Summer 2023 Newsletter - Dorothy's Place

Interim Housing Offers Hope and Stability

Amy Narlock, Development Officer I, Dorothy’s Place

The term housing crisis has been used so often that it risks semantic satiation so instead, let’s start focusing on some solutions. One emerging solution is interim housing. Interim housing is not a new term, but across sectors there is rarely a clear consensus on what exactly it is. For our purposes, we will use the term interim housing to describe a type of short-term housing that is neither emergency shelter nor a permanent housing structure. This type of housing can offer a faster path to safe and secure housing than conventional construction, and provides a space for individuals to stabilize and heal from the traumatic experience of being unsheltered before moving into permanent housing

Housing first is a policy that prioritizes permanent housing before other needs such as

income and substance use issues when assisting people out of homelessness. We certainly agree that every single person deserves the security of a permanent home and we welcome this shift in the response to homelessness among service providers and funding organizations. What we know from experience is that length of time on the street directly impacts the difficulty in transitioning back into independent housing. It is not always successful and often requires multiple attempts. In reality, some people are not prepared for the speed required to re-learn those independent living skills such as self-care routines, paying bills, and time-management. Some individuals who have spent years surviving unsheltered living may require permanent supportive housing or government funded housing. But not all unsheltered individuals require that type of housing and research is beginning to show that many individuals, given the chance to “selfresolve”, will do so.

How long it would take to get to an appointment if you were camping, had no running water, no internet, no transportation, and had to bring all of your camping gear and personal items with you to that appointment? Many of our consumers miss scheduled appointments with us and other providers because of the multiple barriers they must overcome to actually get to the appointment. Congregate shelters are not a good answer as they are only available certain hours and do not provide

safe storage (or any storage) for personal items. Many individuals will refuse shelter stays because of personal safety fears, inability to have a pet with them, or lack of privacy in general.

Interim housing is the combination of stability and support that individuals need to recover from the trauma of being unsheltered and start rebuilding their life. Interim housing is not meant to be long term supportive housing, but it does offer supportive services such as case management and housing navigation. Flexible length of stay with focus on progressing to permanent housing (in whatever form is right for the individual), with private personal spaces that have locking doors, and community guidelines in place that prioritize safety over arbitrary rules such as curfews. The average cost to build a single new unit of permanent supportive housing (PSH) is $650,000.

Items Needed

The Drop-In Center and Dorothy’s Kitchen rely on the generosity of our amazing donors and volunteers. Recently we received 50 lb. of potatoes, 50 lbs. onions, 50 lbs. of carrots, deli meats and cheese from an anonymous donor! Our services never stop and neither do our needs. If you feel compelled and are able to contribute, please let us know!

Dorothy’s Kitchen
For more info: 831-276-5123
12-16oz Bottles of Water
#6 Lunch Bags

Drop-In Center
For more info: 831-276-5123
Disposable razors
Travel size soap

Make-A-Will Month

August is National Make-A-Will Month, and as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Did you know that nearly 67% of American adults do not have a will in place?

In just 20 minutes, you can create your own will with the help of our partner, FreeWill. It’s completely free, in thanks for your support. Join thousands who are making a will this month to:

• Dictate your vision for the future, and your assets
• Show your loved ones just how much you care about them
• Create a lasting, generational impact to charities and causes that are important to you

By using this service today, you’ll get lifetime access to make updates and changes to your plan at no cost. Additionally, you can consider including a bequest in your will to Dorothy’s Place, making our community an important part of your lasting legacy.

No matter what you choose for your plans, I hope you make the most of your Make-A-Will Month.

…to the generous food donors who allow us to
provide nutritious meals to our Consumers!