In less than 100 words, what is your idea?:
Short term B&B style accommodation for the homeless provided by people with homes for the benefit of those without. Accommodation would be facilitated through a website that people more fortunate can register to house someone in need for a few days or a week. Accommodation would be allocated by NGOs providing homeless services on basis of need and capacity to live reasonably someone’s house for up to a week (i.e. no illicit drugs, etc). Stories (if agreed) would be captured on the website to increase awareness of issue and evidence of the need for systemic change.
What is the social need or challenge your idea could address?:
Homelessness is a significant challenge. Waiting times for public housing are close to 20 years in many regions. If you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to qualify for the ‘priority’ list, you only have to wait around five years. More than 50% of people are turned away from crisis accommodation, and many more don’t even bother to try because males can be told ‘if your not a women with children, don’t bother’. Both state and federal governments are investing significant funds in the system, but more needs to be done to effectively tackle the issues. A lot of people want to help, but are not sure how to. This gives them a constructive, practical way to help.
What’s really new about your idea?:
1. Use of web technology to connect people that want to help with people that need it, brokered by NGOs to increase chance of good match (people offering homes can specify who they are willing to have – family, single male, alcoholic, police record, etc) to ensure risk is understood.
2. Capture of stories by the person providing the accommodation using video, audio or text to evidence the problem and generate drive for change
3. Capacity to readily extend the website into new areas to provide more permanent solutions (jobs, advice, guidance, etc) - or to leverage sites like Anglefish (if they get established in AU)
4. Use of feedback (ebay style) to rate experience by homeless and homed
5. Information regarding the need for and availability of beds would be freely available on the net to improve knowledge of the issue and the need for change.
Implementation methods for Digs for the disadvantaged
I have created a blog detailing some methods that allow the Internet Implementation of this idea. The blog is called 'Implementation Options for some Social Innovation Camp Ideas'. It is available at the following address:
http://asix.org.au/content/implementation-options-some-social-innovation...
It should be noted that all the following ideas have some similarity in their required implementation tasks:
2 Bob's Worth
Fancy a match?
Can I borrow a....
Develop a car pooling database package for local councils
Work experience for the disadvantaged
Work Placements Directory
Community toolshed online
Digs for the disadvantaged
My blog starts with implementation ideas that are very specific to the task, allowing the task to be easily implemented without needing specialist skills or programmers, and then progresses to those that give a lot more flexibility but need more skills to implement.
If anyone wants to try out the first and easiest option then they can contact me and I will setup an installation where you can try it out.
Re: Digs for the disadvantaged
This idea is very admirable. However, the practicality and effectiveness of this proposal is questionable.
I would like to see further information regarding what changes are you are hoping to accomplish by documenting these stories? Specifically, what message do you hope to communicate with these stories?
Will this program also collaborate with other governmental or community organizations? How much of an emphasis will be placed on providing permanent solutions for the homeless? Will these remedial solutions be developed internally, or will you depend upon collaborative efforts to develop these solutions?
Do you anticipate the need, or would you establish incentives to homeowners for providing shelter to the homeless?