Problem Background
Social problems affect people’s overall health outcomes and quality of life. The absence of proper programs in specific communities makes it impossible for underserved individuals to record meaningful social mobility. Homelessness is a common predicament many people in different parts of the globe face. Most affected individuals encounter numerous issues, such as lack of food and poor health outcomes. The complexity of these issues explains why a proper initiative is needed to meet the demands of most of the affected citizens.
This proposal requests 500,000 US dollars from the Aidlin Foundation to construct a public housing facility. The Midnight Mission is the lead organization that guides and supports this initiative. The planners and managers of the program intend to complete it within 12 months. The involvement of social workers, human services professionals, and volunteers will support the successful completion of the project.
Problem Description: Population in Need of Assistance
Homelessness has become a major social problem in different states across the United States. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that around 600,000 citizens lacked housing facilities in the country (Security.org Team, 2023). The number increased significantly following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Around 30 percent of the target population experience chronic challenges associated with a lack of shelter (Security.org Team, 2023). The outlined issues support the introduction of an additional strategy to meet the needs of most of the affected victims.
The demographics of people experiencing homelessness offer unique insights for scholars and human services professionals to take seriously. For instance, this predicament affects females and males at 40 and 60 percent, respectively (Security.org Team, 2023). Minority groups, including African Americans, remain disproportionately affected by this issue since they represent 40 percent of the vulnerable population (Security.org Team, 2023). This remains the case even though they represent 13 percent of the country’s population. Hispanics represented around 24 percent of the homeless population despite being a minority racial group in the country (Security.org Team, 2023). Most of the homeless citizens in this country are in the major urban centers.
Los Angeles, California, is the selected local region that needs timely intervention. The rationale behind selecting this city is that it represents the highest number of individuals affected by this problem, at around 171,521 (Security.org Team, 2023). A third of this population remains chronically homeless and incapable of accessing sustainable shelter. Zhao (2023) further reveals that 40.9 citizens in every 10,000 population remain homeless. The proposed project is, therefore, necessary since this issue remains a significant challenge in California.
Organizational Capacity
The human services field is quite complex and requires the involvement of competent professionals. The proposed project seeks to benefit from the leadership and guidance of different experts at the Midnight Mission. This non-profit organization has been providing shelter and protection to homeless individuals and victims of domestic violence for over a century (The Midnight Mission, n.d.). The fact that the Midnight Mission operates in Los Angeles makes it the perfect partner for launching the new facility and making it functional. This organization’s background presents the best resource for designing a proper facility.
The Midnight Mission gained its non-profit recognition in 1922, an achievement that supported its initiatives to meet the needs of homeless people in Los Angeles. In 1994, it launched the Homelight Family Living Program to provide long-term shelter and support to victims of domestic abuse. It also provides supper to individuals who lack food in the region (The Midnight Mission, n.d.). The organization employs competent individuals who work directly with most victims and ensure they pursue their goals.
The Midnight Mission relies on donations and grants to help underserved individuals in Los Angeles. A good example is the 305,000 US dollars grant from the Aidlin Foundation in 2022 (The Midnight Mission, n.d.). The organization relied on donations to provide meals to additional people, purchased hygiene kits, and increased the number of bathrooms to improve its services.
The agency went further to employ additional professionals to provide job training, link victims to job opportunities, and offer personalized mental services. The current chief executive officer (CEO), Larry Adamson, is the key person who provides timely incentives and guidelines. Having managed past grants effectively and professionally, chances are high that the proposed project will succeed and support more homeless citizens.
Overarching Goals
Two overarching goals will support the proposed idea’s introduction and completion. The first one is to get the much-needed grant to support the construction of the relevant facilities and equip them with the right materials. The second one is to liaise with the Midnight Mission to develop a model that resonates with the needs of more homeless people in Los Angeles (The Midnight Mission, n.d.). The involvement of key people, such as Larry Adamson, will support the management of the received funds and ensure that the new facility begins its operations within a year.
Proposal Description
The success of this proposal depends on how the participants will remain committed and link the broader goals to the problem of homelessness. The new facility will address the issue by becoming a shelter source for most affected individuals in Los Angeles. Cobb (2020) indicates that proper programs have the potential to deal with the problem of homelessness. For example, temporary and permanent shelters can allow more people to access basic needs and be able to re-pattern their lives. Watts (2021) indicates that personalized support and healthcare associated with housing programs have the potential to transform the experiences of homeless individuals and allow them to engage in economic activities.
The initiative will be in the form of a housing facility to accommodate around 50 people. The received grant will support the recruitment of human services professionals and equip the facility with the necessary resources (Cobb, 2020). The Midnight Mission will offer the best suggestions for managing funds, streamlining operations, and empowering beneficiaries. Key resources to support this program include construction materials, catering equipment, bedding, supply of utilities, and salaries for service providers. The realization of these inputs will make it possible for the organization to offer these services for homeless people: food, shelter, bathrooms, medical care, counseling, and clothing. The personnel needed to achieve these aims include managers, social workers, psychiatrists, dieticians, and clinicians.
Implementation Plan (2023-2024)
Measurable Outputs
The successful completion of this facility will create room for providing the much-needed services. The first measurable output is for the donating agency to provide 500,000 US dollars to support the construction of the new organization within 12 months (see Fig. 1). The second one is for Midnight Mission to offer operational guidelines for providing proper medical support, counseling, and empowerment to homeless people (The Midnight Mission, n.d.). The third one is to ensure that around 20 people identified as chronically homeless access long-term housing services.
Measurable Outcomes
The success of the proposed initiative depends on its ability to deliver measurable outcomes. The first one will be to decrease the number of homeless people in Los Angeles by around 5 percent in 12 months. The second will ensure that at least 80 percent of beneficiaries with chronic homelessness have access to opportunities that can transform their lives (Alpert, 2020). The third one is for the facility to increase its occupancy by at least 20 percent annually.
Gathering Information
The above outputs and outcomes are expected to represent the positive gains and performance of the proposed project. The last section of the Gantt chart presents the “Monitoring and Review” process. This strategy will allow the involved leaders to analyze operations even after the successful launch of the facility (Alpert, 2020). The professional will gather statistical evidence and compare it with the outlined results. The emerging information will dictate whether the exercise is adequate or if additional measures are needed shortly.
Volunteers
The facility will accept donations from all stakeholders in Los Angeles and nationwide. These funds will be added to the initial grant to support operations and meet the needs of more underserved people. Additionally, volunteers will be allowed and guided to offer their services whenever they have time (Watts, 2021). This model will make it easier for the facility to provide additional training or medical support to more individuals. Accepting volunteers and financial donations will increase the chances of delivering positive results.
Funds
The requested grant might not support the long-term goals of the proposed shelter for homeless individuals. To sustain future operations, the organization will continue to ask for financial support and donations from well-wishers and charity foundations. The acquired money will cater to recurrent expenditures while introducing additional services (Alpert, 2020). The relevant team will liaise with different institutions to support the existing activities and eventually take the facility closer to its aims.
Budget Explanation
Fig. 2: Proposed budget
The targeted grant is expected to deliver 500,000 US dollars for this project. These funds will pay for land in the suburbs, cater for construction materials, and purchase the relevant equipment. Other expenses will include salaries, office equipment, and utilities. The current expectation is that the selected agency will provide the amount required to launch the project and deal with the problem of homelessness (Zhao, 2023).
A total of 500,000 will be entirely devoted to this specific project. The anticipated in-kind donations will include bedding and food supplies of around 10,000 US dollars. During the construction and subsequent operations, the project manager expects around 400 volunteer hours (see Fig. 2). The total value for such time will be around 29.85 x 400 US dollars. The total figure for this kind of donation will be 11,940 US dollars.
References
Alpert, J. S. (2020). Homeless in America. The American Journal of Medicine, 134(3), 295-296. Web.
Cobb, J. (2020). Reflections on working with homeless people. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 79(2), 383-399. Web.
The Midnight Mission. (n.d.). About: Our history. Web.
Security.org Team. (2023). Homelessness in America 2023: Statistics, analysis, & trends. Web.
Watts, G. R. (2021). Homelessness is an ethical issue in America. AMA Journal of Ethics, 23(11), 835-839. Web.
Zhao, E. (2023). The key factors contributing to the persistence of homelessness. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 30(1), 1-5. Web.