Vulnerable People and Places Blog

Nonprofit organizations strive to support and help alternative communities on a daily basis. Their drive to create a safe space for minorities or individuals struggling with problems comes from pride and want for change. One challenge these organizations face is the competitive nature of the community.  Competitive: How do nonprofits make themselves stand out? How do they utilize brand recognition to energize and mobilize their supporters? The competition within the non-profit community is bigger than we think, and as larger organizations start to gain more recognition, smaller nonprofits are being lost in the mix. The competitive nature, regardless of the drive to help these communities, results in an unbalanced system which can create even more issues. With nonprofit organizations increasing each day, standing out amongst the crowd can be difficult without brand recognition. As a student studying graphic design, having brand awareness is the most important thing for any business,...

      On June 15th, 2020 the Independent Sector released results surveying the impact Covid had on large to midsize non-profit organizations.  According to the survey, there is obvious proof of a decline in revenue and individual giving. Covid and the economic shutdown has resulted in non-profits like other businesses being forced to limit needed services, have layoffs and or furlough days or reduce pay and benefits for their employees. 110 organizations that participated in the survey. These represent 152,000 employees and nearly 9.1 billion in contributions and revenue, pre-Covid. 83% reported a decline in revenues, including revenue earned from events or other activities. As well as a reduction in individual giving and grants. 71% reported a reduction in services and available operations, with 47% reported having a decline in employment and having to either lay off or furlough their employees.  Non-profit organizations offer a unique opportunity for people to...

 What is a Sweep? Hayden Bruck      Recently in the news, we have heard that Portland plans to do sweeps, but what are they? A sweep is when crews will go from homeless camp to camp attempting to remove homeless people and their belongings in that area. Pre covid Portland would sweep 50 camps per week, and during the pandemic has gone down to about 5 with efforts to start doing more is being planned this summer.      But what happens to the people and things after the sweep because these people have to go somewhere. Some people think it's inhumane. Imagine someone taking all the stuff you have and then telling you you have to find somewhere else to sleep, and they may never see what was taken from them again. They will often wind up in a neighborhood setting up camp there until they are told to move along again. It can cause distrust between the homeless people and the community, making them feel like dust that the city is trying to sweep under the rug...

  HOW TO HELP SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T WANT HELP? Hayden Bruck Let me first answer that question with a response. I believe that there aren't homeless people who do not want help. Sometimes though, they might be too afraid to ask for help or not know where to get it. There is also that some homeless people don't see shelters as a place to get help. They see it as a place where they are treated like children or places where they might get their stuff stolen.   DAVID PIRTLE, someone who was once homeless, once had this to say about shelters. All I can say is that my fear of the unknown, of what might be waiting for me at that shelter, was worse than my fear of the known risk, you know, of staying out on the street. That was where I was comfortable. And I think people, we're creatures of habit. We get comfortable in the most uncomfortable positions, and that becomes home. (NPR) How are we supposed to help people who are too scared to get help because they don't know what wi...

 By Cody Jones Other major cities besides Portland deal with the complex issues of homelessness. Cities like Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and Austin. City officials want to provide an ideal image of their city for the residents and tourists but at the same time are lost on how to humanly achieve this. A lot of the times the issue of homelessness will be pushed to the wayside in city council meetings as the council decides on what they deem as more prudent issues instead. The reality is that homelessness is as prudent as it gets. If one cares about human life then homelessness should not be an issue that plagues pretty much every major city in the United States.  This being said a few cities have started to take the rights steps in order to solve these issues. In Los Angeles, California a non-profit organization of the name, Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, has teamed up with the city to start ensuring that homelessness becomes an issue of the past. Hope of the Valley Resc...

Top five things you need to remember while starting your nonprofit: Starting a nonprofit can feel very overwhelming as you struggle to find the starting line. Though there are many factors involved, here's a shortlist to help you get the ball rolling as you turn your ideas into a reality. These are the top five things you will need to keep in mind as you start your nonprofit. Study Up: Okay, so now that you have a good idea of what you want to do, take a moment to study up your business. Investigate your topic and how your services will benefit the community (s) you wish to assist. Research similar nonprofits so that you may get a better view of the services you wish you apply. Develop the key concept of your nonprofit. Organize the additional functions you wish to present. Figure out how your nonprofit will differ from the others. Give it a name: Choosing a name for your nonprofit can be the most fulfilling yet stressful detail you’ll need to do. Though it may be tempting to selec...

This is a question that is hard not to ask when we see homeless people sitting on sidewalks asking for change. People need to know that the homeless are not lazy, and it is not true that all they have to do to solve their problem is to get a job. Finding a job when you are homeless is very difficult. They have no permanent address or reliable contact info, which means it can be hard to contact the person if a situation comes up and the employer needs to do so. They do not have a lot of money, so they do not have much access to showers or nice clothing to look presentable for a day of work. Often the homeless will have a criminal record or will have a mental disability, physical disability, or an addiction. These make it hard for people to trust that they will be able to do the job as well as keep it. Most homeless people have a traumatic event that has happened in their life, and their family and friends are not able to be there for them. We need to address the causes of peoples’ homel...

Do you have an idea that will promote social change like a charity or a grant foundation but don’t know where to start? If you want to make a change that will be viable and successful, a good way to start is by making a non profit organization.  One of the main fears about manifesting your great idea is the issue of money. There are many reasons to start a nonprofit organization and one of them is the funding options available under non-profit status. According to Heather Huston, as a non profit organization, you can obtain limited liability protection. The LLC status protects you, your directors, officers, and members if you have them from being held personally responsible for their company’s debts and liabilities. This benefit leads to less fear in starting a business. Your organization can also be federal and state tax exempt as a non profit. Also with non-profit status, you will have more access to different grants only accessible by 501(c)(3) non profit organizations. A suppo...

The Pains of Homelessness From the Clinic to the Streets and Back Nicholas Rainville May 7, 2021

Coronavirus has created many challenges for financial businesses and even organizations whose primary goal isn’t to make a profit. However, we have learned to innovate and create environments that thrive given the circumstances. Although making a nonprofit organization during a pandemic can seem like a daunting task, many resources are available to aid in successful creation. The National Council of Nonprofits has provided a continuously updated hub of resources for those struggling with the impact of COVID-19. Cooperation and community understanding are the essence of what helps stop the spread and strengthen resilience. For those forming a new charity, thinking about collaborating with those already pursuing safety measures might be a good start. Finding Partners The Council on Foundations has published an existing list of organizations addressing and engaging in pandemic response. Establishing a partnership with an existing nonprofit can help maximize efficiency and boost communit...

Studies have shown that over 15% of incarcerated individuals experience some form of homelessness after their release from prison. This is typically due to a lack of income, support, and education on the topic which can also lead to severe mental health problems and potentially a relapse in the system. The Pathfinder Network is a Portland-based non-profit that aims to create an educated community for individuals on this theme. The post will be exploring the variety of programs, resources, and forms of support/outreach they incorporate within their work. Understanding different non-profits’ intentions, values, and goals can give people an alternative perspective on unfamiliar topics which could spark new ideas and a larger community.  Vision “We envision communities that welcome all people, provide second chances, and create pathways to change.” Mission “We provide justice system-impacted individuals and families the tools and support they need to be safe and thrive in their communi...

A nonprofit organization is an organization that does not aim to make a profit , but works to help people or to achieve an improvement in something. This means that any money the organization makes or donations they receive go back into helping the community in one way or another. In order to start a nonprofit you have to apply for a 501 (c) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). A 501 (c) is the code for a nonprofit organization and there are twenty-nine different types of nonprofits that are recognized. These types of organizations include charitable organizations, labor organizations, business leagues, social clubs, veterans organizations, and employee benefit associations. These types of organizations can also potentially qualify for tax exempt status. Some of the most well known nonprofit organizations are the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Public Radio (NPR), and the National Geographic Society.  Even if you’re not planning to sta...

Rose Haven Shelter is a safe space for homeless women and gender nonconforming adults as well as children and families. They have been providing shelter, resources, and support for those who walk in the doors since 2007. They advocate for those in our community who need it the most and provide hospitality in a world where homelessness is often met with hostility. There is a shop for free where people can come and collect clothing for themselves and their families as well as hygiene products and pet food. There are classes and groups for people to get to know one another and form a sense of community while learning about life skills that may benefit them such as nutrition, budgeting, yoga, writing, sewing and art classes. Medical care is something that many people find difficult to receive and so Rose Haven provides a variety of medical services and counseling free of charge. There is also a safe, clean place where people can use the bathroom and take showers if they need to. Women with...

Starting a non profit takes dedication and handwork but most importantly, funding. It is important to understand primary sources of non profit support to begin to launch your non profit up and forward. To do so, having strong initial support is essential for long-term success because although grants are great and helpful, they are never guaranteed. Having strong initial support with your new non-profit lets you use resources such as an online donation software, to set your non-profit up successfully while also showcasing grant-giving institutions that you're in for the long haul.  Startup grants are a major source of funding support for new non-profits while grant-giving foundations, government agencies and other funding bodies are there to support both new non-profits and established non-profits as well.  Corporate Giving Programs for Nonprofit Startups Corporate Philanthropy is a major part of starting your non-profit and if you are unfamiliar with it, then it is time to edu...