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Project Dignity

serving the homeless with dignity, humility & love

Respond to help requests–All of them.

Return your phone calls and respond to your emails. All of them. This probably sounds like a no brainer. Of course you’re going to, right? Well, maybe not. Resist the inclination to respond only to the situations you can handle, but ignore the ones you can’t. Don’t look at it as “wasting your time” since you can’t help the person on the other end of the line anyway because, a) they don’t live in your area, b) you don’t offer the kind of help they need, 3) they need to call someone else, etc., etc.

Never, ever forget that every request you receive is from someone who desperately needs help. Whether you can give assistance or not is not the point. The point is that they’re human beings in need. Take a minute to at least call them back so they won’t be waiting and hoping for your call. Tell them gently and with respect that you can’t help. Don’t linger too long on the reasons or get into arguments. Someone may not live in a motel and want to know why you can’t help. They may live in another county and expect you to help anyway. They may not even be homeless, but may be on the verge of losing their home. No matter what, be kind and compassionate. It goes a long way.

If possible, have a referral or two ready for the services the person does need. The “211” system (a database of services available in the county, usually manned by a real live human being and is reached simply by dialing 211) is active in many counties and states.   Check to see if your area has it and use it as a referral if you do.

We received an email from a gentleman this morning who was in another county, but needed help. He acknowledged he wasn’t in Orange County, California, but could we give him a referral? He included a phone number with the email. We called him back and referred him to the 211 system. He thanked us profusely for the quick, personal call back. It gave him information he didn’t have and he felt a human connection during a time that is very frightening for him and his family.

Take the time to be kind. It costs you nothing. It’s priceless.

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October 1, 2014 /// Filed Under: All Tips /// Tagged With: heart, practical

What We Do

While we don’t feel anyone can ever fully understand the motel situation, we believe we understand it better than most. To our knowledge we are the only local organization who is focusing their services solely on the homeless population living in residential motels and we’ve been doing it since 1996.

It’s a long haul from homelessness to home, so our programs “wraparound” the challenges. Our first objective is to ease the burdens of daily living for our clients by assisting with necessities most of us take for granted–food, clothing and hygiene items.

Find out more →

More tips like this one

  • Back to School–For Children Only?
  • Sometimes, Rules have to be Broken
  • Know When to Say When
  • Be Flexible–Be Prepared
  • When is it Really an Emergency?

A tribute to our Founder

In 1986 doctors told Linda Dunlap she had 6 months to live and she told them the Lord knew more about that than they did. She said He had a lot more work for her to do. She proved herself and God right by living another 22 ministry-packed years.

Linda went into the motels singlehandedly with nothing more than her backpack and a few medical supplies. She won the confidence of people who had never had anyone care about them or help them before. Her belief and vision that one person can make a difference grew into 10,000 people being helped annually by Project Dignity.

Remembering Linda →

More tips like this one

  • Back to School–For Children Only?
  • Sometimes, Rules have to be Broken
  • Know When to Say When
  • Be Flexible–Be Prepared
  • When is it Really an Emergency?

Project Dignity

12913 Harbor Blvd., Ste. Q3, #253
Garden Grove, CA 92840

More tips like this one

  • Back to School–For Children Only?
  • Sometimes, Rules have to be Broken
  • Know When to Say When
  • Be Flexible–Be Prepared
  • When is it Really an Emergency?

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