DIGNITY BUS

The Source had one simple focus in creating the Dignity Bus; to provide a safe, temporary overnight accommodation for those sleeping rough in Indian River County. The aim was to get people off the street and keep them safe and healthy until they can get back on their feet. This overnight, mobile, emergency shelter on wheels, is the only one of its kind in the country.

According to the Housing Urban Development Report of 2021, there were nearly 553,000 people experiencing homelessness in the United States and more than one-third were in unsheltered locations such as on the street, in abandoned buildings, or in other places not suitable for human habitation.

FACT: Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being. Getting enough quality sleep can help protect a person’s mental and physical health, and ultimately their safety. For those sleeping rough, getting a good night’s sleep is virtually impossible and can contribute to long-term homelessness, low selfesteem, social isolation, and the exacerbation or development of specific mental health disorders including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder and raise the risk for some chronic health problems such as, diabetes, heart health, breathing problems, breast cancer, as well as contributing to a high risk of drug and alcohol abuse.

SOLUTION: DIGNITY BUS: A donated 45 foot tour bus was refitted with a custom-made interior and exterior, providing 20 secure, climate-controlled, individual sleep pods with a lockable door, under-bus storage, pet pods for companion animals, an onboard overnight security person, monitored CCTV surveillance and a free hot breakfast. One Dignity Bus provides 7,300 safe sleeps per year. Upon departure from the bus in the morning, clean-up and disinfecting of the sleeping pods prepares it for the use of a new group arriving for that night’s sleep.

A second converted 40 foot bus was welcomed in 2023 that sleeps 16 with all of the same amenities and offers 5,840 safe sleeps per year.

We are now producing buses on a national level.