Next Steps - Love Bridges

Faith is being sure of what you hope for Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

The big picture for LoveBridge Communities is to be established as an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing transitional housing and vital resources for homeless and poor families and individuals that will support their journey to permanent housing, including job training, education, medical services and spiritual growth opportunities. We will accomplish this mission through partnering with established organizations, such as Friendly Church of God in Christ, Bread of Life Rescue Mission (Oceanside), and using tiny, portable houses that will serve as residences and community structures. Given the challenges of finding qualified applicants for HUD permanent housing, and the uncertainties of our political climate, we believe that LoveBridge Communities transitional housing can both fulfill the need to help homeless people get off the streets and also provide the means to put them on the path to a better life – which will benefit the community now and in the future.

Our vision for transitional housing is outlined below. We welcome your support.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Using city-owned property that can be zoned for RV use, we envision creating three communities: 1) LoveBridge Family Community, aimed at small families with children; 2) LoveBridge Couples Community for married couples; and 3) LoveBridge Individuals Community for single men and women. This will enable us to address the specific needs of each population, keep families together and minimize potential distractions while supporting common interests of community members. We would build 25 tiny, portable houses for each community, as well as (potentially) a multi-purpose structure that could serve as a community center for worship services, group education and entertainment. Each community would have bathrooms and showers. All structures would be solar-equipped and energy efficient. Some of the unique features of each community are listed below:

Family Community: This community could potentially include a playground and a common area for families to enjoy activities together and get to know one another.

Couples Community: The community pavilion in this community could be used for counseling, worship, fellowship and special events designed to provide encouragement and support for the unique challenges faced by married couples.

Individuals Community: This community would provide separate housing for men and women.

Preliminary drawings for each community that illustrate potential layouts and amenities will be developed prior to presenting our proposal to the city.

Tenant Eligibility

To ensure that our community members are good candidates to live in a communal environment, and that we are helping those truly in need, we would engage Bread of Life Rescue Mission to help us develop an application process and provide pre-entry screenings, such as drug testing, medical assessments (physical and mental) and background checks (if applicable).

Safety Concerns

To keep the communities safe from outside intruders, as well as internal potential violence and damage, each community would be staffed by a trained, resident manager who could respond to tenants’ needs (medical emergencies, lack of hot water, noise levels, etc.). It may also be prudent to install additional security measures, such as gating and video surveillance.

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

We will seek private funding to cover all costs associated with the project. Initial costs include the fees related to becoming a not-for-profit entity, creating a more extensive web presence to solicit donations, purchasing land from the city, securing the raw materials and developing the property for habitation. These fees would also include engaging qualified consultants and contractors to design and build the homes and community structures, and engaging other experts as necessary to bring the project to fruition and sustainability. We will rely on community partnerships to secure low- and no-cost resources, such as food, medical services and job training/skills assessment. We would also work with local agencies to provide for children’s needs, such as scholastic enrollment, placement and remedial education.

We have already received a commitment to participate from Bread of Life Rescue Mission and – as a not-for-profit organization – and would be able to join The Alliance for Regional Change North County and other alliances to help fulfill our mission. The upgraded website, which will include a strong donation mechanism, and that can be linked to our partners’ websites to increase visibility and broaden our reach. We would also undertake strategic marketing efforts, such as SEO-optimization and social media engagement, to garner attention and support for the project.

This is only the beginning of the story. Through your donation, you can be a part of it and help those in need.