How Self-Development of People is addressing issues of homelessness … three stories

By Margaret Mwale

Kids make hand prints on the glass doors at Dignity Village. Photo courtesy of SDOP.

"Each day we support each other to speak for ourselves and transform homelessness in our community, we are thankful that Self Development of People has demonstrated a commitment to our work." - John Zirker, Nashville Homeless Power Project President, formerly homeless man

The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People’s involvement in homeless issues runs the gamut of the United States, from the west to the Midwest to the southern part of the country. Self-Development of People has partnered with Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon, with the Nashville Homeless Power Project in Tennessee and with the Kalamazoo Homeless Action Network in Michigan. All three of these groups are playing a leadership role in bringing to the forefront issues that impact on persons that are homeless.

Portland

View a photo slideshow of Dignity Village

When Bob Sterling was laid off in 2004 from the position he had held for 15 years, he did not know where to turn. A friend mentioned Dignity Village, a transitional shelter for the homeless run by persons who are currently or were previously homeless, to him. Bob spoke with the Village Intake Committee (VIC) and was placed on a waiting list. The VIC makes decisions whether or not to take a person in as a resident. Today Bob serves as Acting Chairman of the group’s governing board. The goal of Dignity Village is to help homeless people reenter society by providing transitional accommodation and computers with internet service so residents can look for jobs and work on their resumes.

Located in the industrial area close to Portland international airport in northeast Portland, Dignity Village was founded in 2000 by four formerly homeless men. At that time the village had about 50 structures on land rented from the city of Portland. Today around 60 people are part of Dignity Village with this number going up significantly in winter. The $18,000 grant the group received from SDOP in 2004 enabled it to take care of utilities and thus freed group members from further fundraising efforts for a while enabling them to focus on building the permanent structures they have today. At the time the group received the grant, Dignity Village had only temporary structures. Today there are 23 units (150 square feet for couples and 120 square feet for singles) and 20 temporary structures. Although the houses do not have electricity or running water, they have propane gas heaters. Most residents have either a full or part time job and try to save up enough money to move into an apartment. Residents also visit high schools, colleges and universities to educate people about issues of homelessness. In turn, college and high school students complete community service projects, such as painting, gardening and building houses, at the village.

Dignity Village homes. Photo courtesy of SDOP

Tim McCarthy who has previously served as treasurer of the governing board was working as manager, of a convenience store when he lost his job. He too learned about Dignity Village and moved there in 2001. He told me “… this is such a multicultural group of people that has ended up together … built a community and built a model for other cities.”

Dignity Village residents have to adhere to five basic rules including no violence to themselves or anyone else, no theft, no alcohol or drugs within a one block radius, no constant disruptive behavior and everyone contributes around 10 hours weekly to maintaining the village through activities such as sweeping, sanitation, collecting trash and building houses.

Nashville

In 2007 Self-Development of People partnered with the Nashville Homeless Power Project (NHPP) by awarding the group a $20,000 grant to assist it with leadership development, staffing and infrastructure costs. NHPP initially started in the basement of the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002 as an extension of the Church’s Homeless ministry. In a city of 6,000 homeless people, Nashville Homeless Power Project today has several hundred members with a 15 person leadership team comprised of homeless and formerly homeless people. Matt Leber, one of the group’s founders, told me one of the NHPP objectives is to increase the amount of funding for low-income housing in Nashville. In fact in 2007 Nashville Homeless Power Project played a leading role in the city deciding to increase its housing budget to more than $800, 000 to build low-income housing. That same year due to Nashville Homeless Power Project efforts, four candidates for Mayor agreed to spend an entire night on the streets. Matt said he hopes this can serve as a model for the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Kalamazoo

According to Kalamazoo Homeless Action Network (KHAN) organizer Mike Evans, the group found out about Self-Development of People from two Michigan Presbyterian congregations, the First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo and the First Presbyterian Church in Richland. In 2006 Self-Development of People awarded KHAN $20,000 to assist the group in its efforts to work toward ending the systemic discrimination of those perceived to be poor or homeless in Kalamazoo. In 2006, the group helped organize a housing trust fund to benefit only homeless people. SDOP awarded the group another $20,000 grant in 2007 to empower the group of homeless people to move into private apartments to organize against housing discrimination, advocate for fair rental agreements and fight unfair evictions.

Self-Development of People, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), enters into partnerships with community groups of economically poor people who want to change their lives and communities.  The National Committee carries out its work by making grants to, and entering into partnerships with, community groups that meet SDOP’s criteria for funding.  Grants are normally not more than $20,000. Prospective applicants can apply for grants from both local and national SDOP Committees.

Read more stories about other grassroots groups that SDOP has partnered with.