Recently I learned about other ideas for social enterprises
that LMM is considering (one of which I talked to a homeless man in a
wheel chair who was pre-med at case about - even though I heard about the idea after LMM was
already considering it, it gives credence to my work) such as an urban farm
project and a project to remodel foreclosed houses. Through these initiatives, men at the shelter
could use their skills to cultivate a patch of land near the Kirtland Pumping Station
in Cleveland or fix the walls, light fixtures, and plumbing in one of the many
abandoned houses in Cleveland. In both
cases (one literally) the homeless with be able to benefit from the fruit of
their labor. While they are working, one
of the incentives is a bus pass for the residents (Valued about 70 dollars) to
ride in the city of Cleveland, a luxury that many cannot afford. Also, at the end of the growing season or
when the house is complete, both the shelter and the homeless who worked on the
projects will benefit. In
this way, the cycle can continue in the following year with more farming and another
foreclosed house.
I've always heard that transportation issues are keeping lower income Clevelanders from being productive. it's good to hear that someone has noticed that issue. Distances are just too far for people to move around, and if there is a job vacuum, then people become stuck. The farming thing is also a great idea. It's been how we survived for so long. Hopefully, the urban farm will have enough return on the investment to sustain a population.
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