A World We Dare To Imagine - Alex Ster

Home & Away 

A rehabilitation center to get people off the streets and provide new beginnings

As someone who is from San Diego and currently lives in Los Angeles, I have witnessed how serious the world homelessness population is. That said, rehabilitation centers are the perfect solution to getting people off the streets and helping them get back onto their feet to live a better life. Rehabilitation centers are philanthropy organizations that take people off the streets and help them get off of illegal substances and alcohol. By getting them clean, the goal is to provide an environment where they serve a purpose by helping run the place and eventually getting a job to pay for a place on their own. It serves as a hotel almost with strict rules and curfews for the tenants' good to ensure they stay on track and want to better their lives. 

Based on the feedback from my classmates, I think it would be essential to partner with government programs to gain funding to create and administer as many rehabilitation centers as possible in large cities that struggle with homelessness. The towns that I initially wanted to focus on are New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, and Denver (USA Facts, 2023). Based on the USA Facts, getting government funding in the top five cities in the United States struggling with homelessness would be essential. 

Home & Away plans to partner with government and corporate companies such as HUD’s Continuum of Care Program, Transitional Housing Assistance Government Issues Grants, Veterans Affairs Supportive House, Government Homeless Assistance grants, and The San Diego Rescue Mission. The San Diego Rescue Mission is a rehabilitation center in San Diego that Home & Away will partner with and work alongside to see what works and does not work to get people off the streets.  By working with HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, Home & Away will work with the most significant federal grant initiative for homelessness services in the United States.  Each year, HUD offers over 3.5 billion dollars and has similar goals and priorities that Home & Away is trying to achieve as a non-profit organization. These are just a few of the many programs that Home & Away will start off working with on the government scale and plan to partner with large firms like Amazon, Starbucks, Bank of America, Coca-Cola Foundation, and more who have all donated and pledged to help the issue of substance abuse and homelessness in America. 

In addition to partnerships with corporate companies and government funding, it is also important to note that Home & Away plans to work with each neighboring community. By getting volunteers, local support, and local business donations, Home & Away will quickly make each of its rehabilitation centers feel like home for the individuals who are getting off the streets.   

Pitch

As we see every day in Los Angeles, people experiencing homelessness, struggling on the streets fighting substance abuse, unemployment, lack of shelter, and mental health challenges are only getting worse. Many of these individuals lack the correct resources to get off the streets or have the opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives. That is where Home & Away Rehabilitation Centers come into play. By implementing rehabilitation center programs through government-funded projects, not only would we decrease the number of homeless people on the streets in these areas, but we would also be able to allow individuals to turn their lives around.

Missions Statement

Home & Away's mission is to provide compassion, resources, and opportunity to individuals who are suffering from homelessness and substance abuse on the streets. By offering shelter, rehabilitation, new life skills, and a supportive community, we empower individuals to rebuild their lives. We want each guest to check in willingly who wants a home and actively seek a way to get back on their feet and fly out of the nest with the best resources.

Roll Out Program

1. Conduct Further Research on which rehabilitation centers are thriving in certain areas and explore their business models. For example, Downtown San Diego has had success working with the philanthropy of the San Diego Rescue Mission. We would target the top US cities facing homelessness: New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, and Denver.

2. Build Partnerships by working with current non-profits and healthcare providers. I want to work with local government policymakers to advocate for funding for implementing rehabilitation centers. 

3. Funding is the most critical aspect of making this idea a successful mission. The best way to get on the government's radar is to apply for government grants focused on housing, community development, mental health, and addiction. To get government funding and help from investors, a detailed budget and ROI projection must be built to provide credibility to the project. 

4. Program Launch will begin in Los Angeles and San Diego. They are focusing on getting help from the California government grants and policymakers and continuing to expand to the other three significant cities struggling with homelessness. Conduct feedback in the community if they notice a difference or an improvement in seeing fewer people on the streets in those areas.

5. Expansion over three years. Home & Away will have policies and up-and-running programs in the top five cities struggling with homelessness. By focusing on the two main California cities that are working, Los Angeles and San Diego, we will be able to pilot to success to secure additional funding and roll out to the additional cities. 

Why Invest?

Investing in Home & Away Rehabilitation Center is not only an opportunity to generate financial returns, but it is also an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a profound social impact. By investing in Home & Away, you are helping solve the global problem of homelessness. Many individuals on the streets have nobody to turn to and no resources to help them turn their lives around. Investing in Home & Away provides a family, community, and shelter for those seeking to get back on their feet, off the streets, and clean to start a new chapter in their lives.