Grant Writing Executive Summary Exercise

I. Proposal Summary (Executive Summary)

The LEAP Task Force of Anytown, USA respectfully requests a grant of $400,000 for our PATH Programming Project. Serving a large community of individuals and families, PATH works to fulfill its mission by providing a transitional home with adequate facilities and training that provides autonomy and sustainability along with developing skills to thrive in society.

II. Organization Description and History

The LEAP Task Force was organized in Anytown, USA as a part of a city-wide task force implemented by the Mayor John Doe. LEAP was founded on the principles of aiding and assisting individuals in the community at risk of homelessness caused by unemployment, lack of housing, and poverty. LEAP developed the Program Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program in response to a community-wide campaign that has affected Anytown, USA for several years.

The LEAP Task Force has confronted this issue in the past and other local groups and governing bodies have addressed homelessness, as well, but LEAP believes a more coordinated effort with greater support will solve the issue. LEAP was established as a 501(c)(3) to directly confront the issues of the homeless population in communities around our nation. Our proposed PATH project will directly contribute to our mission of addressing Anytown’s needs.

III. Background

Anytown, USA has struggled with homelessness for several years and its effects have been amplified by the rise of poverty, changes in employment opportunities, and the loss of affordable housing. Statistics show that homelessness is on the rise in communities such as ours. PATH was developed to assist individuals and families who are facing this issue now and those at risk. PATH aids in the transition from homelessness to affordable housing and reduces the harmful impact on communities that homelessness creates.

Many individuals and families live in tents, cardboard boxes, reside under bridges and vacant, dilapidated buildings and sleep on park benches. Homelessness is a stigma that affects thousands of people across our great nation. Poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, addictions and mental health disorders, violence and abuse, or family and relationship issues are all causes of homelessness. Homelessness is unbearable, unsettling, and unstable for one never knows where the next bed might be (Smith, 2018, 1p).

Homeless people encounter many problems; for instance, becoming a victim of crime, facing mental health problems, and worst, shame. Homelessness affects so many lives over sundry states, preventing it requires strategic planning. People can become homeless when, for instance, women leave an abusive relationship, men are released from prison, soldiers returning from active duty, or when the elderly leave long-term care facilities. By stabilizing people through shelter, moving them into permanent housing, and implementing assistance programs such as PATH, homelessness can be reduced or eliminated.

In recent news, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand committed a $100 million emergency package to get individuals off the streets before winter and Los Angeles recently developed emergency measure for its 28,000 homeless to aid them in safe and supported housing (Smith, 2018). Smith (2018) adds that Social Housing Minister Pru Goward committed $1 billion over the next four years on homelessness programs.

IV. Project Description (Program Narrative)

Objective: In the first year, with constituents, PATH will raise awareness, provide training, and connect individuals with crucial resources.

Method:

§     Leap will hire a Center Director to facilitate training, outreach, and development.

§     The Administrative Assistant will coordinate with the Center Director and other executives and support the general clerical tasks

§     LEAP will hire an Accountant to execute and review automated and non-automated billing and assist in the process of A/R and A/P

§     LEAP will hire a Counselor to provide diagnosis and treatment for clients within the range of program services focusing on chemical dependency treatment

§     Medical Staff will be voluntary and free

Staff and Center Director will hold weekly meetings to report on progress and developments.

Anytown, USA has just enrolled 248 elementary school students into the new Elm Street Elementary School which leaves vacant the old facility that stands on North Main Street. LEAP has purchased this vacant school for the PATH Homeless Shelter. This purchase will save the city tremendously in expenses since the property and facility already have the desired elements needed to sustain a homeless shelter; for instance, a cafeteria, library, gymnasium, bathrooms, water system, electrical system, and overall building construction. In 2014, the average cost of school construction for an elementary school was $211.55 per square foot to build. Our nation spent more than $14 billion on construction projects that year alone (School Planning & Management, 2015).

The current facility on North Main Street will be utilized by LEAP for its PATH program. This program will begin on 02/01/2019 and will be finalized by 02/02/2021. The initial phase will be a construction and remodel phase wherein equipment maintenance will be performed, and the purchase of new equipment will be added if necessitated. LEAP plans to be as conservative in expenditures as possible. Also, in the initial phase will be the purchase of a retired school bus from the city. This purchase serves a three-fold purpose: (1) transporting staff and clients, (2) storage of supplies, and (3) community awareness events. Purchasing a bus for transportation to and from areas where homeless people congregate ad to use the back of the bus for storing backpacks containing non-perishable food items to be passed out to homeless individuals in the hopes of persuading them to return to the homeless shelter at PATH.

The second phase will be to hire and implement staff accordingly with a Center Director at the helm, followed by administrative assistant, night coordinator, accountant, counselor, medical staff, maintenance, and volunteers. During this second phase, the PATH program will be supported by the city’s maintenance employees. Volunteers of Fast-Paced Urgent Care will provide services for the medical clinic and volunteers will be allocated to janitorial and cooking services. Certified teachers of the city have volunteered their time as well to support individuals wanting to earn a GED or finish their high school diplomas.  Equipment will be purchased for the cafeteria needs in order to serve meals; therefore, government assistance will be allocated for this need.  PATH will utilize the old Kindergarten wing as a Daycare Facility for those individuals who have reached the transition phase and obtain employment who need assistance with daycare expenses. The playground area of the North Wing of the facility will be utilized for garden space. This will enable clients to learn to become self-sustaining and learn new skills. Bathroom and shower upgrades will be forthcoming.  The final phase will provide skills for transitioning from the PATH Shelter Program into affordable housing and assist individuals with resources for success.

LEAP’s mission continues to be guided by the principles of charity, hope, and love, as evidenced in our past major projects. If our PATH project program is not implemented, the homeless community in Anytown, USA is at risk of disservice for future generations.

V. Project Timeline/Budget Timeline

Example:

_§     Activity #1 (Remodeling Phase)

_ü     Purchase existing vacant elementary school by February 11, 2019

_ü     Start remodeling current structure with completion by February 17, 2019

_ü     Spend $108,000 for modernization and upgrades by March 20, 2019

_ü     Purchase transportation bus by February 17, 2019

_ü     Activity #2 (Hire Staff/Upgrades)

_ü        50% of hiring staff goal complete by February 15, 2019

_§     100% of hiring staff goal complete by May 11, 2019

_§     100% of equipment purchased by April 10, 2019

_§     Gymnasium upgrades completed by May 14, 2019

_§      Daycare facility goal completed by May 01, 2019

_§      Showers/bathroom upgrades completed by March 01, 2019

_§      Garden implementation complete by May 14, 2019

_§     Activity # 3 (Deliver Training Program)

_ü     First training enrollment to commence on June 01, 2019

_ü     Conduct one four-week training class per month beginning on the first of each month commencing August 1, 2011.

_ü     Spend $78000 on incentives for participants by December 30, 2019

VI. Budget

Expenditure	PATH Fund Request	Funds from other	Total
Category	request	sources
Salaries	$120,000	$65,000	$185,000
Equipment	$80,000	$28,000	$108,000
Education	$37,000	$41,000	$78,000
Utilities	$12,000	$13,000	$25,000
Transportation	$1,000	$3,000	$4,000
Totals	$250,000	150,000	$400,000

References

Smith, A. 2018. The unbearable plight of being homeless. Sidney Morning Herald. P13. Retrieved from https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA548967027&docType=Brief+article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZGIN&prodId=OVIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA548967027&searchId=R1&userGroupName=uphoenix&inPS=true