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Please note, our Forum rules no longer allow the posting of links to personal fundraising or crowdfunding pages, such as JustGiving. You can read the full set of our Forum rules here.
how to raise money/finance for a homeless project
I am involved in the drug/alcohol field in a voluntary capacity. I have become very aware of the need for safe drug/alcohol free accommodation for people at various stages of recovery. A building has recently been put on the market which could provide basic housing for abouth 35 people. I would like to form a co-operative/social enerprise/community interest company to buy/rent this building and get clients/community involved in running it. How do I make this "dream" a reality?
i would appreciate any constructive advice or comments
Thanks
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i would appreciate any constructive advice or comments
Thanks
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What is it particularly you want advice on, fundraising, or 'how to set up services for the homeless'?
whichever it is, I would start by tapping into local knowledge - google volunteer plus your town / area / county and see what your local VCS can offer, for both parts of the equation.
Also be aware of the funding situation out there: you need a model for covering the ongoing costs IMO. One way is to tender to provide services to the local authority once they've realised that such services should be part of their next big local plan. Another is to say 'we don't want that kind of funding', but then how are you going to cover your ongoing costs?
Does that make sense and give you a start? If you want to say where you are, there may be more specific advice.
At the very least the above would be useful 'devil's advocates', particularly with a residential property with 35 places given the relapse problems that will happen.
Again, this is not the way the provision of services is looked at.
And I can probably match your stories. However, I'd question whether a 35 bed 'unit' would be manageable: that's a lot of people, and once one falls off the rails there's a tendency for others to follow.
One of the problems is that when you've been an addict, all your friends tend to be addicts too. You badly need to make new friends, and while it can be helpful to have people who know where you've been, that can also be very difficult.
Excellent advice.
Very true.
Of course within the generally woefully inadequate provision of rehab and recovery options is the even more dire lack of women-only rehab / recovery services. There are many more beds for men, and even when mixed accommodation is available that doesn't always 'work' for women.
I'm not saying 'don't do this', but I am aware of several projects set up in this field because the need was clearly there, and they have not been sustainable because the funding priorities for the local authority didn't include what they were doing.
BTW, does this property have any neighbours? Because you mention getting 'community' involved in running it. I am not a gambling woman, but if I were, I'd be prepared to put money on fierce local opposition from the neighbours when they hear you're planning to put up to 35 former addicts in their street.
Another question: where is it in relation to the drugs 'scene'? Location is critical: too close to the supply and there will be problems; too far from appropriate services and residents will struggle to access them.
I know that the project will not be easy and I am grateful for the advice/comments. With regard to the query about the neighbours objecting, the building in question was a homeless hostel until comparatively recently and it is being marketed as a "former hostel" with potential for other uses. I know this doesn't mean that there would be no objections but the precedent is there.
Re the possibility of relapse, yes this will always be an issue with addicts but I would envisage having a very robust relapse policy which I know might seem draconian to some but it would literally be total abstinence. Any resident who failed a drug/alcohol test or was found to be dealing would be discharged that day. I am currently training as a recovery broker and there is a strong recovery community in the area. I have good relations with local rehabs and homeless organisations and there is a core group of people in recovery who want to make this happen.
Please continue giving feedback and comments as I very much value this input.
Many thanks
Whilst I apppreciate you'd like the residents and community to run the hostel, you need the stability of experienced salaried employees to keep everything on an even keel.