HDDIC-BusinessProposal.pdf

Hopes, Dreams, Dedication, Inspiring Change Nassau County, New York

Phone: 917.913.4147 E-Mail: [email protected]

Business Proposal

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Executive Summary

Hopes, Dreams, Dedication, Inspiring Change (HDDIC, Inc) is comprised of a group

of professionals with a deeply rooted interest in the Nassau County community. Many of

the men and women were born, raised, and currently reside in the very neighborhoods

that they now wish to help. Together, these community members have a collective vision:

to provide temporary housing and life skill development to Nassau County citizens that

are experiencing homeless and/or disabilities. The short-term goal is to partner with

Nassau County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. The long-term goal is to provide the

necessary life skills that all individuals need to lead successful lives long after their

assistance has ended.

Business Description & Vision

Hopes, Dreams, Dedication, Inspiring Change (HDDIC, Inc) has a mission to

provide a 22-bed temporary housing facility that acts as a transitional program for those

in need. The organization understands that this is no small feat, and is prepared to utilize

their vast knowledge in fields such as: clinical psychology, nutrition, real estate, and more

to provide the safest and most productive environment possible. HDDIC, Inc. also intends

to partner with local agencies that provide supplemental activities and vocational skills

for residents. This includes (but is not limited to): GED courses, computer literacy, resume

writing, and parenting techniques. The goal is to act as liaisons between outside resources

and the residents in order to establish long-term relationships for them after they leave

the facility. HDDIC, Inc believes in a “people-first” approach to its residents. The

employees approach every guest on a personal level, allowing their humanity-and not

their disadvantage-to define them. This is a crucial aspect of our mission, as we believe

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that in order to provide the self-esteem required to have a successful life, people have to

feel value and worth. Our company principles are as follows:

Integrity

Safety

Commitment

We are well aware of the fragility of a person’s state of mind when they are dealing with

the horrors of homelessness, so we promise to act with integrity when helping our

residents to transition into our facility.

Also, we understand that in a mixed-gender facility where there may be residents dealing

with disabilities or other issues, that safety is our top priority. We are prepared to provide

on-site security for our facility.

HDDIC, Inc. has a commitment to the growth and development of our residents. We

encourage all guests to complete their transition within 90 days and we plan to follow

through with them every step of the way.

At the beginning of each 90-day cycle, residents will sit down and come up with “House

Rules” for their stay. We want the guests to foster a mutual sense of community by being

given the chance to state the qualities of a safe environment such as: quiet hours,

observation of personal space, kindness/consideration, and more.

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Partnership with Nassau County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness

Nassau County has recently implemented a strategic plan to end homelessness in the community within the next ten years, while striving to achieve that goal in half the time. Therefore, the council needs organizations such as HDDIC, Inc. to step forward and assume some of that responsibility as none of us could achieve that goal alone. As members of the community, we have seen the great work that Nassau County has done in assisting residents with emergency shelter and medical needs.

However, in the “Impediments” section of the 10-Year Plan, the county listed a few areas of need where we can bridge the gap1:

Lack  of  Knowledge  About  and  Access  to  Services  and  Resources  

Homeless  and  formerly  homeless  persons  stated  during  focus  groups  that  DSS  is  seen  as  

a  last  resort.  This  view  of  DSS  creates  a  barrier  to  receipt  of  timely  and  appropriate  

services  that  could  prevent  homelessness  or  reduce  the  time  that  a  person  is  homeless.  

Positive  changes  have  been  implemented  at  DSS  in  recent  years,  but  there  remain  areas  in  

need  of  improvement,  which  if  left  as  is,  create  obstacles,  barriers  and  gaps.  

Service  providers  identified  a  need  to  improve  information  networks,  and  focus  group  

participants  identified  lack  of  information  about  community  resources  as  a  barrier  to  

exiting  homelessness.  

Focus  group  participants  also  identified  a  need  for  additional  information  on  the  

following  topics:  

�  nutrition  

�  parenting  

�  money  management  

�  community  resources  

1 Nassau County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, page VI-74

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�  tools  to  remain  housed  

Transitional  Programs  

Focus  group  participants  identified  the  lack  of  transitional  housing  programs  between  

emergency  housing  and  permanent  housing  as  a  barrier  to  success.  They  often  lose  

benefits  (child  care,  food  stamps  and/or  cash)  and  may  not  be  accustomed  to  paying  bills  

on  their  own.  The  changes  and  stress  they  undergo  can  keep  them  in  a  vulnerable  state  

and  result  in  a  return  to  homelessness.  

About The Facility

HDDIC, Inc. is able to provide a facility for 22 single men and women, some with

low-level physical, intellectual or mental disabilities in order to tackle chronic

homelessness. The beautifully decorated home will feature motivational wall hangings,

bright interior design, and soft inspirational music playing at all times. We believe in

creating a serene and well-kept environment. The HDDIC house will have multiple beds

per room, common living spaces, over (4) bathrooms, a kitchen, a garden and much more.

Our facility will have features that some county shelters can not provide, namely

our Individualized Assessment Programs (IAP) provided at intake by our case workers

and our Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Plans (IADL), in which which all residents

are required to participate. Our IAPs provides each incoming guest with (4) assessments

through the duration of their stay. There will be an initial gathering of information where

our caseworker will screen for all pertinent information from medical and criminal history

to personal goals, strengths and weaknesses. Thereafter, the caseworker will follow up

with a 30/60/90-day evaluations of the guest. We encourage all guests to transition out of

the facility by 90-days, and while extensions are available they are not encouraged. Our

IADL plans provide all residents with a daily itinerary. Whereas some shelters are

unavailable to host people during the day, our facility will require that all residents

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participate in daily meetings, chores, and activities that will build life skills after their

assistance has ended. Here is an example of our routine IADL that we plan to utilize:

Good morning, HDDIC residents!

Today is (insert day of the week and date here).

Please utilize the following HDDIC schedule for today. All necessary materials (MTA schedules, maps, pens, paper, etc) are available downstairs in the Common Room. If you have any questions, please contact today’s House Manager at (insert phone number here).

6:30-8:30am: Morning Hygiene Routine

*There are (4) bathroom facilities. Please utilize the one in which you have been assigned, and do not extend your 15-minute timeframe.

8:30am-9:30am: Breakfast

*Please remember to view the “Chore Calendar” posted in the kitchen for this week’s

responsibilities. We ask that the dishes are cleaned, the trash in taken out, and the dining facility is sanitized before 10:00am

9:30am-10:00am: Exercise/Nutrition

*We ask that our residents take at least 30-minutes per day to get some form of exercise. There are yoga dvds/mats, weights, and more in the Common Room. Also, during this time you may meet with the Nutritionist or attend Dr. visits during this time.

10:00am-11:00: Employment Search

*In the Computer Room, we have provided employment websites, paperwork, and phones for residents to conduct job searches or attend a job interview. We also ask that you fill out a daily sheet of which companies you called and applied to each day.

11:00am-12:00pm: House Maintenance (Interior/Exterior)

*Please check the “House Calendar” near the front door to find out which house activity you have been assigned for this week. Activities range from sweeping, window cleaning, vacuuming, yard work, gardening, and much more.

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch

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1:00pm-3:00pm: Free Time

*Please use your free time wisely! We advise you to utilize this time to meet with our Realtor regarding permanent housing, to do laundry, or to address any other personal matter (such as meeting with the Case Worker about your IAP).

3:00pm-5:00pm: Workshops

*Our workshops will vary from financial planning, literacy, interview skills, parenting,

and much more. These daily workshops are mandatory as they are a part of the life skills you will need to possess after you leave our facility.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Clean-up/Evening Hygiene Routine/Dinner Prep

*During this time, all residents must wrap up their daily household duties and utilize

their 15-minute evening hygiene time. Also, during this time we will begin dinner preparation and you must eat during your assigned shift.

7:00pm-9:00pm: House Reflection/Reading Time

*This is the part of our day where we wrap up the day’s activities with a house-wide meeting in the Common Room. Residents converse with each other about their experiences and offer any helpful advice about life planning.

9:00pm: Curfew

*No residents are allowed to leave or enter the facility after 9:00pm. We do this to ensure the safety of our residents. If you are out of the house and plan to be late returning, you must contact the House Manager before 5:00pm that day for approval. All attempts to enter the facility after curfew will be added to the resident’s IAP.

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Organization & Management

HDDIC, Inc. is comprised of a number of professionals with varied backgrounds, all of

which are applicable to the features of this facility. Here is a chart of our hierarchical

structure with some brief responsibilities:

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Our Company Director is the visionary behind the HDDIC, Inc. organization and ensures

that the employees are aligned with our “people-first” policy and company principles. All

executive and site concerns will be addressed through him.

Our Case Workers are highly trained professionals that have experience in social work,

clinical psychology or other relevant fields. They will decide which applicants are accepted

into the facility and also follow up with each resident for progress reports and exit exams.

Our House Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility. They are

the contact person for residents and ensure that supplies are stocked. We plan to recruit

college interns that are interested in such a position to serve in this capacity.

Our Peer Appointed Council will consist of 2 residents that are nominated by and voted for

by the residents of the house. This pair will act as peer mediators and report to the House

Manager in the event that situations escalate beyond the residents’ control.

HDDIC, Inc. residents play a very large role in the success of this venture. Their

responsibilities are vast; everyone has a job to do that helps to maintain the house on a

daily basis while also planning their next life steps.

Conclusion

Hopes, Dreams, Dedication, Inspiring Change is a group of professionals who are no

stranger to the experience that a financial setback or disability may add to a person’s life.

However, they have been successful in overcoming a number of obstacles and would like to

utilize their success by helping others to achieve, as well. With the brand new 22-bed

facility that is currently being designed, the HDDIC can partner with Nassau County’s 10-

Year Plan to End Homelessness and eradicate this societal ill. With unique features that

cater to every resident’s individual needs and the collective goal, there is no doubt that

HDDIC will make a change in people’s lives that will last a lifetime.

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