Homeless Isnt Hopeless

Homeless Isnt Hopeless

A Proposal Presented By: Bailey Hemenway

A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
PROJECT DEDICATED TO
SPREADING POSITIVE
MENTALITY AND SELF LOVE
WITHIN OUR HOMELESS
COMMUNITY.

Bailey Hemenway
 Homeless Isnt Hopeless
Homeless Isnt Hopeless

Hidden Picture
When assumptions are made, differences cannot
be made.
Judging and assuming too quickly can be a devastating thing
especially when the people being scrutinized have underlying
stories that are remaining untold. Many people have one picture
of the individuals who consider missions their homes: lazy,
unmotivated, addicts who will do anything to get money in their Just as water lilies
jars to take to the nearest liquor store. What most of the
population doesnt realize is the painful story of why these retract when sunlight
individuals are where they are. Listening to these stories can fades, so do our minds
make an even bigger impact than putting a roof over someones when positivity fades.
head. Once these stories are truly listened to without
judgement, the people living them have a chance to really reflect - Barbara Fredrickson,
and recognize what it feels like to be heard and respected. Stanford University
Eliminating common assumptions will leave room for open- Graduate and
minded conversation, a sense of friendship, and actual human Psychology
being to human being contact - something that is very simple Professor at the
yet much overlooked. University of North
Carolina
The start of a difference being made.
The goal of this project is to provide people living at the Dubuque
Rescue Mission with a sense of hope, friendship, and an ear to
listen (for some, maybe for the first time in their lives). Most of
their physical needs are being met- food, water, shelter, etc. - but
emotional needs are just as, if not more, essential. After all: what
you think is what you become. T-shirts depicting positivity and
self-love/appreciation will be donated to the people in the
mission. These shirts will be designed at Envision Tees here in
Dubuque. Self-help books and other materials will be gathered by
asking for support via Facebook and word of mouth while also
utilizing resources such as local libraries, Little Free Libraries,
and other nonprofit organizations and also donated to the
Mission. Every human being has a voice and this project will give
the voiceless an opportunity to be heard. Stories will be shared
and listened to, and questions relating to what the residents
consider to be blessings and the necessities of life will be asked.
The goal of this project is to invite the people living at the Mission
to recognize their self- worth and potential, hopefully making the
first small, but greatly impacting, steps forward in their lives.

Bailey Hemenway
 Homeless Isnt Hopeless
Homeless Isnt Hopeless

The Dubuque Rescue Mission

The Dubuque Rescue Mission (DRM) has history dating
all the way back to the Great Depression when Rev.
William Masters and Edward Beach came across some
men who were having difficulty providing the basic
needs for their family. Rev. Masters and Edward Beach
then started making soup and renting out a vacant
building to offer overnight shelter. The DRM has
provided shelter for men and women since 1932 and are
currently accepting of any donation (large or small).
Because there is only a staff of five people, the Mission is
heavily dependent on charity the members of the
community are willing to give for the people in need of
the Missions services.

DRMs Mission: In the name of Jesus, The Dubuque

Rescue Mission is a community offering hospitality,
spiritual hope, food, shelter, clothing and job
development to those in need.

The Dubuque Rescue Mission located on 398 Main Street

PLACE PHO TO HERE,

OTHERWISE DELETE BOX

Bailey Hemenway

The Law of Attraction
The Law of Attraction is the ability to
attract into our lives whatever we are
focusing on and the idea that through
the power of the mind, we can
translate whatever is in our thoughts
and materialize it into reality (The
Law of Attraction, 2012). The biggest
benefit positive emotions provide is
an enhanced ability to build skills and
develop resources for use later in life
(James Clear, 2013). Your thoughts
form your character, how you operate
in the world, how far you travel
mentally, physically, and spiritually.
You are what you think you are, and all
of your actions proceed from thought.
Your inner thoughts will always be
reflected in your outer circumstances,
because self-generated changes in
your life are always preceded by
changes in the way you think about
something (Psychology Today, 2011).
Homeless Isnt Hopeless
Homeless Isnt Hopeless
Homeless in America
Hard Facts:
According to Social Solutions in June of 2016, it was reported over
half a million people in America were homeless (living in streets,
cars, shelters, etc.). Of this high number, 83,170 were considered
chronically homeless- people with disabilities who have been
homeless for a year or longer, 47,725 are veterans, 110,000 are part
of the LGBTQ community and 50% of this population are over the
age of 50, facing additional health and safety risks. An estimated
26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental
illness and an estimated 46% live with severe mental illness and/or
substance use disorders (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2017).
For a city of 60,000 residents, Dubuque, Iowa has numerous
organizations that help their chronic homeless and low income
community. There is the Dubuque Rescue Mission, the Teresa House
(for single women and children), and Hillcrest Family Services:
Transitional Housing Program, only to name a few.
Mind over Matter
They need someone to walk with them. To come alongside them and
re-empower them, one step at a time. They need help re-entering life.
This is a quote by Tim Burgess, a Seattle City Council Member, in a
guest column he wrote in the Seattle Times August of 2016. The
article examines if housing is the best solution for the homeless. It
argues that this country isnt using its resources to truly help the
people who feel stuck in a homeless situation. He mentions all the
services that are available to the homeless on a daily basis: free
shelters, affordable housing, drug rehab, free transportation, etc., but
still, there are more homeless people each year. He raises a lot of
eyebrows by saying housing isnt the best solution but makes very
valid points. Individuals in these situations need more than physical
things, they need somebody to listen to them and to give them a
chance to be a friend who could use some verbal guidance and
reassurance. Genuine human contact. When people experience
positive emotions, their minds broaden, and they open up to new
possibilities and ideas. At the same time, positive emotions help
people build their personal well-being resources, ranging from
physical resources, to intellectual resources, and social resources
(Pursuit of Happiness, Fredrickson, 2009).
Bailey Hemenway
 Homeless Isnt Hopeless

Task Deadline
Email Rick Mihm, Executive Director at The
Dubuque Rescue Mission, and inform him 2 October 2017
of project.

Get approval from Rick to host Homeless 13 October 2017

Isnt Hopeless event.

Establish a set date for event day upon 16 October 2017

Ricks approval.

Create designs for T-shirts 20 October 2017

Take T-shirt designs into Envision 23 October 2017

Gather books and cassettes from people to 1 November 2017

be donated to The Mission

Item Cost
Books/Misc. Self-love Materials $20 or under

Envision Tees Designed T-shirts $200

Fuel: Traveling to gather $10

materials

Bailey Hemenway
 Homeless Isnt Hopeless

Reference Page

Barbara Fredrickson. Pursuit of Happiness, 10 Sept. 2016

Clear, James. The Science of Positive Thinking: How Positive Thoughts Build Your
Skills, Boost Your Health, and Improve Your Work. The Huffington Post,
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 July 2013

Is 'Housing First' the Solution to Homelessness in Seattle? Babysteps Ministry, 14

June 2017

2016's Shocking Homelessness Statistics. Social Solutions, 9 Jan. 2017

Reynold, Susan. Happy Brain, Happy Life. Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2
Aug. 2011

Bailey Hemenway