Project HOME

Name of Agency Project H.O.M.E.

Fellow's Job Title Sustainable Development Fellow

Proposed Project Goal for the Fellowship

The overarching goal of the Philly Fellow’s year will be the completion and implementation of an Environmental Sustainability Plan. This should be a living document that will outline new techniques and programs to guide Project H.O.M.E.’s move toward becoming a more “GREEN” (Garnering Real Energy Efficiencies Now) organization. The goal of this plan will be to improve Project H.O.M.E.’s environmental impact and resource efficiency by creating community-supported, sustainable programs that will revitalize the neighborhoods in which we work.

Agency Information

Address 1515 Fairmount Avenue

Website www.projecthome.org

Number of Staff 248

Agency Mission The mission of the Project H.O.M.E. community is to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. We strive to create a safe and respectful environment where we support each other in our struggles for self-esteem, recovery, and the confidence to move toward self-actualization. Project H.O.M.E. achieves its mission through a continuum of care comprised of street outreach, a range of supportive housing, and comprehensive services. We address the root causes of homelessness through neighborhood-based affordable housing, economic development, and environmental enhancement programs, as well as through providing access to employment opportunities; adult and youth education; and health care. Project H.O.M.E. is committed to social and political advocacy. An integral part of our work is education about the realities of homelessness and poverty and vigorous advocacy on behalf of and with homeless and low-income persons for more just and humane public policies. Project H.O.M.E. is committed to nurturing a spirit of community among persons from all walks of life, all of whom have a role to play in making this a more just and compassionate society.

Job Description

The Fellow’s Duties and Responsibilities

1) Researching best practices in energy efficiency and sustainability 2) Working with the Director of Facilities and Sustainability to develop strategies for applying best practices to the mission and work of Project H.O.M.E. 3) Identifying and fostering community partnerships for tree planting, greening and urban gardening at Project H.O.M.E. residences and in the St. Elizabeth’s/Diamond Street neighborhood 4) Creating and implementing a curriculum to engage Project H.O.M.E. residents and program participants in local, healthy food production and consumption 5) Working with Employment Services to identify funding sources for work opportunities in the GREEN (Garnering Real Energy Efficiencies Now) economy 6) Maximizing potential government and private funding sources to create a more green neighborhood and organization 7) Organizing all meetings related to the Environmental Sustainability Plan (collecting agenda items, organizing transportation for residents, ordering food) 8) Taking ownership and ensuring the planning process remains on schedule 9) Helping to establish measurements, matrices, and dashboards to evaluate the Environmental Sustainability Plan’s implementation

The Skills/Qualifications a Fellow Should Have to Succeed in This Position

1) Strong verbal and written communication skills 2) Ability to respectfully interact with people from all walks of life, including formerly homeless men and women, staff, volunteers, and board members 3) Good project management and organizational skills 4) Excellent attention to detail 5) Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Access and Word) 6) Ability to work independently and as part of a team 7) Interest in understanding renewable energy technology

Community Need

The Community Need the Fellow Will Address

Project H.O.M.E. seeks to end homelessness by addressing its many causes: lack of affordable and supportive housing, opportunities for employment, medical care, and education. Over the course of Fiscal Year 2010, 508 unduplicated adults and children lived in Project H.O.M.E. residences, and our Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs served 963 adults and approximately 200 students in the St. Elizabeth’s/Diamond Street neighborhood. Careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us has been essential our work thus far; and in the midst of rapid innovations in green technology, environmental sustainability will be critical to maintaining efficiency in the provision of these services. The Philly Fellow will be responsible for creating an integrated plan for Project H.O.M.E.’s investment in resource efficiency and environmentally responsible community development. As this Environmental Sustainability Plan will heavily inform all facets of Project H.O.M.E. operations, it is our vision that the Philly Fellow’s work not only will impact our 508 residents and nearly 1,200 program participants, but also will enable the expansion of the Project H.O.M.E. community through continued outreach and additional programming.

How the Agency Addresses This Need, and How the New Capacity Created by This Fellow Will Help Alleviate the Problem

Project H.O.M.E. attempts to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty not only through provision of direct services, but also through solutions intended to address the underlying causes of poverty. In North Central Philadelphia, Project H.O.M.E. attacks systemic poverty and engages the community through efforts at neighborhood revitalization and redevelopment. In the St. Elizabeth’s/Diamond Street neighborhood, Project H.O.M.E. has renovated and sold 43 homes to first time homebuyers and created a community resource for education and access to technology at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs. However, the impacts of poverty are still visible in the physical landscape of much of the community. By creating institutional partnerships to clean and garden the vacant land in this area, the Philly Fellow will have the opportunity to decrease blight and abandonment, while simultaneously bringing fresh produce to the neighborhood and teaching students and residents about the holistic networks between healthy eating and local food production. The Fellow will be responsible for instituting these programs and planning for their sustainability in the long-term, particularly after his or her fellowship year is over. Moreover, the cost savings associated with other aspects of the Environmental Sustainability Plan, such as new technologies and more efficient operations, will build capacity by maximizing resources in the long-term.

The Level of Community Involvement in the Fellow’s Project

The process of creating an Environmental Sustainability Plan will involve engaging and communicating with a wide cross-section of the Project H.O.M.E. community. The Philly Fellow will be responsible for gauging the interests of community members and program participants, and he or she will use these ideas to design programs that incorporate the values of environmental sustainability with the wishes of the community. Once the Plan is formed, the Fellow will also engage Project H.O.M.E. staff, program participants and other community partners in its implementation. This may involve presenting the Plan’s strategies, coordinating meetings to facilitate new programs and measuring outcomes. Ultimately, the Philly Fellow will play an integral role in the creation of a living document that guides the organization.

Work Environment

The Agency’s Plan for Training and Orientation

Project H.O.M.E. has a training plan for all staff, which includes a new hire orientation session as well as other optional trainings in: information technology resources, computer software, accounting practices, anti-stigma, addictions information, poverty and social justice issues, first aid and CPR, and universal precautions. The Fellow could also take advantage of other trainings offered by external training providers, and Project H.O.M.E. will cover the cost of training that is related to the work of the Fellow. The Fellow will also be given the opportunity to shadow Project H.O.M.E.’s Outreach Coordination Center response teams and Education and Advocacy staff to develop a sense of the culture and history of the organization. Lastly, in addition to orientation and the trainings, the supervisor will introduce the Fellow to key staff that he or she will be working with and give the Fellow a tour of several Project H.O.M.E. sites.

Name and Title of Fellow’s Immediate Supervisor

Chris Bobbitt, Director of Facilities & Sustainability

Plans for Supervision of the Fellow

The supervisor will meet with the Fellow weekly at the start of the fellowship and will reassess the frequency of meetings based on the needs of the Fellow and the work flow. In addition, the supervisor will be available to support the Fellow via phone, email, and impromptu face to face meetings. The supervisor will provide feedback to the Fellow on his or her performance at regular intervals.

Will Fellow Be Working at the Same Address Listed Above?

No (please list alternate work site below) 1929 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Will the Fellow Have Their Own…

Office? Fellow will share

Desk? Fellow will have their own

Computer? Fellow will have their own

Approximate Percentage of Time the Fellow Will Work….

Independently 40%

As a Team Member in a Group Setting 40%

As a Team Leader in a Group Setting 20%

Will the Fellow Be Expected to Travel for the Position?

Yes

If So, How Often and Where?

The Fellow will travel to other Project H.O.M.E. sites and out of office meetings within Philadelphia. This will occur as necessary, but likely on a weekly basis.

Will the Fellow Need the Following…

A Driver’s License? Yes

Their Own Car? No