THE PROBLEM Homelessness is not a new topic. It has been an issue for numerous years. “In fact, over half a million people in the U.S. are homeless.”(6) However the “face” of homelessness is changing. The majority of homeless people used to be adult men with severe mental health issues or addiction problems. This is no longer the case. “Within the past decade homeless families are becoming not only more common, but one of the most prominent types of homeless people there is.”(2) With extreme poverty, the lack of affordable housing, and our nation’s shredded safety net driving homelessness, many families that lose their housing turn to the homelessness service system to seek safety and assistance. Despite these bleak and despairing situations, it presents an opportunity to find solutions that will hopefully one day solve or prevent homelessness. Attempts at these solutions are sprouting up all over the U.S., and while some are more successful than others, every bit of knowledge gained helps narrow down options and helps move in the right direction towards solving family homelessness. In February of 2016, “A church in Longmont Colorado, and an organization called The InnBetween partnered together to create more affordable housing in the Longmont community.”(3) The United Church of Christ offered a half an acre of their land to The InnBetween. The church fulfilled their duty as civic servants, and The InnBetween was able to foster more people. This partnership
was successful because it included benefits for both parties, as well as helped the cause. This success spurred more partnerships in the Longmont community. These bonds between businesses and organizations are building blocks for more community involvement and is a model that should be utilized in West Duluth. As well as partnerships, volunteers and advocates for the homeless have been focusing on discharge planning which is a prominent preventative measure for homelessness. “Discharge planning is a process for identifying and organizing the services and connections for homeless people who will need extra support when leaving an institutional or custodial setting and returning to the community.”(4) In order to decrease the amount of people living without a place to stay, it’s necessary to insure that those people who have been placed in low income housing have the resources they need to survive on their own. “While 77% of the families found stable housing, the findings suggest variability of outcomes across rehousing programs and the necessity of addressing the complex needs of single, female-headed homeless families.”(5) Acquiring these resources will help these homeless families be able to live knowing they have solid foundation to start on. “This process can help people reach goals of stable housing recovery, and increased quality of life in the community.”(3) No matter what the initiative is, it is important
THE PROBLEM that the voices of the homeless are heard, these proposals, ideas, innovations- they are usually missing one key thing, the integration of the thoughts and ideas that homeless people have on the matter. Of course statistics are included, surveys are given, but the homeless are never really included in the overall plan. However, once people started to take initiative and include them in the process from start to finish, “Linkages were established with many community agencies that provided services to homeless families, including federal entitlement programs, health agencies, social service programs, food and clothing banks, churches, public schools, and the business community.�(1)
OUR SOLUTION Swap West creates sustainable conditions for homeless families by providing resource trading opportunities. Our shelter run, monthly Swaps at the Duluth West community center give homeless families the chance to come and “shop� for donated goods by exchanging one valuable for another. It is our hope that trading goods within the community will allow homeless families to acquire the assets needed to help them generate a strong foundation for a better future.
HOW IT WORKS At the Swap West headquarters, when shoppers come to gather supplies their items will packaged in bags for them for free. We value recycling so we gladly will take donations of reusable bags. However, every customer will leave with at least one of our SWAPWEST branded bags. These bags are durable, easier to carry for long distances, and can be reused. Since it is a bag it can easily be rolled up and stored away, making it compact. We interviewed a local homeless shelter, and that interview was really the inspiration behind this design. It was really intriguing to here there perspective on education and the role it plays in homelessness. This is were the design process behind these bags began. For people of poverty who don’t have resources at their fingers tips, how will they gain access to this information? Common goods serving two purposes. This bag incorporates both its actual use, as well as serving as an information source. Depending on what product costumers choose they can get a bag that matches with pertinent information on there chosen materials.
ELEVATE
YOUR
COMMUNITY