Plano Magazine recently wrote a feature a feature article about Owner, Keith From and his vision for housing the homeless. Read the full article here.
The Homeless Crisis Is Now.
Dignity Park is a proposed planned community to help low or no income homeless individuals have a home in a safe environment. Rent can be based on an individuals income and the project can be designed and scaled to suite the needs of each city or non-profit.
dig·ni·ty
the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect.
park
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the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect.
com·mu·ni·ty
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
About Us
Dignity Park is a concept to help low or no income individuals have a home in a safe environment.
Dignity Park is designed to re-instill pride in oneself, pride of home, and pride in the community in which someone lives.
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Placing a roof over someone’s head is only the first step in helping the homeless. Doing so within a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment is essential. Dignity Park is designed to do just that.
What Causes Homelessness?
When Housing is Out of Reach
More than at any other time, there is a lack of housing that low income people can afford.
Without housing options, people face eviction, instability and homelessness.
Income and Housing Affordability
Low income households often do not earn enough to pay for food, clothing, transportation
and a place they can call home.
Connecting Homelessness and Health
Health and homelessness are inextricably linked. Health problems can cause a person’s homelessness as well as be exacerbated by the experience. Housing is key to addressing the health needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Escaping Violence
Many survivors of domestic violence become homeless when leaving an abusive relationship.
Impact of Racial Disparities
Most minority groups in the United States experience homelessness at higher rates than Whites,
and therefore make up a disproportionate share of the homeless population.
A Robust Economy
A robust economy causes rising prices in housing, food prices, utilities
and other areas of basic living needs. Unfortunately, hourly wages do not
keep up with the rising living costs.
Who Experiences Homelessness?
The Largest Population
Most people who experience homelessness are single adults.
Every Child Deserves a Home
Homelessness is devastating, regardless of age. But for children, in particular, it can have serious
physical, emotional and psychological implications.
The Working Homeless
These individuals or families are working 2-3 low paying jobs to feed their families but
do not have access to affordable housing.
Ending Homelessness for Our Veterans
Our nation’s veterans may face invisible wounds of war that may make them more
vulnerable to homelessness.
The Most Vulnerable
Physical and mental health conditions can be both the cause, and a result, of homelessness.
For some, these health challenges can mean years or decades on the streets and in shelters.
Young and Homeless
Each night, thousands of young people living on their own go to sleep without the safety,
stability, and support of a family or a home.
College Students
A survey of nearly 86,000 students found that homelessness affected 18% of respondents attending
two-year colleges and 14% of those attending four-year institutions. The number who said they
had experienced housing insecurity, such as difficulty paying rent, was much higher, at 60%
among those attending two-year schools and at 48% for those enrolled in four-year institutions.
We Have the Solution
Moving more people into permanent housing options, as opposed to temporary beds, has become a recognized best practice. In 2007, 31 percent of homeless assistance beds were dedicated to permanent housing options. By 2018, that number was 57 percent. Also, the most cost-effective way to help the homeless is to provide them homes. Addressing housing directly is less expensive than relying on local police, emergency services and hospitalization, as a chronically homeless person costs taxpayers an average of $38,578 per year on the streets.
Dignity Park
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Dignity Park is a concept to help low or no income individuals have a home in a safe environment. Rent can be based on an individuals income and the project can be scaled to suite the needs of each city or non-profit. The buildings can be designed to meet the aesthetics of the community that the project will be built in. The attached renderings are only examples.​
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Dignity Park is designed to re-instill pride in oneself, pride of home, and pride in the community in which someone lives.
Placing a roof over someone’s head is only the first step in helping the homeless. Doing so within a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment is essential.
Dignity Park is designed to do just that.
The basic Dignity Park single resident unit provides not only shelter, but a private, personal space for one to rest, work, and grow. Residents have peace of mind in regards to the safety of themselves and their personal belongings and a sense of responsibility and ownership. These units are to encourage individuality and self-respect while providing comfort and stability in an environment they get to call home.
The next step then is to connect the individual to the community at large.
The Dignity Park multi-function community center is designed to be a tool in helping the residents re-acclimate to life in a caring community. The community center can have a full kitchen and dining hall, restroom and bathing facilities, mailboxes, bulletin boards, and a conference hall that can be used for job fairs, meetings, or church services. There can also be individual offices that can be used by administrators or for one on one consultations.
By restoring one’s sense of dignity, independence, and pride and aiding in creating a cohesive bond to the surrounding community, Dignity Park strives to help equip and embolden our homeless populations to move beyond their homelessness status by providing a viable, ethical, and cost-effective solution to this crisis.