Homeless Helping Homeless, Inc.

Homeless Helping Homeless, Inc. (HHH) Homeless Helping Homeless, Inc. (HHH), is an emergency shelter provider in Tampa, FL. HHH's mission is to provide shelter to anyone in a distressed situation at the following six facilities: Battered Women, Wom...

Homeless Helping Homeless, Inc. (HHH) Homeless Helping Homeless, Inc. (HHH), is an emergency shelter provider in Tampa, FL. HHH's mission is to provide shelter to anyone in a distressed situation at the following six facilities: Battered Women, Women and Children, two facilities for Men and two six-month Transitional Shelters for Men. In August 2007, the Founder, Adolphus Parker, had a counterintuitive idea -- homeless people helping other homeless individuals by operating an emergency shelter. Out of this concept, emerged HHH, which became an official nonprofit organization in 2009. The emergency shelter has grown from 25 to 89 beds and is operated and controlled by former and current clients. Since 2009, HHH has provided the following additional services to the homeless community in Hillsborough County without any government support or large financial donors: • Provides employment • Feeds approximately 3,000 individuals/month • Provides hygiene kits • Free laundry facility • Showers to non-residents • Free phone/fax/internet to the homeless community, and; • Storage units. The HHH Birth Certificate Program provides funds for homeless individuals to obtain birth certificates. It is vital for homeless individuals to have a state ID in order to obtain employment or benefits from the City of Tampa, (i.e., Food Stamps, Hillsborough County Health Insurance, etc.). The following organizations made contributions/grants to HHH: HHH received an Allegany Franciscan Ministries VP Development Grant (Capacity Building Grant) for $20,000. During the year long grant period, HHH created a Strategic Plan, a COOP plan (Continuity of Operations) and a Board Manual. In tandem, staff took several classes at the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay and two process sessions at Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College to fine-hone Board, financial and organizational infrastructure. HHH received a grant from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay for $7,500 for the HHH Employment/Bus Pass Project. The goal of the project is to assist both HHH Emergency Shelter and Transitional Residents with transportation to keep verifiable medical, employment search, and job interview appointments. In conclusion, HHH's vision is to shift the paradigm, which is the mindset of society in regard to homeless individuals that they are unreliable, unproductive, etc. At HHH, the homeless literally help the homeless on a day-to-day basis, which underscores the organization's tagline: Empowerment at its core.