The Custom Mobile Crisis Unit/Office pictured here would be equipped with :
› 2 stackable washer/dryers
› 3 showers – (one handicapped accessible)
› 3 toilets – (one handicapped accessible)
› An office area with 3 work stations, 3 computers/Laptops
› 3 beds
› Kitchen and reception area
› Handicap wheelchair lift equipped.
This Mobile Crisis Unit, just as our offices and STA facilities, would be a Closed Door unit.
* It will be open only to those referred to us or “Invited in” by Straight Ahead Outreach staff.
* The reasoning behind this is in our efforts to “Change the Attitudes and Mentality of the Homeless.”
* Will operate up to 7 days per week 24 hours per day.
* By being a Closed door facility and Mobile Crisis Unit, we will create a “buzz” among the homeless, causing them to “try” harder to STA “Clean” longer so they can get in for assistance.
* This way we are a tiny step ahead on some occasions.
* Our goal with this unit is to properly assist our friends in need in “Taking Back Their Life” with some sort of permanent results and the goal of finding housing, jobs, disability benefits, mental health assistance and more if applicable.
* This would enable STA to have a Mobile Crisis Unit/Office where we can interview our homeless “friends in need” right in the streets where they are, allow them to take a shower, launder their clothes and give them a meal all at one time at any hour of the day or night. The perfect fit. We need to raise $400,000 to purchase this unit and for operating costs for one year. It will be Designed and built to our specifications by Concept Haulers of Shorewood, Illinois. 877-941-9681 Mr. Jim Randa Should you need a unit or want to help us obtain this one.
* New clothes, if necessary can be provided at the time of interview.
* Individuals will be required to shower if they want a snack, meal or interview.
* Haircuts will be provided as feasible.
* The Mobile Crisis Unit can also double as an emergency shelter for 1–2 nights if requested from another organization such as CAC, VMC, KARM or Salvation Army etc. However, each situation will be evaluated and the person may be turned down if his/her recent history has escalated to involve bodily harm or violence.
* The Mobile Crisis Unit will be used as a critical need transport to other cities/states on a referral basis or as needed. A “Gift” will be suggested from the referring agency for transportation services to cover fuel, food etc.
STA would also use a unit like this Mobile Crisis Unit to travel to other Cities across the United States per approved requests to assist in other Homeless Communities for up to 3 months at a time. This would require a second unit and staff. This would be done on an as funds are available basis and we may suggest a monetary “gift” from the requesting agencies to help cover fuel, food, supplies & products. STA would always strive to keep this amount of funds needed to a minimum.
Current Mobile Crisis Unit:
— The Mobile Crisis Unit Van pictured here is Lance and Pat’s personal 1995 Chevy van which is currently used for all STA activities and needs.
— This van has been our “On the Street” interview center.
* This van needs to be replaced. It had over 210,000 miles on it as of 01/21/2010
— We have helped families move personal belongings for VMC, KARM, and many of our own homeless ‘friends in need.’
— Transported wheelchair bound homeless ‘friends’ extensively.
— Transported homeless ‘friends’ to church activities, showers, meals, work, doctor appointments, shopping and various events and much much more.
— Transported a female with a history of violence at the request of KARM and VMC on a last minute plea, from KARM to her home in Richmond, KY.
Facilities Wish List:
STA (Straight Ahead) pronounced “Stay.”
STA, would be a Closed Door facility.
This will help to lower the “Not in my backyard” resentments.
STA would operate on referral only basis with referrals from other HAO’s, homeless “friends in need”, Police, or those located by our Mobile Crisis Unit Patrol.
People would not be allowed to loiter or flock at STA facilities
(Mobile Crisis Unit excluded while on the streets)
STA would house from 5–11 people ideally with a maximum of 25 residents at each facility created.
We envision 10 facilities of the type described herein.
STA would accept up to 3 emergency referrals for overnight stays (up to two days maximum each) on an evaluated basis. STA reserves the right to refuse service based on an individual’s recent history depending on the circumstance. Recent violence or bodily harm is main determination factor here.
STA would provide a small efficiency or 1-bedroom, completely furnished apartment.
STA would provide, groceries, toiletries and clothing while staying at our STA facilities.
The goal is to move our “friends in need” into their own housing after 3 months.
They may stay at STA as long as is needed.
If they receive SS benefits or have any income, they will be required to pay 25% of that income/month. This will be evaluated based on the “friends in need” circumstances as their growth and stability is the main focus and objective.
Example: $673.00 SSI Check x 25% = $168.25/month payable to STA.
This is 5% less then federally funded facilities require.
While at STA our “friends in need” would work on:
Obtaining their food stamp card
Applying for and obtaining SSI and/or VA benefits
Assistance obtaining GED if needed and/or desired
Re-Socialization/Re-Integration
Applying for work
Assisting with upkeep duties around the facility, including security at the facility and the surrounding neighborhoods.
STA also plans to create a Lawn Service, Painting Service, Carpet Cleaning Service, Thrift Store and Coffee House/Deli to assist in supporting the STA activities.
Our “friends in need” STA-ing at our facilities – can work in the businesses created by STA, much like they do at the Delancey Street Foundation – to help pay for their STA-y.
Learning to rely on themselves, not HAO centers, including Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
When our ‘friends in need’ are ready to move on to the next step, STA will assist in setting them up in an apartment, just as we did when they arrived at STA, fully furnished including groceries for 6 months.
We will not set them up to fail.
Example 1: 315 Doyle St. Knoxville, TN 37920 Potential Housing Facility Example
This property is different then our original interest, which is located at 315 Ogle and is across the street from the property headlined above. We hope to obtain both properties in order to have a strong, supportive presence at this location. We have obtained a “verbal” agreement with the owner of 315 Ogle for a low, long-term lease arrangement due to his belief in what we do.
315 Doyle St. is a residential home (apartment building) and also has a commercially zoned corner lot 75×101.
The property consists of (2) 2-bedroom apartments and (2) 1-bedroom apartments (or 6 available sleeping units).
We may need to do some minor renovations to the house and property which would include installing an 8-10 foot privacy fence around the entire property, build a large storage shed/garage for personal belongings, etc.
Add special lighting to the house and purchase furnishings to create ambiance.
Mobile Crisis Support Office – Renovations To House, Existing Small Building(office) And Property At 315 Doyle St
Renovate small existing building on property into offices and additional laundry facilities
In the future we will review the feasibility of a Dental office in this location.
Example 2: 315 Ogle St:
This is the original building we had in mind of which is shown here on our website and is directly across the street from 315 Doyle St.
This building would take approx a minimum of $500,000.00–$700,000.00 to renovate into 11 apartments(handicapped accessible) and 3 store fronts – which would include an Activity Center, a Coffee House/Deli, and lastly a Thrift Store. The Coffee House & Thrift Store would help support STA activities.
This is where we would be able to house and assist someone like Ms. Edna and our Ms. Donna, the wheelchair bound “friend in need” who stayed at our personal home for 4 months in 2008.
By doing the above, STA can and will continue on a larger scale to:
Ease neighborhood tensions as well as combat community deterioration and help lower the impact of the overall community delinquency.
Lessen the burdens on local Police, Ambulance and Medical facilities.
Permanently help our homeless ‘friends’ “Take Back Their Lives.”
Permanently means that they do NOT lose their housing and end up homeless again
Permanently means they have learned how to take themselves out and away from the HAOs, including STA, and have learned to rely upon themselves, not other HAOs, including STA.
Permanently means they have become a positive force in the community.
Example of Transitional/Permanent Supportive Housing:
1) We are exploring the possible ”use” of the building pictured above located at 315-319 Ogle Ave., Knoxville, TN. The current Owner is partially renovating the building. The building consists of two floors, each of which is approximately 3,500 sf. We envision the upper level consisting of eight 300 sq. ft. efficiency apartments while the lower level will offer three (3) handicapped accessible efficiencies.
We would need to raise funds to renovate and support this facility.
At this time we have a very tentative verbal agreement with the owner that would allow us to utilize his building for our program, but nothing solid. Our intent is to secure private funding to eventually purchase the building or a building with a similar layout. The building is in need of major renovations in order for our ‘full-program’ to be realized.
Each efficiency will be approximately 300 sq ft. This floor plan will also be the footprint that will be utilized for any future facilities.
There will be laundry facilities for the members. The laundry facility will also be available to non-residents, others we may be in the process of assessing and are requiring the ability to do their wash.
Separate shower facilities will be available on the main level for those who are not formal residents and have no other facilities available to them.
2) Located diagonally across the street from the Ogle Building is a house located at 315 Doyle St. for sale. It is situated on a large corner lot with ample parking for 6 residents. The asking price of the house is approximately $140,000.00. The residence is already set up with two (2) 2-bedroom apartments and two (2) 1-bedroom apartments.
Also, located on the same lot, is a separate commercial building which could serve as an office, activities center or additional housing. The lot is also very appropriate for expansion. Straight Ahead Outreach would then occupy this corner with an excellent central location.
Both buildings are across the street from the Immanuel Baptist Church perfect for our friends in need of finding, satisfying and growing their spiritual needs.
The buildings are on the bus-line making it convenient for people to travel for shopping, work or pleasure.
Upon entering the building itself, there will be soft lighting and instrumental music playing throughout the building.
Each efficiency will be warm and inviting with soft lighting, small bathroom with tub/shower, kitchen and living space.
There will be laundry facilities in a central location which all members can utilize along with laundry units in each efficiency. If a member for some proven reason cannot do their own laundry, it will be done for them.
A central dining area will be available. This will offer members opportunities for socialization and companionship.
We cannot expect people to improve the quality of their life if we do not show and allow them to be, feel and live like people.
Treat a Person As They Are, and They Will Remain As They Are.
Treat Them As They Could Be, & They Will Become What They Should Be.
By making things so complicated and difficult for them in pursuing and obtaining assistance, we keep them on the street. If we tell a person “we will not hold your bags for you”, we are essentially saying – you’re possessions don’t matter to us; even though they are the only things they have.
Our goal and dream is to have a number of facilities throughout the city of Knoxville and Tennessee and someday across the country like the one I will be showing and describing to you in the following pages. I am not looking at having a facility which houses 50 or more people at a time as I believe that loses the family type feel people need. More importantly, it also loses the permanency and quality of the results we are after. Our maximum housing capacity at any facility for housing would be 25 and the ideal being 5-11 residents.
Part of our Wish List is to build a facility in the St. Petersburg FL area where we will transport individuals who have displayed a specific need to Take Back Their Lives in an environment such as the warmth and comfort of the sun and water.
Please Make A Donation Today to Help Us Continue This Valuable Work by clicking on the DONATE BUTTON above.
We THANK YOU in advance.
Or you may also mail your Donations to:
Straight Ahead Outreach(Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
Attn: Lance Greene or Hossein Ghodrat
One Market Square
Knoxville, TN. 37902
865-964-1461
