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June 7, 2007
A Service Project for Our Blog Community?
Have you heard about Project Homeless Connect?
It's a City of Portland program that provides an intensive 1-day opportunity for the homeless in our community to connect with services they need. In January, more than 800 homeless singles received services like medical, dental and vision care; counseling on disability and Social Security benefits; and counseling on housing services.
On September 18th another event will be held for homeless families. I've been asked to the be the team leader for transportation services.
I'm wondering if our blog community here at Portland Transport will step up to provide brainstorming about the kind of transportation services required by the homeless, help make the connections with those service providers, and then act as volunteers on the day of the event?
What do you say? What ideas do you have for services? Who's in to help with the effort?
Thanks!
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM
Comments
June 6, 2007 11:23 PM
Greg Tompkins Says:
"What do you say? What ideas do you have for services? "
Chris,
How about one way plane ticket (and $10,000 so they can get re-established) .... to another city far away? That would cost about $825K... How much does providing services like medical, dental and vision care; counseling on disability and Social Security benefits; and counseling on housing services cost us in a single year? I say ship them out and make them sign an agreement to never return. But to avoid all perceptions of being "heartless or uncaring", I would provide $10K CASH as a going away present. Sounds like a WIN-WIN proposition doesn't it?
June 6, 2007 11:30 PM
Paul Says:
Chris-
I'd like to help. It might be worth trying to brainstorm on this need through some informal outreach to the homeless community and service providers. I can think of a few grassroots agencies that could probably quickly identify the challenges their clients face - then you and the transportation gurus could apply some solutions to it!
I imagine likely issues are adequate transportation options to work and for health care. The challenge is probably the location of services and places to stay not lining up with our normal transit model.
Those are my two cents - in an effort to contribute.
Paul
(I presume you can see my email as host...)
June 7, 2007 7:37 AM
Greg Raisman Says:
Chris:
Bicycles and bicycle trailers are very important transportation for homeless people. I don't have the time to lead a bicycle effort, but would definitely be interested in contributing to it and then volunteer on the actual one-day event.
Let me know how I can help.
Thanks.
Greg
June 7, 2007 7:52 AM
Chris Smith Says:
It might be worth trying to brainstorm on this need through some informal outreach to the homeless community and service providers.
Yup, we're plugged in to those folks through the Bureau of Housing and Community Development, which organizes the event, and those conversations are happening.
My job is to bring in the transportation community!
June 7, 2007 9:20 PM
Paul Says:
Chris-
I asked about the outreach because without using some stereotypes - I honestly can't say what homeless families need to make a good recommendation.
Is it developing a homeless rideshare? Is it creating a library of bus passes that can be managed by groups of families? Is it setting up a mapping tool to help agencies find transit solutions for clients?
Do yo have a quick top three or so issues these families face?
Paul
June 11, 2007 2:14 PM
gerry Says:
regarding: "How much does providing services like medical, dental and vision care; counseling on disability and Social Security benefits; and counseling on housing services cost us in a single year?"
I don't know, but that much has been spent on the war in Iraq since I started typing this.
