Dignity Bus®
TOOL KIT “An Overnight Emergency Shelter on Wheels” The first of its kind in the country.
A Message from the Executive Director of The Source When you begin reading through our “Dignity Bus® Toolkit 101,” you will find out why we began our journey to develop a mobile overnight shelter, utilizing the concept of a mobile bus, came to be and how, through some basic thinking, strong research, building partnerships, and the love of humanity allowed us to achieve what we have accomplished. In 2020, just prior to the Pandemic, the team
at The Source, A Christian Ministry for the homeless and poor in Indian River County, Florida, was actively seeking ways to help create an effective solution for comfortable and secure overnight shelter for our society’s most vulnerable people. The origin of the name Dignity Bus® was borne out of our belief that helping the homeless and the poor in our community to become dignified in their life, one
program at a time, would eventually lead them on the path to get back on their own two feet. I hope our new partnership in which we will share our hard earned lessons and experiences broken down in this Toolkit, will help to guide your path, your journey, your goal, just as it did for us! Good luck,
Anthony Zorbaugh
Who We Are And Where We’re Coming From The Source, A Christian Ministry, began in 1995 originally serving the needy by offering free meals and Bible Study in a tiny 600 sq. ft. space. It has since grown into a comprehensive 5,000 sq. ft. outreach center open seven days a week, addressing the complex needs of the poor and homeless in Indian River County, Florida. Today, we have 1,600 members in our Ministry, who have finished, or are currently working on, rebuilding their lives through a myriad of our programs and services. Our purpose is to offer life-changing possibilities to residents in crisis: families struggling to pay bills, single parents living paycheck to paycheck, or individuals who have lost their homes, hope, and their peace of mind. Some are sleeping in their cars. Some are living in tents. As first responders, The Source helps provide critical care for physical, spiritual, civic, and social needs to help individuals live in dignity. We maintain that one overnight sleep in the Dignity Bus will help people leave feeling much better than when they arrived. We call this Dignity…the unexpected level of care that restores Dignity…that rekindles hope and optimism and fuels the sense of opportunity vital to stopping the vicious cycle of homelessness. In addition to the Dignity Bus®, please visit our website for more information on our organization:www.Iamthesource.org.
Tony Zorbaugh introduces Magic Johnson to the Dignity Bus® at The Orlando Convention Center
Because Sleep Can Change Everything! You are among a large group of people from near and far who have told us they also wish to start their own Mobile Overnight Shelter. We have heard from agencies as far away as Canada, California and the Mid-West, and local entrepreneurs in the cities of West Palm Beach, Fl, and Miami Beach, FL as well as Palm Bay, FL where we launched our second Dignity Bus® in February, 2022. We are surprised, yet excited and inspired, to learn that the news of our concept of a Mobile Overnight Shelter, designed for the homeless, is spreading throughout the country! Amidst a global shortage of housing, and a marked decrease in the availability of suitable housing, communities are creatively thinking outside the box to expand on proper sleeping accommodations for those who are in need. With this Toolkit, we will describe to you the details of our own experience and help guide you through the process! We may be the first in the country to reveal this new means of overnight shelter, but we know…we are not the last!
FACT: “On a single night in 2021, 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.” SOURCE: 2021 Housing Urban Development report
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 and more, including low self-esteem, social isolation, and the exacerbation or development of specific mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. On-going sleep deficiency can raise the risk for some chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart health, breathing problems and breast cancer. Many sleeping on the street are subjected to terrible weather, harassment, bullying, being robbed and worse. Those sleeping on the street also run a high risk of drug and alcohol abuse, further affecting their safety and well-being.
OUR INVITATION TO YOU
“
Hello! With this Dignity Bus Toolkit, we invite you to join our network of service providers delivering Radical Hospitality® to people experiencing homelessness, wherever there is need.
The level of interest is both shocking and inspiring. Amidst a global shortage of housing, people everywhere are stepping up to help restore much needed sanitation and dignity in their community. With this Tookit, we’ll tell you how we made it happen. And how you can, too.
You are among the thousands of people from around the world who have told us they want to start their own Dignity Bus Program. We’ve heard from agencies in Canada to entrepreneurs in West Palm Beach, to name a few.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. African Proverb
Let us be your road map, your compass, your GPS.
“
Hop on the bus and let’s go on a transformative ride together.
“Hello! My name is Cameron and I’m only 12 years old and I can’t afford a big bus. So what I’m trying to say is that it would be kind of hard to get my own bus. I was wondring if someone could drive one of your buses over to Lake Merritt, Oakland because there are many homeless people living under the freeway near my home. My family and I give them food, but just giving them food can’t do much to get them off of the street and into homes.” - Cameron Lee
THE SOLUTION
How Our Magic Happened
Several years before we launched the Dignity Bus® in 2021, a loyal donor knocked on our door with the offer of donating a used motor coach (passenger bus) to The Source. Our team began brainstorming what we could do with the bus… even visualizing how rock bands travel in customized buses from city to city. That’s when our thoughts turned to taking the bus and remodeling it into “beds on wheels.” We began researching sleep buses and could not find any in the United States used for the purpose of sheltering the homeless. However, it did exist in parts of Europe as an “easy sleeper night bus,” which was comfortable enough and very convenient to maneuver.
There it was…with this bus donation we had an opportunity to convert this motor coach into a Mobile Overnight Shelter and use it for the homeless… and ultimately make it the first and only one-of-its-kind for the homeless in this country!
Our maintenance staff went full-steam ahead stripping the motor coach to see the stabilization of the vehicle before any large renovation plans were made. Sadly we found the vehicle had too much water damage, but still had viable component parts that we could remove and reassemble into a better vehicle. Research aided in discovering an improved better vehicle out of state…a perfect former passenger bus which upon purchase was driven to our Florida location. Then we found a nearby fabrication company that specialized in custom bus conversions exactly like we wanted. Five months later, our first Dignity Bus® was up and running.
WHERE WE’RE COMING FROM Technically you could call what we do “Human Services.” We think, however, that we’re in the Hospitality business. We call those we serve our guests: we built something beautiful for them to use, we know their names, and we learn their stories. And we work hard to ensure that they leave feeling better than when they arrived. We call this “Dignity.” This simple principle can and should be applied to everyone, equally. It’s the unexpected level of care that restores dignity, that rekindles home and optimism and fuels the sense of opportunity vital to stopping the vicious cycle of homelessness.
OUR WORK IS ROOTED IN THREE BELIEFS:
1
Opportunity unfolds when people are treated with dignity.
2
When it comes to dignity, society has different standards for those with resources versus those who lack them.
3
Delivering dignity - an extraordinary level of care - to people moving through homelessness restores dignity, rekindles optimism, and fuels a sense of opportunity.
“The bus was more comfortable than sleeping in my car.”
Two passengers just off a safe sleep in the Dignity Bus® are showered and enjoying a hot breakfast.
OUR HANDSHAKE
THE HALO EFFECT
UP THE ROAD - OUR VISION
We believe we can accomplish more by working together than we can apart.
By sharing our best practices, we want to help you launch and promote your new mobile Bus initiatives like we did. Why us?
This is the first of a series of program toolkits we plan on releasing, with a nominal fee. It’s our invitation to begin a partnership. Sharing our lessons is how we demonstrate our intense belief in this impactful work. We want those who share this belief to support each other, because this work isn’t easy.
We’re a market leader. We were the first to do mobile sleeping with an emphasis on innovation, safety, marketing, PR and scale.
As successful mobil bus services take root in communities throughout the world, participation in this Program will open opportunities to deepen our partnership. To start we’re working hard to get the word out about this platform to increase visibility for your project, leading to partnerships, volunteers and press. We want to point local allies and funders in your direction.
With this Toolkit you’ll get: 1
A clear roadmap to a community of best practices to fast-tract your project.
2
Connection to a community network of like minded providers, social entrepreneurs and innovators to share and troubleshoot ideas.
3
Visibility to attract local partners, volunteers, and donors.
4
Opportunity to share your innovations and help others succeed.
Our vision is to be the Leader of nonprofits. We’re a company with experience pushing out new ideas and learning from them. Connecting communities is at the heart of all of our programs. It’s not just about the guests we serve but about activating other leaders around us, since our 2020 mobile bus prototype, we’ve since piloted new programs like “Dignity Smiles,” Dignity Job Opportunities,” as well as various other Dignity programs taht we plan to share with you to further inspire your work. All of this for a nominal fee! We want you to succeed and are on a quest to figure out the best ways we can help.
Long term, successful projects in our programs will have access to opportunities for earned income revenue to offset fundraising. This is a model we’re testing now and if successful, we will share it with you just as we’re sharing these best practices.
To set expectations our brand - our name “Dignity Bus®” logo and taglines are all trademaked and not available to share with partners. Our charge is to share the tools that will make your unique spin on this service succeed.
THE DIGNITY BUS® Getting Started
Now you know how Dignity Bus® came to be….in concept. We found the right designers to outline a picture of what the interior would look like and how many beds (which we later named sleeping pods) would ideally fit in the allocated space along with the driver and other necessary amenities. Our Dignity Bus® is a 1999 Van Hool 45-foot motor coach. It has been converted into a custom-made interior and exterior, providing 20 secure, climate-controlled, individual sleeping pods with a lockable door, under-bus storage, pet pods for companion animals, an onboard
Interior of bus stripped of seats.
overnight security person, and monitored CCTV surveillance. There is one generator installed on the belly of the bus. There is one separate, completely private bathroom facility with a toilet, sink and changing area. A mechanical room in the back holds the electrical components and solid waste tanks for the onboard restroom. We used Formica and laminate interior materials for its slip resistance and durability. Each sleeping pod consists of a USB port, an individual light and a privacy curtain. One Dignity Bus® provides up to 7,300 safe sleeps per year. Since Dignity
Bus was converted during the year of COVID, we used all protocols possible for the safety of our members, or guests as we warmly like to call them. 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. Additionally, we purchased an air-purification system that is highly effective in a COVID climate. With the assistance of our three airconditioning units, the filter purifies 99.9% of any possible toxins.
Bedframes being built.
Partial bedframes completed with bedding and lighting.
THE BRANDING Branding the exterior of your Bus should keep to your vision, your values and be fitting to the community you serve. Our strong Dignity Bus® brand has helped attract private partners and supporters. We had several conceptual designs put on paper that brought all our beliefs into play; those being faith, location and purpose. • Its exterior wrap design was conceived because we are a Christian faith-based organization; thus, a prominent vision of Jesus was necessary. • That, coupled with the fact that we are located in a beach community on the east coast of Florida… showing the sand and sea became desirable. • One of our largest goals and most important dreams was to build a village, a one stop housing community that included a place for our members to work, pray and socialize, while continuing to use our programs and services. Thus, our slogan, “A Way to the Village” was intertwined within the art. We had 5 versions of Jesus in different colors and in various locations. Ultimately, the designs were presented to our donors, and the final
one was selected…that of a welcoming Jesus with open and extended arms walking on the sands by the ocean. Adorned with logos of our organization as well as our donors, it highlights a quote from Matthew 11.28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” There is no denying that when the community sees the Bus, it is easily recognized and not soon forgotten! Branding the name of the bus is also very important. In our case, Dignity was in the title of all our various programs, so it was natural to name it Dignity Bus®. We have trademarked that name and as you may be aware, trademarks do not happen overnight, so deciding on the name you have selected for your bus early on in the process is important.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PASSENGERS Our original approach before kicking off the design process was getting to know who our passengers would be. We began talking to unhoused Indian River County residents through interviews and focus groups. We quickly learned that their major concern was about privacy and safety. We
listened to their individual stories and learned how and where they were currently sleeping, did they work and what was their daily routine. Our goal was to make an individual connection by name and to learn where they were from. This interaction helped us to understand their concerns, patterns of living and behaviors, and we ultimately incorporated what we learned from them into the design process. This resulted in the ability to gain their trust and loyalty as well as their respect for our vehicle and its upkeep. Those that can utilize Dignity
Bus® are first the graduates of our Dining with Dignity program; secondly those who are registered members of The Source, and lastly are Guests…others in need of a good night’s sleep. The fee for our graduates is waived while others are charged a fee of $2 per night or $50 for a month in order to make passengers committed and responsible. Members and Guests are asked to adhere to a few important guidelines in order to maintain safety, security and comfort for everyone. Our building is open and manned from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for those joining us overnight so they may wait comfortably inside our main campus facility. The Bus is open for sign in at 8:45 p.m. on a first-come first-served basis. Upon return the next morning at 7 a.m., guests enjoy a free hot breakfast in our building’s dining room followed by a fresh shower
KNOW YOUR STORY Compelling stories garner press, increase visibility, raise funds and attract support.
WHAT’S DRIVING YOU?
Working on the frontlines of social issues is tough work and requires a strong connection to your inner compass. So before we dive into the nuts and bolts of delivering beds on wheels, let’s start with the heart of the challenge: Why are you doing this? What is your higher purpose? What is your big vision?
A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tony Zorbaugh Executive Director The Source With you personal stories, you’ll share your vision, ignite people’s passion, and inspire action, just like I did. One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “How did you come up with the idea for Dignity Bus®?” My personal journey is part of Dignity Bus spark or appeal. It’s all about building relationships. We build them through the shared humanity of our stories. This in turn connects funders, press and partners to their own humanity, and separates us from the pack. These stakeholders will ask, “why me?” but digging into their personal analysis is not just about marketing or fundraising; it’s the roots of why they are uniquely qualified to join this effort. On the good days, your story will be the key to unlocking amazing opportunities. And on the hard days it will be your fuel. Luckily for us, our good days and amazing opportunities far outweigh the hard ones.
An Exercise in Developing Your Story Answer the questions below to find the storylines that have gotten you here today. Take some time an be candid! Your thoughts, feelings and experiences will go a long way to getting you on the road and in the right direction. 1. How did you grow up and what unique experiences can you leverage? Think about your parents, grandparents, childhood, adolescence, up-bringing, surrounds, culture, interests, influences, and key experiences. 2. What are you doing now and why are you doing it? Living, work, learning, eating, activities, hobbies, routines, social, traveling, and creating. 3. What is your connection to this community? Personal, familial, professional, spiritual, and geographical. 4. What are three reasons you want to take on this project?
THE POSITIVES…THE NEGATIVES v Who are your Supporters? Our ability to nurture relationships in many different areas of the community where we serve has allowed us positive results. We have found that fundraising for this project has been very favorable. v We receive donations of equipment from vendors who we have resourced over time that we use when replacements are necessary. v Local companies donate pillows, sheets and blankets under their business foundation arm or a donation of promotional products with their logo on the items There is a stigma to homelessness that we deal with on a regular basis. The daily work we do is not easy. The challenges of running our daily programs compete with the daily hardships our members face on the streets. Depending on your particular community, and how accepting people, officials and philanthropists are to your organization, will determine your rate of positivity going forward on this project or any other related projects. Building relationships has always been a strong suit for us, and even with that said, we have had our challenges! Our passion, tenacity and resilience help to recharge us every day.
v We have found non-denominational, non-profit organizations, as well as the philanthropic community, are supportive and continually show interest in our pursuits.
v Our on-going high visibility in the media has allowed us numerous opportunities to speak about Dignity Bus through radio interviews, print or website feature stories and TV coverage. Also, we are frequently asked to speak at national conventions or local organizations and invited to write columns for a variety of magazines. v Who are your Detractors? No one has specifically stood in the way of our getting Dignity Bus operational, but that’s not to say that we haven’t had some challenges along the way. Some good people and local politicians have fears about our program and the people we serve. We have learned that we cannot win them all over, but we continue to rally support from the most crucial supporters of our operation…our partners, neighbors, key city/county officials and funders.
The Source was honored to be included in the December 2021 edition of “Bus Conversion Magazine” Dyer Mazda donated blankets
Truist donated pillows & bedding
OUR EXPERIENCE Woody Until recently Woody E. was living a normal life and renting a modest apartment in Vero Beach. Woody fell ill, and was taken to the hospital. He soon found out he was suffering from liver failure. Woody was in the hospital for well over 3 weeks and by the time he left was on the list to have a liver transplant. Meanwhile, his landlord thought Woody passed away or moved out and no longer needed the apartment. The landlord boxed up all of his belongings, and rented the apartment to a new tenant. Woody went to a group home from there. After 6-7 weeks of sharing a room, the group home closed down because they were operating without a license. Now, due to no fault of his own, he was truly homeless. He made his way to The Source and became a member on July 6, 2022. This was his first night sleeping on the Dignity Bus. While staying on the bus, Woody continued to look for an apartment. He has always been the first one to volunteer to do a chore and started helping Amanda change over the buses for overnight shelter. Since then Woody has found housing, and a local family has donated some furniture. We even found him a power recliner to help with the edema in his legs. He continues to come to the Source for the friendships he has made and to help with the front desk, as well as the buses. Last week Woody received his new bike.
Amanda Amanda began at The Source doing community service hours and immediately felt a connection with our mission. Shortly after completing her required hours, she joined the Dining with Dignity Program and has proven to be a hard worker, dedicated to creating a better future for herself. Upon graduation of the Dining with Dignity program, she was able to benefit from our new Dignity Income program. Amanda was one of those diamonds that we just couldn’t let go and is now employed at The Source as our new Dignity Bus Laundry Attendant. Because of the Dignity Income program, Amanda was able to financially provide for her daughter this year. She needed to attend a Summer Reading Camp to help improve her reading skills for the next school year and was concerned about how she would pay for it. However, she held on to the promise that the Lord will provide and he sure did. Being employed and being a part of a team has been so beneficial, as it has helped her to regain her confidence and her independence. She is now part of the working class again and has pride in being a contributing member of her community.
Todd Todd suffers with clinical depression and after the loss of his dog who was his best friend, he did not have the tools to deal with the grief that followed and lost everything he had. Among the losses was his income and his home, but he ultimately found The Source. With a mindset of being ready to walk onto the train tracks Todd found people at The Source who cared about him, he found access to Mental Health Counseling, he got connected with Medical Assistance and applied for our Dignity Jobs Opportunity. Todd began as a Sic Sac contractor where he sits onsite at our location and assembles motion sickness bags for private planes. Ever since he started, he has been our Top Sic Sac Producer for 4 weeks in a row and earns a dignified income via check every Friday. This is a stepping stone for Todd as he works through his struggles with mental health and gets back into the workforce and able to once again support himself.
WHO ARE YOUR GUESTS? It’s obvious to say, but at the heart of everything we do is our members. That’s what we call the people we serve - our members. Serving with Dignity is about stellar customer service for people on the streets. We are Christ-centered in all that we do, from the creation of our programs and design, through to our problem solving techniques. We work hard not to lose touch with our members and their dignity. Direct connection is where we started.
EXERCISE:
ESTABLISH A CONNECTION
GUEST RESEARCH
Start simple - say hello and introduce yourself. What’s your name? Where are you from? What’s your story?
Which of these questions can you answer right now? This information will help you develop your business plan and create good stories for the press, partners and supporters.
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY LIVE THEIR DAILY LIFE
Tell me about your routine. What 1. Who are the general population does an average day look like? Where do you usually sleep, eat, do that you serve? peronal hygiene, etc. 2. Are they sleeping in shelters or outside? Mostly working or not? What is the demographic breakdown?
FIGURE OUT THE PAIN POINTS AND ANXIETIES
What do you worry about the most? What are the biggest barriers to 3. How many people are affected? moving forward for you? What goals Where are they concentrated? are you working towards? 4. What makes the challenge unique in your community?
REFLECT
What surprised you, stands out to 5. Who is currently working with you? What did you learn? How can this population locally? Develop a you incorporate these insights in resource list of other local services your planning? and providers. 6. Where can you go to talk to people directly?
A CUSTOM-DESIGNED PROGRAM Our idea was to create 20 beds on a retrofitted bus (more beds, more impact - right?) To kick off our design process, we started talking to unhoused Indian River County residents through interviews and focus groups. One insight we heard over and over again was that their biggest concerns were about privacy and safety. Existing shelters are often single men or families with children and not public.
At each stage of our design, iteration, and evaluation processes, we return to our guests to listen and understand their cultures, patterns and behaviors as we interject them into the design process. All of our ideas bounce off of our guest community and many com from them. As a result, we build trust and a reputation on the streets that keep our guests comping back. And ultimately, beautifully designed spaces and programs.
DEVELOP YOUR MODEL There are several ways to break this down, but for the purposes of starting this project you will probably take one of two routes. 1. Creating a new Program is a hard and rewarding process. Working independently is a preferred option for some, especially if there is a lack of social services in your community ready to address this and if you are prepared to dedicate time and resources to the effort. 2. Building this program out of an existing organization, such as a direct services agency or church, has the advantages of a foundational organizational structure to support the challenges of this operation. Adequate resources must be allocated (human and capital) to avoid spreading your team too thin. Whichever path you take, we strongly recommend starting small and building up. We also hear from student organizations, neighborhood associations, advocacy groups and government agencies who are not necessarily equipped to launch and manage a direct services operation. In lieu of available leadership/staff, we recommend building a relationship with a local service provider where you contribute your time and energy to developing this program with an existing team who will be able to sustain it.
YOU ARE An entrapreneur interested in starting a new organization.
An employee, board member or volunteer of a current organization (non-profit, faith-based group, or other local organization).
INTERESTED IN Starting from scratch, and comfortable with leadership and autonomy. You are ready to wear multiple hats and pioneer a new team.
Innovating within an organizational structure already in place, and driving organizational consensus.
NEXT STEPS Need a fiscal sponsor or 501(c)3 status to begin fundraising.
Financial model is in place but may need to propose a new budget to allocate funds.
IDENTIFY YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS Regardless of the size of the bus you are customizing, there will be some key costs to plan for as you get your conversion underway. The range will depend on several factors including the frequency of service that you operate the bus (number of days in the week), local rates for overnight parking, and whether you can offset your costs with donations. With one year under our belt, we can confess that costs simply don’t stop. Administrative costs will vary based on the type of bus you convert. Whether it’s supplies, gasoline, equipment, salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, repairs of any damages to the interior or exterior of the vehicle, and any other unforeseen items, you will always need an on-going revenue stream. To be honest, our biggest costs are paying the nightly staff. We generally operate with two people nightly and all totaled our operating costs are approximately $122K.
OTHER APPROXIMATE COSTS: v Bus Purchase: $0-$20K
SOME FUNDING AVENUES TO CONSIDER Am I able to secure local, state or business grants?
vRetro-fit: $50-100K (includes sleeping pods, cameras, AC units, TV’s etc.)
Is there a private philanthropy group that would help underwrite costs on a one-time basis or for multiple years?
vRepairs & Maintenance: $1K (or apply for nonprofit waiver)
What are your fundraising plans?
vVehicle Exterior Wrap $3-5K
Might you develop earmarking opportunities?
vCleaning Supplies: $350 monthly
How about a sponsorship program?
vTools & Equipment: $500 monthly vLinen: $2300 monthly vLaundry: $3500 monthly
Do you have dedicated donors who have the means to assist in sustaining the bus on a permanent basis?
vWater: $100 monthly vGenerator: $10K vFuel & Propane: $500 monthly
The cost of staff is going to be your biggest expense
vLiability, Directors & Officers, umbrella and commercial liability insurance for bus: $5-15K yearly and for Workers Compensation: $4-5K yearly
The cost of laundry is $3,500 monthly
COORDINATING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN THE FOUNDING TEAM is the face of the Dignity Bus on the streets and a recipe for your success. They are the stewards of the Dignity Bus program and hold the keys to your operational integrity and impact. They are the individuals who will inspire the project with a sense of ownership along with those who join the project. A DIRECTOR OF THE TEAM performs the multiple roles as strategist, planner, negotiator, and fundraiser while forging partnerships with the community as the public face of the venture. A FISCAL PLANNER supports administrative duties while overseeing the legal and financial responsibilities of the job. THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER will oversee all aspects of the health and well-being of the vehicle…from concept through completion and overseeing it on a daily basis. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS will assist in decision-making on an as-needed-basis, as a spokesperson when necessary, and as a liaison to the rest of the Board members. A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OR GRANT WRITER will assist uncovering donors, foundations, and other philanthropic individuals.
A MARKETING CONSULTANT will help steer the direction of pre-publicity, post-publicity, media relations and associated events that may occur during the conversion and when the vehicle is ready to be launched.
completion. We have since completed the conversion of a second Bus and the previous education helped us in saving time, costs, and manpower, especially the access to our new relationships with equipment vendors.
SHOPPING FOR THE BUS Typically, the right bus can be located from private sales or auction sites; one that is affordable and manageable. Be creative and aware of your individual environment and how best to operate within it.
GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED: Do you have volunteers with the abilities and connections to be a part of your planning team? If so, they can take on organizational roles and can help you recruit others who are active in your community who help act as ambassadors of good-will during the process of your bus conversion and launch. Volunteers may come on their own or in groups from businesses, non-profit and faithbased organizations. As they say, all hands on deck….and you will need them now more than ever.
WHO WILL HANDLE THE BUS CONVERSION? It is paramount to find the most proficient company or individuals to handle your bus conversion. You will need to map out electrical and plumbing systems, install new walls, fixtures, ventilation systems and appliances, and all with consideration to weight and space restrictions. The more customized the vehicle, the more difficult it will be to troubleshoot. We worked with a passionate team of mechanical engineers and established a positive relationship while we became educated about the process. We personally met with and established relationships with equipment vendors. Our initial design and prototype took several months of trial and error. There were challenges with our electrical system and occasional mechanical breakdowns, but we continually modified the design until
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION There is no better time than this to have a solid publicity and promotion plan in place with people who are well-connected with the media and local officials, and know how to handle a special and important news event. In the early days of the conversion this is breaking news… depending on the duration of the conversion you will have progress reports and ultimately launching the bus to the community with an in-person public event.
KNOWING YOUR NEEDS CITY AND COUNTY PERMITS & REGULATIONS - In the State of Florida, the process of looking to open a new business, expand an existing business or just getting a business license, is over-whelming and can quickly turn excitement and promise into confusion and frustration. This will likely be the same in your individual location. Our county is notorious for its regulatory hurdles, so if your community is like ours, we suggest heading to City Hall to get the necessary help in identifying and understanding your local codes. Business Licenses, LLC simplifies and streamlines the process of applying for a business license. Business licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow individuals or companies to conduct business within the government’s geographical jurisdiction. It is the authorization to start a business issued by the local government. A single jurisdiction often requires multiple licenses that are issued by multiple government departments and agencies. Business licenses vary between countries, states, and local municipalities. There are often many licenses, registrations and certifications required to conduct a business in a single location. (clip art of forms and permits) OVERNIGHT LODGING FACILITY - One of the largest issues we faced was finding the right location to park the Dignity Bus overnight. Neither the City nor the County
would allow the vehicle on their properties, which meant we needed to find an independent land owner that would have the proper hook ups (including electric, gas, and water for solid waste disposal) for us to stay there. You’ll want to find secured, fenced in lots for overnight parking. Are there any public bus/shuttle agencies with accessible parking lots? Ask your Transit Authority. The Recreation and Park department may allow parking or operating at a local park. Solid Waste would have to be disposed at a local truck stop. City vs. County? Where do these governing agencies overlap? Where is governance shared vs. split? Are there differences in regulations, parking? We found a nearby truck stop that had the necessary requirements on their property and for a negotiated fee we are able to park overnight. The County Sheriff’s Office, who are very supportive of our endeavors, does numerous checks during the course of the evening. Your community may offer RV Parks, churches or truck stop that will be suitable. (photo of sheriff officers in front of bus) HOW TO GET A BUS DRIVER’S LICENSE - Guidelines may differ from state to state but a general guideline on what to expect may include your driver(s) to obtain a commercial learners permit for two weeks with a small fee. That is the time to learn all the maneuvers needed to perform during a skills test. These permits are active for approximately six months. A commercial driver’s license is evaluated for
the driver(s) ability to identify and monitor warning devices, assess the brake system and run an operational check of all alarms, followed by showing the basic skills in starting, stopping and safely moving the vehicle. The final portion of the test evaluates driving while correctly using signals, controlling the vehicle’s speed and appropriate maneuvering when turning or changing lanes. Once all the tests are complete, including a criminal background check and a drug test, the final step is to practice the driving skills with an experienced driver for a designated amount of practice hours before a full license is then issued. DAY-TIME SHELTER - The bus is not a small vehicle so the decision on where to park it during the daytime or off-use time periods can present an issue. At first, The Source had been fortunate to have a campus parking lot where we housed the vehicle during the day. This was convenient for our purposes as it offered us the opportunity to have easy access to our washers and dryers so the bedding could be changed daily and the bus cleaned and disinfected daily, as well as any small maintenance, repairs, and exterior washing of the vehicle. As our campus grew with members and guests using our parking lot, as well as the second bus in operation, we eventually found two nearby locations with parking lot availability that we rent in off-use times for a small fee.
KNOW YOUR MEMBERS, GUESTS AND BUS DRIVERS Once you decide to purchase your bus, evaluate how many possible members/ guests you will be able to accommodate. In most cases the bus you find to purchase will help dictate that. We found that our 20 sleeping pods would be sufficient, and at the start we had more than enough. As the seasons and the weather changed, we found the attendance increased and now we find it filled to capacity more often than not. Our second bus holds 16. Within a short few days we were 50% full and in a little over one week of operation, every sleeping pod was occupied! At the time we made our bus purchase, we already knew our steady members and we became aware of the baggage they would bring along with them, either personal or pets; thus, we accommodated those needs with storage areas for both, as well as space for our driver and his/her needs.
We created a very solid operation to serve our members/guests properly. The operation included which individuals would have the first opportunities to occupy one of the sleeping pods, sign-in procedures, boarding and safety measures, and rules and regulations that must be abided by. As time went on, we also realized that members/guests would have no place to wait for the bus to open, so we made our campus building available to them for several hours in advance of boarding, so they could be safe, in a climate controlled space. Many of our members/guests now actually begin their day at The Source with a hot breakfast and shower, go to a job either outside of The Source or within the campus building, stay on until the bus boards, spend the night, and then repeat the next day. We have found the hiring of bus drivers to be an on-going task. Our pool for hiring
was extremely limited due to individuals not being able to drive a 45 foot motor coach and/or lack of experience working in the human service field which we found to be an extremely important hiring element. Depending on your bus classification, the vehicle can be expensive to register and may require Class A/B driver’s licenses, which adds to the difficulty in hiring. We suggest you begin this process of hiring for bus drivers fairly early, but not too early, so that they are not waiting and may disappear to another position. You need enough time for training and licensing but finding people for overnight shifts are not as easy as we once thought. Also, we operate 7 days a week, so we have shifts that are MondayThursday, and Friday. We also have a few on-going staff members who can pinch-hit if necessary, but this can be somewhat of a revolving door if you don’t initially hit on the right people for the job.
The Indian River County Dignity Bus provides 20 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. This Dignity Bus provides up to 7,300 safe sleeps per year.
DAILY BUS UPKEEP One or more employees can rotate the responsibilities of preparing the bus daily for a new night’s sleep. Following the disembarking of the passengers each morning, a staff member starts their day cleaning and disinfecting the bus, toilet and sink. We mop or vacuum the flooring, clean the exhaust fans and their screens. We wipe down all plumbing and electrical systems. We operate several washing machines and dryers within our campus building. This allows for the stripping of the beds in which all linens
and blankets are changed daily, and prepared for the next night’s sleep. Each sleeping pod has a privacy curtain and that is also wiped down for cleanliness. We hose down and clean the exterior of our vehicle daily and inspect the surface for any possible scratches or dents. The Bus is regularly supplied with necessary toilet paper, hand sanitizer, tissues and paper towels.
Keeping the buses sanitary is of utmost importance. We have students and volunteers who like to help out with cleaning and getting the buses back in order for a new night. Everyone involved feels a sense of pride in keeping our Dignity buses spotless.
Hygiene supplies include mops, brooms, squeegees, buckets, chemicals, cleaning gloves, masks, cloths and anti-bacterial wipes. The equipment on board is inspected to be sure it is complete and include note pads and pens, tool kit, first aid kit, gas cans and trash bins. We clean thoroughly between every single sleep…it’s vital to keeping the facilities sanitary for all, and gives our members and guests a sense of pride and ownership to maintain.
READY TO ROLL Before Dignity Buses® head from our campus to their overnight sites, our drivers have a pre-check system to be sure everything needed is in place. A. Make sure that all supplies are stocked and equipment is in working order. B. Check that we are all fueled up and ready to go. C. Warmly welcome each member or guest. D. Verify that all registered guests are ready to load their storage and board the bus. Once boarded, individuals are not allowed to leave until they return to the campus the next morning. E. Make sure bus doors and storage doors are secured. F. Provide each person with a shoe bag prior to getting into each sleeping pod. G. Drive to destination and before lights out, have driver complete daily reports, make a final walk around the bus and offer any help if needed.
GETTING THE WORD OUT We have previously mentioned that a Marketing Consultant(s) should be part of the team early on in your planning stages. The Consultants(s) should be experienced enough to deal with, and have strong connections with, the media, and if they come with some experience and are savvy in working with non-profit organizations, all the better. Keep them in the on-going loop of your bus conversion so they fully understand which will allow them to strategize on the best ways to present your bus to the community, highlighting possible sponsors and community donors, as well as creating a proper timetable for their publicity planning. Timed correctly, announcements can be made periodically for maximum interest, while educating and nurturing your hopeful donors about what is happening for the homeless in your community. Taking videos or photos throughout the bus conversion is a necessary project, and can be used online or in printed materials throughout the process.
Social Media and Website Updates will help to keep the phones ringing and create interest from others in the community or even those from afar. Professional Grant Writers should explore foundations that are interested in underwriting a project as unique as this. Private companies or high net worth individuals like the visibility of becoming involved in local non-profit activities and ultimately can become financial or in-kind donors as one-time or monthly/ yearly donors. You may even create an innovative giving program that would attract believers and supporters of the bus on an on-going basis. The Development of a Brochure is important, especially when your organization is ready to launch your bus publicly. The brochure can also be used for prospective donors,
and as hand-outs for networking and speaking engagements. All the photos you had taken along the way, along with the process and how it will operate will be readily available and easily produced for an impressive printed brochure. (show front of both new brochures) Hold a Public Event when ready to launch your Bus! You may partner with your City officials and your Chamber of Commerce when holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony while inviting donors, Board of Directors, friends of your organization and the public at large. Inform the local media, both print and broadcasting. Take photographs and videos, and submit post coverage to entice local attention. As opportunities arise, bring your Bus to local events where the public have the chance to come inside for a personal tour. Making new acquaintances always leads to other opportunities for new supporters and donors as it enlightens the community about what your organization does.
IN CONCLUSION
Many months have passed since we launched our first of two Dignity Buses® and overall, the bus program has been smooth riding. We’ve experienced some changes in personnel along the way and we needed to outreach for drivers which we accomplished through social media and website advertising. We’ve had some scratches and dents to the exterior of the bus, and times for beautification or mechanical repairs took the bus off the street for brief periods. We continue to receive donations towards materials, maintenance, and on-going expenses, and most importantly, our clients have a place to sleep safely and securely. At this writing, we have experienced capacity passengers nightly for their individual safe and secure sleeps. Many passengers have enjoyed their night’s sleep, hot shower and free hot breakfast in the morning. Once our Dignity Bus® was on the road and the networking and media outlets began to spread the word near and far, our phones started ringing. As the Pandemic continued to lift, we have received invitations to bring our bus to conventions and other cities to explain
Good Luck the concept of Dignity Bus®. As a means to help other communities cope with the issue of homeless individuals needing a good night’s sleep, the idea of creating a bus conversion is fast becoming a valuable solution. Another Florida city, just thirty miles away, invited The Source to propose replicating the Dignity Bus® for their community. That bus, slightly smaller, has 16 sleeping pods and is currently operating nightly in the community of Palm Bay, Fl based on our original formula and procedures. By the way, all these accomplishments have happened during a Pandemic. Perhaps your
timing will be better than ours, but even with that, nothing got in the way of our determination to help the homeless out of homelessness, and each step we have taken has culminated in doing just that. This too can happen for you. It’s a step-by-step process but utilizing the footprint that we have created and utilized successfully will help steer the course for you.
Washing the exteriors of the buses.
Palm Bay Dignity Bus is our second bus serving the needs of the homeless community in a neighboring town.
SPECIAL THANKS Thank you to The Fred Griffin Legacy Fund, Suzanne Chesser, Gutenberg Charitable Foundation, The George Shinn Foundation and St. Vincent de Paul of St. Joseph’s Parish who helped bring this Toolkit and many of our ideas to life. PHOTO AND GRAPHIC CREDITS
MaryAnn Ketcham Paris Productions Rowlinson Media Group
IN DEDICATION TO:
Maureen Archer Assistant Executive Director of The Source
Whose insight, financial foresight, exuberance for life and love for mankind made her a most valuable part of the Dignity Bus Team…from concept to completion…Thank You.
STAY IN TOUCH
What have we missed here? What’s been most helpful? What questions come up? Are you interested in knowing more? Please let us know via email to Anthony.Zorbaugh@iamthesource.org, or by calling 772-564-0202, Ext 204.