Southernmost Homeless Assistance League’s Mobile Outreach Project
Project Objectives
Connect individuals experiencing homelessness to local service providers and reduce the overall cost of homelessness to the City of Key West and Monroe county through the development and launch of a 15-month pilot mobile outreach program. This project was a collaboration between the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League (SHAL), the City of Key West, philanthropists, local nonprofits and social service providers, and Monroe County.
Street sign welcoming visitors to Key West, Florida
My Role
I supported the project in its initial stages as Researcher-In-Residence through three initiatives: 1) I collected statistics from project stakeholders to capture the costs of homelessness to the City of Key West and Monroe County. These statistics served as baseline metrics with which to measure the impact of the mobile outreach project during, and upon completion of, the pilot program; 2) I conducted 30 interviews with individuals experiencing homelessness to yield insight on their experiences and needs and inform the development of the mobile outreach program; and 3) I wrote content for the SHAL newsletter to communicate the organization’s initiatives to the wider community, and I collaborated with a web developer to enhance SHAL’s website.
Methods
This project employed ethnographic methods: 30 interviews with individuals experiencing homelessness.
Key Findings
The contributing factors of, and people’s experiences with, homelessness are varied and multi-faceted. Some have a history of substance abuse and mental illness. Some individuals, however, indicated they choose homelessness as a lifestyle and Key West, in particular, as a desired destination; others previously held successful careers but became homeless after one (or a series of) unfortunate life event(s), such as an injury, divorce, disability, or addiction. Some individuals are more visible to the community such as those who ask for money in public places; others find temporary sleeping arrangements such as at other people’s homes.
Application
A holistic approach is critical for understanding the causes of homelessness, connecting individuals to services, and reducing the overall cost of homelessness.
Presentation
Monson, Sarah and Alan Teitelbaum. “Mobile Outreach Unit Tracking Report.” Presentation delivered to the SHAL Board of Directors, Key West, FL, December 20, 2011.