Community Leadership – Homeless in the Austin Area, Essay Example

It is not easy to understand the need of the around 2000-strong (Front Steps, 2012) homeless community in the Austin area. Indeed, the easy solution would be to hand out donation and money for individuals. However, in order to understand the community, there is a need for an advanced leadership approach.

Recommendations and Solutions.

The team has determined that one of the most important needs of the homeless community in the Austin area is the organized delivery of hygiene kits, warm clothing and sleeping bags. This would improve individuals’ health, comfort and mental well-being at the same time. In order to successfully deliver the project, there is a need for on-site assessment, which would provide the community leadership with the idea of how many kits are needed, how they can be delivered, administered and if there is any extra need for particular items. Further, the community project development phase would also involve the assessment of need for fresh water within the community. Dehydration has several mental and physical health consequences, and it is important to determine which locations of homeless people are the most deprived of fresh water, hygiene products.

Working alongside local organizations for the homeless, such as Front Step, Foundation for the Homeless and the Salvation Army Austin would help the social workers and those involved in the project understand the needs of homeless people and translate these to numbers. Shelters in the area would also be contacted in order to gain support in the delivery of the kits. Further, shelter managers would be able to support the team with identifying individuals who refuse to go to the shelter overnight and advise them of their exact location. Next, the mobile health and hygiene care team would be organized to reach out to people needing support. (Post, 2007)

References

Front Steps. (2012) Facts about Homelessness in Austin. Web. Retrieved from http://www.frontsteps.org/how-to-help/advocate/facts-austin-homelessness

Post, P. (2007) Mobile Health Care for Homeless People: Using Vehicles to Extend Care. National Health Care for the Homeless Council May 2007 Retrieved from: http://www.nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mobilehealth.pdf