Rethink.
Through innovative, emergent, collective, and visionary alternatives we are addressing service gaps and systemic barriers by harnessing the power of community.
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Through feedback loops with our neighbors and service providers, we’re lifting up gaps and barriers our low-income population face when trying to cover their basic needs.
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Through relationship and discussion, we'll discover visionary alternatives together with feasible and courageous next steps, ways to take action that feel good, and accountability that's helpful and non-accusatory.
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Implementation of immediate/micro problem solving leading to long-term/macro problem solving through emergent collaboration.
Friction Points
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Section 8 residents become homeless and lose voucher because it takes 3+ months to pass inspection on new housing / have paperwork processed
People on fixed incomes (usually seniors) being priced out of their rental unit with no where to go (and not eligible for vouchers)
Rent assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis (lottery system)
No tools for housing navigation (ie. no vetted list of units/landlords)
No accessible team of housing navigators (someone to help find and apply for new housing)
No citywide furniture assistance programs that helps with delivery
No legal or advocacy support against landlords who inappropriately collect application fees and do not maintain the unit, making it unsafe
No 24/7 drop-in centers or shelters for 18-24 year olds only
No financial assistance for moving services or storage units
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No utility assistance for those with old (typically high) bills preventing them from entering new housing
No emergency protocols or programs for utility reconnection during extreme weather
Extremely limited utility assistance distributed through a first-come, first-served basis
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Monthly bus passes are expensive and hard to acquire
Most nonprofits and service providers require in-person commitments and have limited support to help with transportation
Part-time or short-term work is inconsistent (hours and tenure) and at the whims of the employer
No child care options for before or after the normal work 8am-6pm hours
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Legal advice and support is extremely limited (especially detrimental for the international population)
No affordable and qualified cleaning/organizing services to make their homes safer and healthier
No food delivery options for those who are homebound or without a car
No non-emergency medical transportation 72-hours before an appointment
No readily-available trauma-informed community service providers to accompany (truly walk with) someone immediately and compassionately through a crisis
No support groups for victims of gender based / intimate partner violence
This list is growing and constantly changing.
We’d love to hear from you about what should be prioritized and what we’ve missed whether it’s something that does exist or an additional friction point.
If you’re working on one of these friction points, please keep scrolling to Community Conversations so we can support your efforts!
Community Conversations
The goal: To make the system of how we formulate problems & imagine visionary solutions RIGOROUS, COLLABORATIVE, EXPLICIT & INTENTIONAL.
Bringing people together to explore:
How might we?
How might we is a creative way to reframe problems as opportunities that is inviting, inspiring and inclusive.
How serves as an invitation.
Might inspires people to imagine the possibilities.
We encourages inclusivity.
What if?
What if expands your ability to imagine the infinite realm of possibilities embedded in any problem or opportunity.
And then:
Join us for our upcoming Community Conversations around some of the prioritized friction points:
Creating safe space at night for our 18-24 year olds who are houseless
Providing space for healing and support for victims of gender-based and intimate partner violence
Exploring the future of rent assistance as an equity and effective tool for eviction prevention and housing stabilization
Lifting up community voices around transportation needs and opportunities
Building a tool kit for what one day might be a team of housing navigators
Addressing barriers to workforce development and stable/supportive employment
Developing a continuum of care for after hospitalization or medical event in partnership with health care
Visionary Alternatives
Help us explore/try/launch a visionary alternative!
Tell us which and how below:
All of the following are only made possible through multiple partners and innovative collaboration:
1) Team of trained housing navigators with access to resources and tools including an interactive website listing all affordable housing, lists of cooperative property managers, and more
2) A hub for shared services for nonprofits to supplement their income through Medicaid billing for Community Health Workers
3) A social enterprise that provides immediate employment with room for healing and community at entry with work to include furniture delivery (two birds, one scone!), greeting cards and gift creation, peer support, traditional retail, and more
4) A model similar to Habitat for Humanity but for renters
5) Support group led by and for victims of gender-based violence
6) A new rental assistance program built around equity and effectiveness
7) A partnership with Star House, a drop-in center in Columbus, for homeless young adults
8) YOUR IDEA HERE!