1. Project S.U.N
(Speak up Now)
“IMAGINE Paper”
By: Joi Brown

2. Problems
• In a “needs based” assessment report done by
Olga Acosta and Paul Tora (2000) it was reported
that physical safety, education, and
transportation were more important or just as
important to those homeless as was housing.
• Low income or No income
• Chemical Dependency (medicinal or recreational)
• Mental Health illness
• There is a stigma attached to Social Welfare
• Client expressed feelings of hopelessness

3. Some Facts
Total Number of Homeless Person in Nassau
county : 891 (including men, women & children)
Mentally ill: 361 Substance Abusers: 372
Total Number of Homeless Persons in Suffolk
County: 2,468 (including men, women &
children)
Mentally ill: 1,065 Substance Abusers: 1,090

4. Mission Statement
• To promote Mutual Aid and support in a group
setting to the homeless population facing
adversities in Nassau County. To enhance the
quality of life by presenting life skills to move
towards independent living.

5. Initial Goals
• Provide Educational services (job training,
budgeting, rights)
• Referral to services available (soup kitchens,
thrift stores, library, public benefits)
• Promote Safety in the shelter
• Promote mutual aid and support
• Advocate for transportation

6. Modified Goals
• Promote mutual aid and support
• Advocate
• Social Action

7. Action System(Support)
• The change agent (Me )
• Field Supervisor (Teri)
• Room Coordinator (Barbra)
• Emergency Housing Case Manager (Christine)

8. Implementation
• Project S.U.N is a 5 week program run on site
in a private room at Nassau DSS to a group of
clients once a week for an hour (11:00-12:00)
• Clients were recruited using convenience
sampling ( those clients who came in
frequently around 11:00 am) and consisted of
both male and female from various ages and
ethnicities