Sunday, March 21, 2021

Sunflower Harbor homeless outreach After the storm

Aaron has graduated our program! He'll be staying a while longer as a peer mentor, but it's making plans to achieve housing stability. 

We got through the historic winter storm relatively unscathed. Couple of burst pipes, but no significant damage. 

We updated our registry. It has a list of the needs for the next step of each project we're working on. www.myregistry.com/giftlist/sunflowerharbor

When we went to buy some things at the Oos, they sweetly donated 2 twin mattresses and a box spring! 

The guys installed a new sink in the front bathroom and made sure it worked. It's so rustic and pretty!

Even though the governor has lifted the covid restrictions, we are still going to be following them here at Sunflower Harbor for the time being for the safety of our guys. 

When the world overwhelms, I find it the best thing to do is to start by accomplishing just one little thing. -Ducky NCIS

Here at Sunflower Harbor homeless outreach, we try to end homelessness one person at a time. We have a little different approach to it than some. Most days, we're expirementing.  Most days, we're tailoring our care approach to the individuals we're serving. 

Ours is a work program. We also teach a lot of things as we go. Our workers begin filling out an independence plan by setting goals that will allow them to reach independence. These sometimes include getting an ID, job, phone, bank account, and housing. We also encourage them to add personal goals.  Once that is complete, we begin helping them reach those goals. 
We teach them skills that will help them get a job like resume building, interview practice, and job search tips and tricks. 
While they are searching for a job, we go over personal responsibility and begin the hard work of looking at why they became homeless and how they can lessen the chances of it happening again. We discuss work ethic and how to get ahead.
 They learn whatever skills are needed to keep the place running smoothly. Oil changes, plumbing, carpentry, cleaning, animal care, gardening, ECT. 
Once they have secured a job and gotten their first full paycheck, we learn budgeting, meal planning, and saving. They are now ready to begin graduation preparation. We help them gather what they'll need in a new home. We help them figure what they can afford to pay for rent and utilities. We help them set longer term goals and begin to work towards them while saving enough to secure a place to live. 
They graduate as soon as they complete all the steps, but can remain a while to be sure they can remain in stable housing when they leave. 
It's a long process.  Growth is sometimes painful, but it's so worth it when we get a tour of their new space! 

Want to be part of the solution? Donate through our website www.sunflowerharbor.org 
we take PayPal or cash app. 

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Sunflower Harbor homeless outreach work program spotlight Jerrod

Sunflower Harbor homeless outreach 
Work program spotlight: Jerrod Moran
Jerrod had been amazing to have around! He organized most of the house room by room. He helped clean and organize the yard, including helping build a fence to contain our wayward rescue pups. He's helped with every project since he arrived. He's a self starter and assigns himself tasks as he sees things that need done. 

On his personal journey to independence since he got here, he has gotten ID, gotten a job, got his temporary CNA, and worked his bottom off. He's working on getting his CNA transferred from another state. 

From homeless and aimless to living with purpose in a few short months. We are so proud of him! He'll be graduating the program soon, but plans to stay around to help run Sunflower Harbor after graduation. We really look forward to it! 


He's personally responsible for taking guys off the streets to stable housing. He's excellent at all the networking that has to happen to coordinate care and housing for our homeless population. 

He goes with us on his rare days off from work to deliver food and supplies and check on our homeless folks. 

Our veterans love him. They only have positive things to say about him. "He's always ready to help and friendly. He's always dependable and a man of his word. He has a great sense of humor and is fun to hang out with." " Jerrod has a positive attitude and willingness to help. He's a really understanding person with a personality of caring." 

Jerrod working on the back bathroom

Jerrod works with our pups and helps with their care. They adore him! 
Want to help create great successes like this one? We're running several fundraisers right now! Go to our website at www.sunflowerharbor.org to donate! You can now donate through paypal, cashapp, ourregistry, or facebook! 

Choose how your donation is spent! 
-bunkhouse to more than double capacity
-veterans fund to help with anything our vets need
-Job search fund to help with clothes, ID, and such needed to secure jobs
-legal fund to help file for nonprofit status
-general fund for anything we need to keep running

Cash App: $Sunflowerharbor

Registry has a list of our needs 
https://www.myregistry.com/giftlist/sunflowerharbor

Know someone who would benefit from one of our programs? Text Kristy 214.622.7222 or email kristy@sunflowerharbor.org our program is a lot of work for participants, but so worth it to grow and break the cycle of homelessness! 

SUNFLOWER HARBOR HOMELESS OUTREACH 

www.sunflowerharbor.org 




May

Recording studio was delivered Waiting to get electric out to it.  Class of 2021 is over. Fundraising now to start t...