My Tribe - Part One
My last blog was on November 11, 2011. Seven years just flew by. I was recently reminded of the crossroads I came upon back in Nov of 2008 and the amazing journey I have been on since then.
Celebrate Outreach! (CO!) is a partnership of St. Petersburg-area faith-based congregations and individuals which is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the area. https://celebrateoutreach.org/
2008 was devastating for professionals in the construction industry. Many designers, architects and engineers lost their main source of income and were forced to close down their businesses. Contractors, too. My family and I were affected personally.
In February, 2009 I found my first tribe! A bunch of do-gooders, who, in their spare time renovated homes for families in need. I became a volunteer and a board member with the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta. I found my purpose and I was hooked on helping others and making an impact in my community.
While coordinating a youth program in 2010, one of my students came to the office on a Monday morning looking disheveled, like he hadn't slept in days. After prying him for answers I learned that he had slept in a public park two nights in a row. In order to keep warm he nestled in one of the children's slides.
He was staying with a cousin temporarily, and when the girlfriend moved in that weekend, he was asked to leave the apartment. He negotiated with his cousin to come and pick up the rest of his stuff at a later date, and left with a backpack and his bicycle.
We found him a shelter in Clayton County, and they agreed to take him in if we could get there by 3 pm that same day. I drove him to Calvary Refuge and helped him with registration. In the weeks that ensued, I helped him develop a resume, and he applied for job openings all along forest parkway and surrounding areas. He eventually got a job at a car wash and was able to sustain himself for a short period of time.
The late Millard Fuller once said “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other.” Sending families in need, off to neighboring counties is not my idea of taking care of our own.
As my involvement with the Fuller Center for Housing became deeper, my tribe got bigger and the work got more serious. The Henry County Fuller Center for Housing was born. I covered that part of my journey in a previous blog.
PRECAST BOX EMERGENCY SHELTER PODS
In 2010 we started dabbling in alternative housing ideas and came up with the Precast Box Emergency Shelter as the first in a series of affordable housing solutions. This one has been archived since 2010 and so I decided to dust it off and take another look at it. There are several other ideas that "my tribe" and I have been discussing over the years.
I was recently at the 4th Annual Georgia Tiny House Festival and a new spark has ignited. It is time to start a new movement. A movement that c ould potentially offer temporary shelter for homeless individuals and/or veterans. to come.....
The late Millard Fuller once said “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other.” Sending families in need, off to neighboring counties is not my idea of taking care of our own.
As my involvement with the Fuller Center for Housing became deeper, my tribe got bigger and the work got more serious. The Henry County Fuller Center for Housing was born. I covered that part of my journey in a previous blog.
PRECAST BOX EMERGENCY SHELTER PODS
In 2010 we started dabbling in alternative housing ideas and came up with the Precast Box Emergency Shelter as the first in a series of affordable housing solutions. This one has been archived since 2010 and so I decided to dust it off and take another look at it. There are several other ideas that "my tribe" and I have been discussing over the years.
I was recently at the 4th Annual Georgia Tiny House Festival and a new spark has ignited. It is time to start a new movement. A movement that c ould potentially offer temporary shelter for homeless individuals and/or veterans. to come.....
FLOOR PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION
REFERENCES AND HELPFUL LINKS:
Communities for Veterans in need (by State)
Chatham -Savannah Homeless Authority
The Chatham-Savannah Homeless Authority is creating a community of 12 tiny homes for veterans along with a possible additional 60 tiny houses for other homeless folks.
Coming soon......
My Tribe - Part II (Pocket Project and Tiny Homes)
My Tribe - Part III (Pop Ups)
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