| Name | Marcus |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Thomas |
| Home Address | 1909 South Watkins Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404 United States |
| Organization Name | Bridge City Community Church |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | Youth Program Coordinator - ensure that all administrative tasks needed to ensure that the program runs smoothly, such as scheduling events, brainstorming and facilitating all youth activities, and supervising volunteers who work directly with youth. |
| Organization Address | 3300 Brannon Avenue Chattanooga, Tennessee 37408 United States |
| Website | https://www.bridgecitycommunity.com |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 423-394-6171 |
| Alternate Phone Number | |
| Email Address | info@bridgecitycommunity.com |
| Alternate Email Address | mark@bridgecitycommunity.com |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | "Showered with Hope", is a teen led initiative that we will provide mobile showers, restrooms, laundry services, healthcare services, affordable housing and employment opportunities to the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee to help our unhoused neighbors rekindle dignity, restore hope, and unlock the opportunity that comes with being clean. Technically, you could call what we do Human Services. We think, however, that we’re in the Hospitality business. We call those we serve our guests: we will build something beautiful for them to use, we will know their names, and we will learn their stories. And we will work hard to ensure that they leave feeling better than when they arrived. No one deserves to face stigmatization or preventable health issues due to a lack of essential resources for maintaining personal hygiene. We take for granted our ability to wash our hands throughout the day, shower daily and brush our teeth, but these are crucial activities that keep us healthy and able to take care of other needs. |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | Showered with Hope will strive to address the widespread need for clean personal hygiene services by coordinating a citywide effort to increase access to facilities and products until there are convenient, safe, consistently-available resources in every community. We intend to provide a needed service to our neighbors as an entry-point to begin having conversations with them and connecting them to important city and partner resources. Our various partnerships will allow for complete wrap around services that will help give each participant hope, encouragement and increased opportunities on their path back to employment, affordable housing and off of the street. We will also provide opportunities for young people to be empowered, make change, and impact their future alongside the future of their communities. |
| Where would your project take place? | Chattanooga, TN - various homeless camps around Chattanooga |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 150000 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | No |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | |
| If funded, when would your project start? | June 1, 2022 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | 1 year+ |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | Milestone #1: 0 - 3 months - Provide showers and services to approximately 525 unhoused residents. Milestone #2: 4 - 6 months - Provide showers and services to approximately 1050 unhoused residents. Milestone #3: 7 - 9 months - Provide showers and services to approximately 1575 unhoused residents. By the end of the Year 1 we hope to have provided showers, haircuts, free healthcare services, affordable housing options and employment opportunities too over 2,000 unhoused Chattanooga citizens. |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | Showered with Hope will provide yearly evaluations, annual reports, social media updates and success stories via our organizations website, social media platforms, etc. |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | If successful, we would have provided showers, haircuts, free healthcare, affordable housing options and employment opportunities to 2,000+ unhoused Chattanooga citizens. It's about taking time to show people that you care, and restoring dignity by providing resources needed for self-care. We would have also empowered 30 -50 Chattanooga youth and teens to take action in their communities, utilize their voice and stand up in unity for others who are less fortunate. |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | We will consult with past and current unhoused residents, community residents, community businesses, community leaders and the City of Chattanooga Leadership team to become more knowledgeable and understanding of the current climate in regards to homeless community. We will also develop partnerships with outside organizations and agencies that can provide food, clothing and healthcare resources as well as employment opportunities. Confirmed and potential partners are RiseCha, Corner Evolution, The Bethlehem Center, Hamilton County Youth Coalition, Clifton Hill Neighborhood Association, Alton Park/Pineywood Neighborhood Association as well as various City of Chattanooga departments. We will provide opportunities for young people to be empowered, make change, and impact their future alongside the future of their communities. |
| Name | Nancy Allen |
| Contact Information | 423-987-0941 |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | Bridge City Community Church have been walking along side our South Chattanooga neighbors for close to nine years as we pursue spiritual, racial, economic, and educational justice. We are multi-ethnic. We are grassroots and community oriented. We speak out and walk the streets. We partner with organizations and community leaders. We seek beauty and practice hospitality. We organize and advocate. As a faith-based institution with a reputation of respected community engagement we are able to engage the entire spectrum of Chattanooga residents and organizations. Our experience with, and commitment to, local grassroots organizing equips us with the skills necessary to engage the streets and the power structures. We teach youth the skills they need for behavioral change, cultural awareness, and personal development and growth as they move into the next stages of life. |