Generations of homeless government programs have led to more homeless and more temporary housing. The notion of homelessness has gone from an unconventional norm in the 1900s to accepted conventional norm in the 2000s. Many that are homeless, choose that direction, and will continue that direction because of their independent nature and would not like any interference.
However, there are bands of homeless, or people that are on the way to becoming homeless, which could be brought into a new multi-member living structure making a future multi-member home.
Homeful: the concept of bringing homeless into a home to better the lives of all living under a roof together.
If you look around the neighborhood, how could we change a homeless situation in a new way? Let’s make a community of multi-member home-living a future way of life.
Case: Sally the Senior
Sally, 74 years of age, lives in an affluent 7,000 square foot home. She uses the master bedroom, kitchen, but has many extra rooms and a detached guest home. At Sally’s home, there is a fish tank and a small pomeranian dog. Sally brings in Teresa and her two kids to occupy the guest home. They sign an agreement of one month trial term, with extension to one full year. Teresa’s kids benefit by getting to go to the school district in the affluent neighborhood, and Teresa takes care of the upkeep of the home. Sally brings on three dependents onto her taxes claiming child and dependent care tax credits.
Case: Jim the Hound Home
Jim has a townhome, with a backyard full of five dogs and five doghouses. Jim works security detail and often has to leave home with no one to take care of the dogs. Jim opens up his garage and converts the garage to a living area for a hound watcher. He hires a hound watcher to care for the dogs and sets up $1,099 in contractor payments inclusive of living quarters.
Case: Padrino Juan
Juan lives in a three bedroom home and only occupies the master bedroom. Juan long ago became the godfather of his best friends kids Edgar and Melissa. Edgar and Melissa’s parents passed away in a car accident. Juan brings in Edgar and Melissa to live in his home, one bedroom each. Juan helps the kids finish high school and sends them off to college.
Case: The Yang Household
Parents Artur and Michelle have two young toddler kids Matt and Josephine. Both parents work full time and need child care both day and night. Their home has an extra bedroom and they hire a live-in nanny immigrant Ann, who is looking for work and housing to come live with them to help take care of the kids and teach the kids their home-country language. Ann lives with the family and could drive the kids to school and their various appointments during the day. Overnight the nanny helps with feedings and diaper changes of the younger child.
To make this safe and considerable in the early states, a sponsored program of community watchers could undertake a long haul oversight of the successes and failures of matching, much like a foster care program. The best case is for homeowners to volunteer and open their homes to others. Hopefully after an attempt is taken, there are more success cases than failed cases in the future.
In a community of 100,000 households, if 25 homes take on such a homeful endeavor, it’s possible the concept of a new multi-member home will become a future success case.
Open your home to others, start living homeful. Contact your regional home finding shelter notifying them of candidates you would accept.
If you or someone you know is suffering from homelessness in Los Angeles County, please visit Homeless Services or call 211.