Theoretically, this program will also allow us to begin with specific areas in the city of Detroit, rebuilding these area’s by renovating homes and placing occupants inside of these homes.  One criteria for residing in one of the DOF transitional homes will be your obligation to maintain and sustain the upkeep of that home in the condition in which you moved in.

The people who will benefit most from the HSI program are homeless families, veterans, youth and individuals who are currently living on the streets or in overcrowded shelters.  By participating in this initiative, we offer these individuals the opportunity to regain a life of self-sufficiency, thus again alleviating the possibility of reoccurring homelessness.  DO Foundation aims to rid our nation of homelessness and unoccupied housing units by not just putting a bandage on the issue but finding a cure and ultimately eliminating it.

The HSI program has plans to continue throughout the remainder of the year, well into 2013.  Our goal is to take ownership of many of the abandoned homes in and around Detroit, revitalize these homes and move homeless families and/or individuals into all of these homes for a low monthly fee.  The small fee provides DOF the ability to sustain the upkeep and utilities on each home, as well as provide us with the ability to employ and continue our daily efforts in alleviating homelessness, not just in the Detroit area, but across the country and around the world.

Donations for this project are for the purpose of expenses related to the revitalization of these homes, such as: lumber, electrical material, plumbing, paint, landscaping materials, household furnishings, appliances and more.  Each HSI home will be fully furnished with ALL utilities included in the price of your low monthly rent for up to 2 years.  Each home will be named after the person that has donated the home to us. Our latest home, located on Detroit’s west side will be named the “STINSON” transitional home, named after the donors of that property.  Any home that DOF purchases at a very low price will be named after the organization and/or corporation that aides us in revitalizing that home, example:  BCO Media either donates the material, the manpower, the service and/or the financial assistance to revitalize one of our purchased homes, that home will be named “BCO Media transitional home”.

We have and will continue to reach out to other like minded organizations that provide family planning, job training, financial planning and more, to assist us in developing or redeveloping the mindset of those participating in DOF’s HSI program.These organizations include: Ways To Family Self Sufficiency, PUUMA (a job training organization), 12 Steppers, Fred’s Furniture Outlet, Home Depot and more.

To learn more about this program as it progresses do not hesitate to contact Kelly Adolph – Co-Founder/CEO of DO Foundation at kelly@dofounation.net or any of DO Foundation’s prestigious Board of Directors: Brian O’Neal(President), Nicole Lancaster, Paul Hugues, Romel Alexander, Ernestine Venable, Kelly Adolph, D’Andre Ford or Carlos O’Banion.

You can also keep an eye out for updates by joining our mailing list, visiting www.dofoundation.net often or following us on one our our social media networks.

If you would like to support this initiative, either by volunteering or providing resources such as: plumbing, electrical repair, roofing and more, contact India Tuggle at india@dofoundation.net or Kafi Mack at kafi@dofoundation.net.

To make a monetary donation, you can do so online at www.dofoundation.net/donate or mail your check or money order to 18820 Woodward Avenue, Suite 101, Detroit, MI  48203.

Please call us anytime for more information at 313-893-1630.

Today I spent roughly 15 hours picking up furniture, appliances, clothing and household items donated by few very caring people around town. Carlos O’Banion and myself busted knuckles, went without eating most of the day, sweat, strained, and did roughly a few hundred miles in my truck. Why? Because we knew of a family of four little girls and their mom that had absolutely NOTHING but an empty home. When I say empty I mean NOTHING. Just a roof, floors & walls.  THATS IT!!!

We dropped the last load of items to them around 1am this morning. When I peeked in on the four little girls sleeping on a hardwood floor with just a sheet (no cushion underneath them) all curled up together I almost lost my composure. When I asked their mother if they were eating she hesitated, opened the fridge and told me she bought lunch meat and bread a few days ago. Those were the ONLY things. Thats all they had. I later found out its been a few weeks like that (no food). A FEW WEEKS OF BARELY EATING. FOUR LITTLE GIRLS AND ONE MOTHER. I asked the mother what were they going to eat when they wake tomorrow morning while they go through all the boxes and bags of clothes and toys we brought them. She looked away with her head down. My question was answered. (It took everything in me not show the pain I felt at that moment.)

If you know me then you know I have to help this situation. Forget the furniture and household items for a moment. Four little girls that I saw in person sleeping on a bare hardwood floor not eating is unexceptable.

I’m calling all of you – any of you – to action. You can donate $1. You can donate $100. Any amount you donate IS GOING DIRECTLY INTO THIS FAMILY’S REFRIGERATOR, FREEZER AND CUPBOARDS. I will personally go to the local grocery wholesaler (ie: Costco) and purchase the items and take them to the family.

If you’re in the Detroit area you can bring food items to our office. You can mail food cards, gift certificates, coupons or items. Any and everything HELPS!!! (there are many families we know that need help right here – not in Africa)

Donate online: http://www.dofoundation.net

or

Mail items or donations to:

DO Foundation

18820 Woodward Ave

Detroit, MI 48203

I ask all of you with a heart to please take action with me – with DO Foundation. I will SHOW you where your donation goes via photo and/or video testimony of the recipient(s).

The mission continues!

-DO Foundation

My jaw hit the ground. First thing I thought was “We have to start ALL OVER…” That was the worst feeling in the world thinking everything you’ve worked sooooo hard to obtain (building, office furniture, donated items, computers, projectors, phones, etc) were all STOLEN. It took a moment to calm my thoughts and just get in the car. I immediately had Kelly Adolph call/text Carlos O’Banion to get to the office asap since he lives only a few miles away. Kelly and I discussed all possible scenarios (the bad ones) – Everything gone. Computer system gone. Fire or water damage. Client files damaged. We decided to not discuss it any more during the 30 min drive. Instead I thought “bigger and better things are going to come of this somehow – no matter whats missing or damaged”.

We arrived to a scene that didnt look all that bad. A broken window on the front door. All doors are barred except for our front door. Its a steel door with a 12″x12″ security window in it (these windows can be broken but you cant crawl through the space). A crowbar was used instead to pry the doorknob guard. Blood was smeared everywhere from smashing the glass. Kelly, Carlos and myself did a walk through. I went directly to the most valuable items in the office to find that they were still there. Untouched. Kelly noticed that only certain items were missing while Carlos had already taken an inventory before we arrived. Most all of the supplies we give to our homeless clientele was missing along with a non-working laptop and an inoperable DVD player. The refrigerator had been raided. My toolbox was missing.

So far, so good.

This told me a few things:

The burglar was on foot (no vehicle).
It was one person.
They couldn’t carry the large items (tv’s, computers, copiers, etc)
Valuable (small items) were either overlooked or unwanted.
The person was injured from breaking the glass, leaving blood everywhere he went in the office.

The first thing that came to our minds was one particular individual we dealt with a few days prior. One of our clients. We didnt want to think it was him, so we decided to trace over everything one more time. We thought of every client that had gone pass a certain point in our office (usually no one is allowed beyond the intake/assessment and case management office located midway through the building). Things missing were mosty from the rear of the offices where this particular client had gone in the past few days.

Fox2 Detroit News channel shows up to interview us.

Click link below to see video :
DO Foundation Burglarized – Fox2 News
or goto ==> www.youtube.com/thedofoundation

About our (my) suspect:

Last Thursday while standing outside of the office (soaking up some sun since our AC keeps it chilly in thee office) a gentleman pushing a cart approaches. He looks at our sign and asks “What do you guys do here?”. I said we help people. Homeless people. Anyone that needs help.He chuckled and pointed to his cart and said “Well man. I’m homeless”. He smiled. I told him “its both our lucky day…” and invited him in. We talked for a bit in the lobby then I introduced him to many people since this particular day we had about 70 people in the office (all volunteers preparing for our homeless outreach for the weekend). He was given a small office tour. He then informed me that the things in his cart was his job. Car cleaning supplies. He made it a point to let everyone know he’s homeless but doesnt beg for money. Instead, he WORKS for his money. He washed 6 cars in our parking lot that day. He told us its the most money he’s made in one day in a many months of being homeless. He was sincere. Cordial. Had a sense of humor and a very hard worker. After paying him I asked when was the last time he had eaten. 3 days since his last “real” meal. So, Carlos and I took him to McDonalds (his choice). He kept saying God must be looking out for him to put him in the path of DO Foundation. I asked what else we could do for him and he asked if we’d buy him more car cleaning supplies. We did. Drove him there. Let him do the shopping. We covered the bill. He was a happy man. He asked to be dropped off in the park where he could make more money washing cars for the holiday. That was the last we seen of him.

I’m sure we will see him again in our office. If he is the burglar I plan on NOT pressing charges. Why? Because during our car drive he opened up to us. He mentioned how hard life has been for him. He made a statement similar to “I’m a human being and sometimes I have to do things I’m not proud of just to survive…” Because of that statement I’ve decided this is the kind of person that doesnt belong in jail. I UNDERSTAND IT. He lives in an abandoned house and owns nothing more than the items in his cart.

It does break my heart a bit knowing of all the places you can rob it was us – DO Foundation – a place thats in business to help ALL PEOPLE. That saddens me. I hope to see him again. Talk with him. Try to understand more.

Our mission continues.

-Brian

Meet Roger. Roger is homeless. He wanders the streets near my office. He squats in an abandoned house just behind our offices (if you saw a picture of this house you’d be upset, angry and sad all at once). There are no windows. No doors. No lights or running water. Half of it is boarded up. The other half is severly burned.

Roger is complacent. He’s ok, or seems to be, with being without a home. He has no immediate family. No friends. Roger panhandles at the gas station next to our office. He only asks for a couple of dollars a day for food. There is a McDonalds across from the gas station that he sometimes goes to for food because there is a cashier there with a big heart that gives him extra food whenever he purchases anything.

I met Roger one day while he was walking by the office. I said hello. He barely responded (probably because I was wearing a business suit standing in front of the office admiring our accomplishment on obtaining a building). His pace didnt slow as he slightly looked my way and mumbled a hello back to me. After taking a dozen more steps he stopped, turned around, and asked “what is this place?”. My first reaction was a smile and my first thought was “man, I’m so happy you stopped and asked me that. This is both our lucky day!”

He was surprised and puzzled to find out that we (DO Foundation) was in existance to help people just like him. He asked a few more non-related questions then without me answering any of his yet asked me for a dollar. This was one of the rare times I said no. Instead I offered to buy him anything he wanted. I invited him into the office (which wasnt completely setup at the time). He declined and said he only wanted enough money to get food and buy a single cigarette. I told him that we’re always here and he can stop in anytime he wanted. I wasnt quite sure I should’ve said that but rolling with my gut I insisted he made it a priority to come see me again. “Ok. My name is Brian. Next time I see you I want you to come in so we can talk. We want to help you with whatever you need no matter what it is”. Seems I had to say something to get him to promise me to return. He said “I’ll come back. My name is Roger”.

A few days later Roger shows up in the lobby. I had that feeling of being given a big chance to prove myself to someone. Probably because from the looks of Roger (worn, tired, desparate) I knew he’d be a challange (and our first in-office client).

We talked. He told me his situation. Nothing I havent heard before expect that he didnt want housing. He was ok where he was and has no interest in getting off the streets. I found out that reason much later in our relationship. His only challange and concern was eating everyday. Nothing else.

I handed Roger $5 then asked for it back. “I wanna do something better” I said. He looked puzzled and said “Ok”. I grabbed my jacket and we hopped in my car. As we drove I told him we’re going to eat whatever he wants then we’ll go to a store and get whatever he wants. For some of you my actions may sound a little dangerous – not knowing Roger that well, where’s he’s been or if he’s connected to drugs, crime etc…

It was in the car when Roger began looking at me and saying things like “There really is a God. I cant beleive you’re helping someone like me man. People usually dont even look at me or cuss me out or chase me away. You must be a really good man. Thank you my brotha”. Roger had just FED MY SOUL with those statements. He confirmed why I do what I do and why its soooo important to acknowledge, talk and listen to people that are homeless on the streets – no matter what condition they’re in. Little did he know I felt love for him before he made any of those statements. He’s a human being.

After our little shopping spree we returned to the office and Roger thanked me again before strolling off into the dilapedated neighborhood behind our offices.

Roger has become my friend now. He’s now friends with all of our staff and volunteers at the office. He comes in every few days to have coffee with us and to ask us all for change (its a habit for him). Since then one of our office volunteers compiled a list of all the soup kitchens and food banks in the area (none are in walking distance). I now purchase monthly bus cards for Roger to get to these places where he eats 2 healthy meals a day (thanks to those who donate $ to us we’re able to purchase his bus cards every month). Roger is happy.

A week ago Roger stumbles into the office (he always asks for me even though the girls in office greet him with smiles & open arms). We sat in our lobby as he began to break down in tears. The only family he was close to was his 6 yr old niece (someone he’s never mentioned but says a few times a month he sneaks up to a local park to play with her.) He said “She calls me uncle Rog and now she’s passed away from an illness from birth…”. MY HEART SANK as I looked at a HOMELESS MAN WITH A BROKEN HEART. He confessed that his neice was the only reason why he hadnt give up all together on his life years ago. The emotions became so much for me that I called our case manager Michelle Brown- King and director Kelly Adolph in with me. We encouraged Roger to be as strong as possible since he started making statements of not wanting to live any more. I asked him if he was going to attend her funeral services and he said “I dont know if I should. Look at me man.”. I told him we would get him all fixed up and take him to the services. Shower, shave, haircut, new suit, real shoes, etc (things he hasnt had in many years).

Today is that day for Rogers make-over. Services are Saturday, July 2, 2011. DO Foundation may not get Roger housed (he doesnt want that) but we have helped to mend his broken heart.

The photos below are by Carlos O’Banion (DO Foundation staff) was taken the day he gave us the news about his neice. The picture explains it all. I’ll be sure to post a picture of Rogers transformation after he’s all cleaned up. Our goal is to keep this man happy even if he insists on living on the streets. He had lunch with us yesterday and actually laughed and joked. He requested we put cartoons on the tv for him while eating. I saw his heart smiling!!!

ps: When you donate to DO Foundation your monies go DIRECTLY to us helping people like Roger. I cant stress that enough. When I or a staffer from DO Foundation posts anything about donations or fundraisers its all to raise money to help the many Rogers of the world. Donating $ and/or simply spreading our links really does help.

Our mission continues!

-Brian

I had a chance to sit and talk with him for a few hours. He loves to talk to anyone that listens. At first glance one would think Joe was crazy or

mentally disturbed. Nope!!! This man is very smart and what I call “street savvy”. His story was similar to many other stories I’ve heard from homeless people except for what he does to make money to survive. He helps other people in the Midtown area. Directions, parking information, personal security, escorts people/luggage to their hotel, advises tourist where to eat & shop (whats good, whats bad, whats open all night, how far it is, etc). He even knows the exact taxi fares to most locations from that area. He’s a wealth of information if you’re in the area for anything.

Joe carries some kind of credentials around his neck (I couldnt tell what it says) but it looked valid. His appearance is somewhat weathered and a bit dirty to the average person. As far as I’m concerned he was put together pretty well for a man that sleeps wherever he can every night with not much access to showers or laundry facilities. He’s a very polite elderly black man that greets everyone that walks within 20 feet of him.

I watched Joe in action a few nights this week. Amazingly he DOES NOT ask anyone for money. He does something for you and doesnt hold out his hand nor ask for anything. If someone gives he accepts. Because of his demeanor I’ve noticed most people give him cash or food. When I asked how well he does in a day he told me this: “I make tons of money when the white people come in the area for a concert. Black people lie to me all the time. Black people dont help me. White people usually always give me money and usually a nice chunk of it. White people have offered me rides, hotel rooms, blankets, backpacks, etc. I dont deal with the Blacks. My people always say they’re going to help me out or they say they spent too much money in the theater/concert and all out of cash now.” I was surprised to hear all of this. Why would color matter? Something I wanna look into/research later. It could be social or financial status or some deep rooted cultural (black) thing I’ve heard about (something to discuss in a different blog/note another day).

There has to be more to his story. We were interrupted by my having to attend soundcheck this afternoon. I promised Joe we’d finish our conversation later today or after the concert. He said he’s not going anywhere and looks forward to finishing. If I miss him I can find him on the local train system sleeping (which he does almost every night after theres no one else on the streets he could assist or possibly make money from). In other words – when all the white people go to sleep so does he.

-B

UPDATE:

Joe doesnt know this yet but I’m going to offer him a hotel room tonight. I have the feeling he’ll decline that offer. If so, then I intend on shadowing him all night. That includes sleeping on the train for the night. (my staff will probably try to talk me out of it). Something I gotta do.

UPDATE 3:02 AM:

I just walked all over midtown looking for Joe. Nowhere to be found. How depressing. I’ve been here 5 days and Joe has been at the same intersection at the same times the entire week – except tonight – the night I want to give him a hotel room. This is the worse feeling. I promised him a room or to stay with him this night

UPDATE 7:27 AM: (posted 5:39pm 3/14/11)

I found Joe the next morning in his usual spot. Actually he saw me leaving the hotel and approaching the tour bus. What a relief it was to see him. I almost dropped my coffee trying to reach him to explain my absence the night before. Before I could say more than ‘hey Joe man – I missed you’ he went on to tell me he got lucky last night. A woman around his age (and Caucasian he says) picked him for sex. Then he changed the word “sex” to “date” and grinned and winked at me.

I was so relieved to hear that. I thought he gave up on me or thought I gave up on him and was upset with me for not finding him (or as he says “black people lie to him and never help”). Joe was all smiles and in a very good mood. At that point I told him who I am and what I do (DO Foundation). His eyes perked up in surprise as though he wanted to say “so that explains all the attention I’ve gotten from you”. I gave him my DO Foundation business card and told him to call us anytime @ (855) 9-DOHELP. He was also told when we open an office in Atlanta I want to give him a job. He said “make it happen my friend”.

Joe’s last words to me as I got on my tour bus: “Whats the greatest nation in the world?”. I shrugged cuz I knew his answer wasnt USA. He says “DO Nation” (as in donation). I asked him “permission to use that?” as I handed him the last bills I had in my pocket. He nodded.

-Administrator / DO Foundation