The Palm Bay Dignity Bus

PALM BAY, FLORIDA

An Overnight Emergency Shelter On Wheels 1015 Commerce Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960 • 772-564-0202 www.iamthesource.org or www.facebook.com/thesourcevb The Source is proud to partner with the City of Palm Bay, FL and St. Vincent de Paul of St. Joseph’s Parish 2824 Palm Bay Road, N.E. Palm Bay, FL 32905 • 321-768-7882

Sleep Changes On a single night in 2019, roughly 553,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States. Nearly 60% were staying in sheltered locations - emergency shelters or transitional housing programs - and more than 40% were in unsheltered locations such as on the street, in abandoned buildings, or in other places not suitable for human habitation, such as vehicles.

To be honest, no one on the street gets a good night’s sleep. Even us, with a roof over our head and sleeping on a queen sized bed with an en-suite, can experience a difficult time falling or staying asleep. Just imagine how quickly things can spiral out of control outside!

Access to a safe, comfortable place to sleep means better mental and physical health and ultimately, a chance to work on a pathway out of homelessness.

Homeless individuals living on the streets are subjected to inclement weather, harassment, bullying and being robbed.

They also run a high risk of drug and alcohol abuse, further affecting their safety and well-being.

EVERYTHING Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being. Getting enough quality sleep can help protect a person both mentally and physically, and improve their safety. For those sleeping rough, getting a good night’s sleep is virtually impossible and can contribute to long-term problems such as homelessness and unemployment.

Sleep deficiency can harm a person’s sense of well-being over time. It can lead to low self-esteem, social isolation, and the exacerbation or development of specific psychiatric disorders, such as: schizophrenia; depression; bipolar disorder; and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Lack of quality sleep can also take a toll on a person’s body over time. For example, on-going sleep deprivation can raise the risk for some chronic illnesses such as: diabetes; heart health; breathing problems and cancer.

Information in compiling this article was taken from the 2019 Housing Urban Development Report

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH

St. Vincent de Paul is a food pantry distributing food and assistance to low income families, the homeless, and homeless veterans. They provide assistance with pharmaceutical and some utilities, as well as clothing and meals for homeless riding the Dignity Bus. They are a clearing house and registration center for the Dignity Bus passengers.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH IN PALM BAY

THE SOURCE

The Source began in 1995 as a fledgling homeless ministry. Today our purpose is still to offer life-changing possibilities to residents in crisis, offering emergency hunger relief, clothing, mental health counseling, support groups, hygiene items, showers, mail and telephone services, benefit referrals, overnight refuge, and so much more.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to support and serve the community and lead individuals to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

For more information on the Palm Bay Dignity Bus, please contact: Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director 772-564-0202 Ext. 218 email: tony.zorbaugh@iamthesource.org

CORPORATE SPONSORS

Committed to nurturing strong relationships with the corporate community The Source engages in public campaigns and other fundraising ideas tailored to the business market. We partner with corporations for matching programs, engaging their employees. This is what makes it possible for Dignity Bus to run, and allows us to use 100% of public donations to fund Dignity Bus projects. The Source has partnered with the Palm Bay Municipal Foundation which is led by the five-member City Council for Dignity Bus operations funding through grants and donations.

THE PALM BAY DIGNITY BUS

DIGNITY BUS INVESTORS

Dignity Bus investors are donors who generously give major gifts to subsidize our operational expenses. We need investors who align with, and support our mission. Our investor’s return on investment is in knowing that 100% of their donation is going to support the bus and reduce the number of homeless sleeping on the streets.

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING THE DIGNITY BUS

It costs approximately $120,000 per year to operate the Palm Bay Dignity Bus. Costs include: staff; bedding; laundry; air-conditioning; maintenance; insurance; security costs; and gasoline.

WELCOME We have a simple focus for the Dignity Bus; to provide a safe, temporary overnight accommodation for those sleeping rough in Palm Bay. Our aim is to get people off the street and keep them safe and healthy until they can get back on their feet.

An Overnight Emergen 16 Sleeping Pods

The Palm Bay Dignity Bus provides 16 secure, climate controlled, individual sleeping pods with a privacy curtain, a lockable door, under bus storage, pet pods for companion animals, an on-board overnight security person, private restroom and monitored CCTV surveillance, and an air-filtration system. The Dignity Bus is able to provide up to 5,840 safe sleeps per year.

on board

The Dignity Bus of Palm Bay is distinct, unique, and is the second of its kind in the country. The Dignity Bus supports our local homeless, unemployed and those who are experiencing, or on the brink of, homelessness. Our work aims to fill a gap, rather than overlapping or duplicating activities, supporting the urgent needs of the homeless population in Palm Bay. Our accommodation is not a long term solution, but what we do provide is a safe, temporary and comfortable place to sleep for the night.

ncy Shelter on Wheels

Left: Sleeping pod with closed privacy curtain Right: Open sleeping pod with fresh prepared bedding

Palm Bay PHOTOS & TESTIMONIALS

We are blessed to partner with Streetside Showers. They offer our Palm Bay passengers Showers on Friday evenings.

Homelessness is one of the biggest problems we have across our country. Please join me in supporting this inspiring group taking positive action. I LOVE how they are attacking this.

Check them out on their site.

Join me in supporting them. The fundraising will never be over! We have more buses and RV’s to convert.

“Thank you to The Source and St. Vincent de Paul. I contributed $5 that I had in my pocket but it was the best night’s sleep I had in a long, long time. Thank you my friends. I hope you get many more buses. Jesus answered my prayers, he’ll answer yours.” David Coleman.

DIGNITY BUS safety first...

The Dignity Bus will park overnight at an undisclosed location from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Registration is from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Monday-Friday and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Monday.

First come first-served. A fee of $2.00 per night is charged in order to make passengers committed and responsible.

Before parking safely for the night, the bus will pick up passengers at: • Race Trac at the intersection of Babcock Street & Malabar Rd. • Walmart on Malabar Rd. • 7-Eleven at the intersection of Palm Bay & Minton Rd. • St. Vincent de Paul on Palm Bay Rd.

SCHEDULE: 10:00 pm

Blankets, sheets and pillows are provided.

Last person may enter the bus and bus will be closed for the night.

6:00 am

Wake-up begins and removal of bedding.

7:00 am

Clean up and disinfecting of the bus and laundering of the bedding is done to prepare for a new night’s sleep.

The Dignity Bus is provided for the benefit of the entire homeless community. We ask all of our guests to adhere to a few important guidelines in order to maintain the safety, security and comfort for everyone. We hope that our guests enjoy their stay with us!

OVERNIGHT SHELTER GUIDELINES 1. Those who want to sleep on the Dignity Bus must plan to arrive before 9:00 pm.

2. Late arrivals must inform Dignity Bus staff if they have a valid reason for late arrival.

3. People are not allowed to leave and return after reporting for the Dignity Bus. 4. Those staying on the bus are welcome to store their tagged and marked belongings under the bus.

5. Guests may choose a bunk spot. After signing-in guests receive their bedding distribution.

6. Alcohol, drugs, paraphernalia and food are never permitted on or near the bus.

7. Arriving intoxicated is strongly discouraged, however if a guest arrives intoxicated, their only option is to bunk and sleep immediately. Drunk and disorderly individuals receive two warnings.

8. Those who are unwilling or unable to comply with these guidelines will be asked to depart the bus.

ADOPT A POD We created a special program to subsidize costs and have named it Adopt-A-Pod. Your donation to this program will make a difference for the homeless in our own community.

Please Check the Category (ies) that will best describe your Support of “Adopt-a-Pod.” All donations are tax deductible.

I will Adopt-a-Pod (Each Pod is $3,000) # of Pods _________ o One Year o Two Years o Three Years OR o General Donation for The Palm Bay Dignity Bus o

$___________________ Donations can be made for Palm Bay Dignity Bus riders and meals through Venmo@svdppalmbay.

Name of Donor______________________________________ Business Name______________________________________ Address____________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Cell Phone _________________________________________ Email Address_______________________________________ Mail your donation to: The Source, Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director P.O. Box 2458 • Vero Beach, Florida 32961