We are aware that homelessness is a problem.  It is a problem for the homeless individuals. It is a problem for their family and friends.  It is a problem for society. And, it is not a simple problem.

 

A large segment of the homeless want to work, yet they lack employment or they lack adequate pay.  In essence, the problem is poverty.

 

Poverty is a result of ineffective behaviors.  Effectiveness is the degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result.  Or as Stephen Covey puts it, the essence of effectiveness is that you get the results you want today in a such a way that you get even better results in the future.  Ineffective behaviors don’t produce the desired results, the produce ineffective employment, ineffective pay and ineffective career paths.

 

Effective behavior solutions to poverty begin with shelter as an essential first step, then behaviors around education, family formation and work.  Effective education is built around life skills, trade skills and/or professional skills. Effective family formation is built around effective relationships at home and at work.  Effective work is built around skills, abilities and attitudes.

 

Our purpose is to conduct a pilot program in collaboration with Colorado Homeless Families.  Conducting a reproducible program where CHF provides the shelter while we provide their population training in effective behaviors to strengthen their capabilities in education, family formation and work.  Effectiveness is transformational for both personal and professional lives. If you begin with principles of change, changing ineffective habits to effective habits, effectiveness will enhance everything else done to overcome poverty.

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It  is obvious that ending homelessness benefits all society. Yet, the goal to end homelessness is more than that. It is motivated by compassion and empathy, because we are not as different from the homeless as we might think[P7] .  Brene Brown writes; “We are ‘those people.’ The truth is… we are the others.  Most of us are only one paycheck, one divorce, one drug-addicted kid, one mental health diagnosis, one serious illness, one sexual assault, one drinking binge, one night of unprotected sex, or one affair away from being ‘those people’...”  “Those people” are disadvantaged, minimalized and impoverished. “Those people” have eternal value, value to themselves, their families and their communities. “Those People” are often in their resultant circumstances because of ineffective behaviors, ineffective paradigms, practices and habits which have led to poor choices and bad results.  “Those people” do not have access to the best, if any, resources for lasting change to effective behavior. FranklinCovey is the world leader in helping organizations and people achieve results that require lasting changes in human behavior.

 

We provide access to FranklinCovey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People training to “Those people,” N.Able-ing them to realize their value to themselves, their families and their communities.