HelpCopsHelpUs: 8 months later a house becomes a home

Friday, July 13, 2012

8 months later a house becomes a home

Before photo of home when it was vacant and sitting in disrepair

Tampa -

By Steven L Donaldson

Back in December of 2011, an almost forgotten and vacant stock of a wooden structure remained dormant and unoccupied -- broken and blighted it was a distraction for the neighborhood.

Despite this imagery of unhandiness opportunity was lying in wait.

These before and after pictures not only illustrate the transformation of a house to a home -- but, it also proves the housing first model can transform someones life as well
.

The Home now less tha eight months later

Today, less than eight months later the home is a compliment to the neighborhood thanks to the sweat equity of its current occupant Albert Swiger who was given a second chance at reclaiming a former life.

On this follow-up check-in on a mid afternoon summer visit a freshly mulched planter bed frames the entrance of the homes wooden deck. The green grass is healthy and neatly trimmed and the Crape Myrtles are budding with clusters of crinkled red and white flowers.

Albert has spruced up the landscape and maintains the home

Albert has lived here since early December, has a girlfriend, and is working full time. A stark contrast from a year earlier flying a cardboard sign and living out of a storage locker on Hillsborough Ave.

He has a few people to thank like the homes owner, Greg Gingeleski, who took a chance on not only Albert but on the "Homes of Second Chances" rehousing model.

In August, Albert seemed proud to report, he will start paying Gingeleski market rent. Since, the rehousing model is not an entitlement program -- instead, its recipients get a hand-up at becoming self-sufficient once again with the hopes of one day getting their head above water and pulling their own weight.

And now, less than eight months later on this humid summer afternoon, it has become clear to me and many others that Albert has done just that.

Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Homeless Initiative
District III Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

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Welcome to Help Cops Help Us: A Homeless Initiative Blog

The Help Cops Help Us homeless initiative is a new problem-solving model centered on the root causes of homelessness. Its philosophy rests on the fundamental human principle that people, all people, will succumb to the human trait of inevitable behavior until intrigued or compelled to act differently.

The uniformed law enforcement officer is the epicenter of the street engagement model that uses a "coupling" technique, motivating each homeless candidate that becomes accountable to a singular and persistent mortal entity -- a street cop.

The coupling effect is a two-pronged approach where candidates who resist assistance and rehabilitation, by default will receive the law enforcement prong when behavior exhibits a callous disregard with laws and a communities desire in maintaining a certain quality of life.

The homeless candidate receives both direct and indirect assistance after a street assessment evaluates their individual needs and problems. We then solve their most basic problems so they may become self-sufficient.

We mend fences, rebuild character, solve their problems, then push them into the water where they are forced to learn how to swim again.

When they are off the streets and into housing we continue to monitor and follow-up until we are certain they have become self sufficient for long term sustainability.