Justice Through Project Home

     Project Home exemplifies working towards justice for the homeless. The program offers homeless men, women and children not only what the need to survive (charity), but what they deserve as human beings. In contrast to conventional soup kitchens and homeless shelters, the kind that seem to be most prevalent, Project Home provides its residents with transitional assistant, medical care, job opportunities, and educational opportunities. Operating such an expansive program such as Project Home must take great amounts of time, dedication, and money. Its aid is much more expansive than that of a traditional homeless shelters. 

     Additionally, Project Home incorporates advocacy into its work. Their ultimate goal, therefore, is not to put as many people through their program as possible, but rather to eliminate the need for Project Home altogether.  In other words, their advocacy work strives to end homelessness. In emphasizing the advocacy aspect of Project Home, the organization reminds us that homeless shelters and transitional organizations such as Project Home are not the ultimate solution. Establishing as many soup kitchens as possible should not be the goal towards which we work. Instead, Project Home should simply be a step along the road to eliminating homelessness altogether. While many of Project Home's programs are unique and essential, I think it is this advocacy work that is most important. In the fight against homelessness, I don't think people are aware of/contribute to the advocacy aspect enough. As we discussed, the majority of individuals will dole out mashed potatoes at a shelter and feel satisfied that they've done their part. And while it's wonderful that those homeless men, women  and children have a meal and a place to sleep that night, that is not ideal. Project Home's advocacy truly tries to end homelessness. Not just put a "band-aid" on it.