Solving a big problem, one human being at a time.
I know a lot of ordinary people like me who want to do something. But when we see someone on the street who is homeless, we don’t know how to engage. On the other side, when you become homeless, it seems like suddenly you become invisible.
Isn’t there a more productive way to engage?
In Phase I, I plan to use ‘The Listening Project’ to understand the needs of the homeless in Wake County. I’ll ask a simple question:
“What help do you need to get back on your feet?”
In Phase II, we will match those needs with the skills and talents our community is willing to share. You and I can’t boil the ocean, but we can contribute something small.
“A dentist can donate free dental work to one homeless person. A carpenter can apprentice a homeless veteran. A paralegal can teach a single homeless mom paralegal skills.”
My first step is to begin collecting stories. The second step is to set up a matching database so we can link up needs with services and skills.
Things are likely to change as the project evolves, and I’m open to the possibilities.
The Homeless in Wake County, North Carolina: The Listening Project 