Termlong Overview: BlockBox (tentative title)

I have been inspired by the Listening Project Capstone class I am taking this fall to create an info kit and resource guide addressing the issue of homelessness in Portland.

OBJECTIVE:

• Making homeless people visible; raising awareness of the homeless situation and how to deal with it in a positive manner.

• The goal of my project is to produce a small boxed "kit" containing materials and information to be used by people to further their understanding of homelessness in downtown Portland, and to provide a few valuable resources to those currently living in that circumstance. Maps and other stowable foldout information pieces detailing a timeline of homeless issues, relevant socioeconomic statistics, available resources for Portland street living, and some solid personal accounts and recommendations from the people living this reality would be contained in a sturdy, weatherproof box/container of a carryable size and weight. Certain small staple survival supplies may also be contained within it.

The container would have two chambers/categories:

• LEARN : Information about local homeless statistics, history, psychological impact, current social/governmental efforts to manage the issue of homelessness. Maps, charts, small text-rich pieces with accompanying photos/illustrations. To be used by those curious about the problem, and those currently living on the street.

• USE : Rubber-meets-road information and materials detailing metro resources available to assist those experiencing homlessness. These would include lists and locations of shelters, food and hospitality centers, restrooms, social and medical services available from area agencies, transit access, current metro ordinances/rules applying to people using the street as their home, among others. Certain small staple survival supplies might also be stashed here. Current homeless individuals can skip right to this section, or those who have experienced the information provided in the LEARN portion of the package can put it to USE in this category.

RESEARCH/DATA COLLECTION:

• Being involved with the Listening Project Capstone gives me direct and regular contact with and access to the plentiful information resources of the MacDonald Center, a faith-based agency providing assistance to the homeless community in Old Town. I am readily able to interview countless volunteers and administrators, as well as homeless individuals themselves for relevant material to be compiled and presented throughout my project. An audit of graphics and info distribution methods used by other social assistance agencies will also be conducted and documented.

AUDIENCE:

• My targets are those curious wanting to learn more about and take action to alleviate homelessness in Portland, and those newly or currently experiencing homelessness. Polling members of the public and interviewing homeless individuals comprises their participation. Use of the materials and resources contained in the BlockBox is also participation-heavy (via games/exercises).

DELIVERABLES:

• A sturdy, weatherproof box containing:
• a waterproof map of downtown Portland
• several fold-out info pieces
• some small staple survival supplies (toothbrush, soap, etc)