financial health and stability of the program. The person in this role requires knowledge and understanding of office management and non-profit budget requirements. An in-depth knowledge of budgeting, fundraising, and programming is necessary as well as reporting to meet the requirements for government and private funding. For our small organization, the CFO handles HR and IT related issues, and handles matters involving the organization’s facilities and legal issues. In their role, the CFO helps the art teachers and volunteers stay within budget.
- Art Teacher: Responsible for writing out lesson plans for each month’s theme about an aspect of resilience. In charge of art supply purchasing and inventories, classroom set-up and tear-down, and managing the classroom during lesson time. Art teachers work closely with shelter staff each week during the class time to meet the needs of the children. Art teachers help to oversee the work of the volunteers.
- Volunteer: In the classroom, volunteers assist the main art teacher with the lesson. They provide an extra set of hands to assist children and eyes to maintain a safe classroom environment. They are also expected to help with all fundraising efforts and seeking out community partnerships and new funding sources.
Personnel and volunteers will take part in a day-long training to learn how to write arts-based, trauma-informed curriculum development, create safe spaces for classrooms, learn basics of grant writing, and learn more about the unique needs of homeless children in Philadelphia and local social support networks available. The following clearances are required for all personnel and volunteers before one can enter in and work in a setting with children:
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check
evaluation
The logic framework below provides detailed look at evaluating measures personnel at Extending Hands for Hope’s use in our program. Objectives will be evaluated and monitored by observations, surveys, arts-based assessments, personal reporting, interviews, and self-reports, among other methods.
endorsements
- Rev. Bob Coombe and the congregation of First United Methodist Church of Germantown in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
- Covenant House Pennsylvania
Human Resources Department
31 E. Armat Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144 - City of Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing (OSH)
[email protected]
- Weavers Way Community Programs
Philadelphia, PA 19119
next steps
- Utilize Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods to better meet the needs of the homeless children living in shelters, and to increase the resilience of the community
- Continue to evaluate and redesign program objectives, outcomes, outputs, and activities
- Expand funding sources and seek to secure local corporate sponsorship
references
Bassuk, E., Volk, K., & Olivet, J. (2010). A Framework for developing supports and services for families experiencing homelessness. The Open Health Services and Policy Journal, (3), 34-40.
Camilleri, V. (2007). Healing the Inner City Child: Creative Arts Therapies with At-Risk Youth. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Covenant House Our Mission. (n.d.). Covenant House Pennsylvania. Retrieved fromhttp://covenanthousepa.org/about-us/our-mission/
Facts on Homelessness. (2016). Project HOME. Retrieved from https://projecthome.org/about/facts-homelessness
Global Homeless Statistics. (n.d.) Homeless World Cup. Retrieved fromhttps://www.homelessworldcup.org/homelessness-statistics/
Imbery, L. (2016). Face of the Week: Roughly 25 percent of demand for emergency food assistance and shelter went unmet in U.S. cities. Retrieved from http://www.chn.org/2016/01/21/fact-of-the-week-roughly-25-percent-of-demand-for-emergency-food-assistance-and-shelter-went-unmet-in-u-s-cities/#.VrOQZbIrLIU
Rice, D. (2014). Helping Children Avoid Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.cbpp.org/blog/helping-children-avoid-homelessness
Snapshot of Homelessness. (2016). National Alliance to end Homelessness. Retrieved fromhttp://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness
Camilleri, V. (2007). Healing the Inner City Child: Creative Arts Therapies with At-Risk Youth. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Covenant House Our Mission. (n.d.). Covenant House Pennsylvania. Retrieved fromhttp://covenanthousepa.org/about-us/our-mission/
Facts on Homelessness. (2016). Project HOME. Retrieved from https://projecthome.org/about/facts-homelessness
Global Homeless Statistics. (n.d.) Homeless World Cup. Retrieved fromhttps://www.homelessworldcup.org/homelessness-statistics/
Imbery, L. (2016). Face of the Week: Roughly 25 percent of demand for emergency food assistance and shelter went unmet in U.S. cities. Retrieved from http://www.chn.org/2016/01/21/fact-of-the-week-roughly-25-percent-of-demand-for-emergency-food-assistance-and-shelter-went-unmet-in-u-s-cities/#.VrOQZbIrLIU
Rice, D. (2014). Helping Children Avoid Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.cbpp.org/blog/helping-children-avoid-homelessness
Snapshot of Homelessness. (2016). National Alliance to end Homelessness. Retrieved fromhttp://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness