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Dignity Bus® TOOLKIT A Mobile Overnight Emergency Shelter “The First of its Kind in the Country” Scan QR Code to view video of the Dignity Bus

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 Emergency Shelter, as we did in 2021. 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 idea of an overnight mobile emergency 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.

A Message from the Executive Director of The Source

When you begin reading through our “Dignity Bus® Toolkit,” you will find out why we began our journey to develop a Mobile Overnight Emergency Shelter, utilizing the concept of a mobile bus. You will learn how it came to be and how, through some basic thinking, strong research, building partnerships, and the love of humanity, we were allowed to achieve what we have accomplished.

In 2020, just prior to the Pandemic, the team

at The Source, A Christian Ministry for the poor and homeless 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 poor and homeless 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

Our Invitation to You!

Hello! With this Dignity Bus® Toolkit, we invite you to join us in helping people who are experiencing homelessness. You are among the throngs of people from around the world who have told us they wish to start their own Dignity Bus®. The level of interest is unexpected, yet very inspiring. Amidst a global shortage of housing, people everywhere are stepping up to help restore much needed dignity in their community. With this Toolkit, we’ll tell you how we made it happen...and how you can too! Let us be your road map, your compass, your GPS. Hop on the bus and let’s go on a transformative ride together!

accomplish apart.

This is 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.

With this Toolkit you’ll get:

1 A clear roadmap of best practices to fast-track your project.

2 Recommendations to attract local partners, volunteers, and donors.

3 An opportunity to benefit from our experience as we help others to succeed.

By sharing our best practices, we want to help you launch and promote your new Mobile Overnight Shelter initiatives like we did.

Why us?

We’re a market leader. We were the first to do mobile sleeping with an emphasis on innovation, safety, marketing, and compliance by offering a visionary highway to the future.

OUR HANDSHAKE

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.

Connecting communities is at the heart of all of our programs. It’s not just about the members 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 Food Trucks,” “Dignity Job Opportunities,” as well as various other Dignity programs. All of these initiatives were launched during a two year pandemic period.

We want you to succeed and are on a quest to figure out the best ways we can help for a nominal fee.

UP THE ROAD - OUR VISION

As our successful Mobil Overnight Emergency Bus Shelters take root in communities throughout the world, participation in this program will open opportunities to deepen our partnerships. To start, we’re working hard to get the word out about this platform to increase visibility, leading to partnerships, volunteers, and media coverage.

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.

Our brand - our name Dignity Bus® logo and taglines are all trademarked and not available to share with partners. Our charge is to share the tools that will make your unique spin on this concept succeed.

We believe we can accomplish more by working in a partnership than we can

Our vision is to be the leader of non-profits. We’re an organization with experience pushing out new ideas and learning from them.

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

WHO WE ARE...

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.

...WHERE WE’RE COMING FROM

Technically you could call what we do “Human Services.” We call those we serve our members. We built something beautiful for them to use, we know their names, and we learn their stories. 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 and it is vital to stopping the vicious cycle of homelessness.

OUR WORK IS ROOTED IN THREE BELIEFS:

1 2 3Opportunity unfolds when people are treated with Dignity.

When it comes to Dignity, society has different standards for those with resources versus those who lack them.

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.”

Magic Johnson (center) with Tony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of The Source and staff at a coference in Orlando Sheriff Eric Flowers shaking hands with Tony Zorbaugh at the launching of the first Dignity Bus® in Indian River County.

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 vehicle… 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 Emergeny 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 ensure 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 a 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!

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

overnight security person, and monitored CCTV surveillance. There is one generator installed in 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 unsheltered members and guests. 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 air-conditioning units, the filter purifies 99.9% of any possible toxins.

Finished Sleeping Pod Sleeping Pod with closed security curtain The Dignity Bus® Solution

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 imperative.

• 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 is to build a village, a one-stop-housing-community that includes a place for our members to work, pray and socialize, while continuing to use our programs and services. Thus, our slogan, “AWay to theVillage” 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 crucial.

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. We ultimately incorporated what we learned from them into the design process while gaining their trust and loyalty, as well as their respect for the vehicle and its upkeep.

Once you decide to purchase your bus, evaluate how many possible

GUEST RESEARCHEstablish a Connection

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 passengers. 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.

Start simple - say hello and introduce yourself. What’s your name? Where are you from? What’s your story?

UNDERSTAND HOW THEY LIVE THEIR DAILY LIFE

Ask about their routine. What does an average day look like? Where do they usually sleep, eat, do peronal hygiene, etc.

FIGURE OUT THE PAIN POINTS AND ANXIETIES

What do they worry about the most? What are their biggest barriers in moving forward? What goals are they working towards?

REFLECT ON ANSWERS

What surprised you, stood out to you? What did you learn? How can you incorporate these insights into your planning?

Which of these questions can you answer right now? This information will help you develop your business plan and create unique stories for the press, partners and supporters.

1. Who are the general population that you serve?

2. Are they sleeping in shelters or outside? Mostly working or not? What is the demographic breakdown?

3. How many people are affected? Where are they concentrated?

4. What makes the challenge unique in your community?

5. Who is currently working with this population locally? Develop a resource list of other local services and providers.

6. Where can you go to talk to people directly?

PASSENGER SCHEDULES & GUIDELINES

We created a very solid operation to serve our members/guests properly. We determined that those that can utilize Dignity Bus® first are the graduates of our Dining with Dignity program; secondly those who are registered members of The Source, and lastly our guests...others in need of a good night’s sleep. We established a boarding schedule, safety measures, and rules and regulations that must be abided by. As time went on, we also realized that our passengers needed a place to wait for the bus to open, so our safe and climate controlled campus building became available for several hours in advance of boarding. Many of our Source members 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 until the bus boards, spend the night, and then repeat the next day.

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.

5:00 pm Source dining room is open and available for overnight guests to wait indoors until sign-in.

9:00 pm Bus is open for sign-in only. First come first-served.

10:00 pm Blankets, sheets and pillows will be provided.

11:00 pm Last person may enter the bus and bus will be closed for the night.

5:30 am Wake-up begins and removal of bedding next.

5:45 am Clean up and disinfecting of the sleeping pods begins.

7:00 am All laundry bags need to be marked and placed in laundry room.

OVERNIGHT SHELTER GUIDELINES

1. Those who want to sleep on The Dignity Bus® must plan to arrive before 9:00 pm.

2. The Dignity Bus® is on a first-come, first-served basis. Those wanting to stay 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 shelter.

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.

9. The cost to sleep in a pod is $2 per night.

GETTING COMMUNITY SUPPORT

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 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, and in the end we have learned who in the community are our supporters.

v We receive donations of equipment from vendors who we have resourced with over time that we can use for replacement parts when necessary.

v Local companies donate pillows, sheets and blankets under their business foundation arm or will donate promotional products with their logo on the items.

v In addition to the philanthropic community, we have found non-denominational and non-profit organizations 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 DETRACTORS: 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 community members and local politicians have fears about our program and the people we serve. We have learned that we cannot win them all over, however we continue to rally support from the most crucial supporters of our operation…our partners, neighbors, key city/county officials and donors.

The Source was honored to be included in the December 2021 edition of “Bus Conversion Magazine” Dyer Mazda donated blankets Truist donated pillows & bedding

NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) has become an oppositional force we all have to contend with at some point.

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 over one year under our belt (as of this writing), 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 damage 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 annual operating costs are approximately $122K.

OTHER

vRetro-fit: $50-100K (includes sleeping pods, cameras, AC units, TV’s etc.)

SOME FUNDING AVENUES TO CONSIDER

Am I able to secure local, state or business grants?

Is there a private philanthropy group that would help underwrite costs on a one-time basis or for multiple years?

What are your fundraising plans?

Might you develop earmarking opportunities?

How about a sponsorship program?

Do you have dedicated donors who have the means to assist in sustaining the bus on a permanent basis?

The cost of laundry is $3,500 monthly The cost of staff is going to be your biggest expense

APPROXIMATE COSTS:

v Bus Purchase: $0-$20K

vRepairs & Maintenance: $1K (or apply for nonprofit waiver) vVehicle Exterior Wrap $3-5K vCleaning Supplies: $350 monthly vTools & Equipment: $500 monthly vLinen: $2300 monthly vLaundry: $3500 monthly vWater: $100 monthly vGenerator: $10K vFuel & Propane: $500 monthly vLiability, Directors & Officers, umbrella and commercial liability insurance for bus: $5-15K yearly and for Workers Compensation: $4-5K yearly

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 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 in uncovering donors, foundations, and other philanthropic individuals.

A combination of staff, board members and the local sheriffs office, were part of

Dignity Bus®.

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.

Anthony Zorbaugh (left) Executive Director of The Source and J.R. the Maintenance Manager and bus mechanic. Representatives from the Community Foundation of Brevard presented a check to Source staff helping to underwrite the costs associated with the second Dignity Bus® in Palm Bay, FL. the team who helped steer the direction of

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.

SHOPPING FOR THE BUS: Typically, the appropriate 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.

The owner of the company who converted the interior of Dignity Bus® inspecting the quality of the sleeping pods

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 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.

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 help you recruit others who are active in your community to 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, or non-profit and faith-based organizations. As they say, all hands on deck….and you will need them now more than ever.

The

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 community news event. In the early days of the conversion this is breaking news. Depending on the duration of the conversion you will have continuous progress reports and ultimately you will launch the bus to the community with an in-person public event.

PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION:

President of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce introduces Dignity Bus® at a community event. Students of the Indian River Charter School raised funds and presented a check to Anthony Zorbaugh to help subsidize costs for Dignity Bus® The Source receives prestigious recognition from the City of Palm Bay at a local city gathering.

KNOWING YOUR NEEDS

COUNTY PERMITS & REGULATIONS

CITY AND

- In the State of Florida, the process of looking to open a new business, expand an existing business or just getting a business license can be over-whelming and 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.

- 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.

OVERNIGHT LODGING FACILITY

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 a Class A/B driver’s license, 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 to start the job and disappear to another position. You need enough time for training and licensing. Finding people for overnight shifts is not as easy as we once thought. Also, we operate 7 days a week, so we have shifts that run MondayThursday, and Friday-Sunday. 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.

HIRING A BUS DRIVER

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 our nightly bus drivers welcomes and registers one of his passengers on board.

One

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 two weeks learners permit for 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.

Vehicle detailers wash both buses Home of the Indian River County Dignity Bus® Home of the Palm Bay Dignity Bus®

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

READY TO ROLL

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.

and blankets are changed daily, and prepared for the next night’s sleep. Each sleeping pod includes 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.

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.

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 includes 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.

Amanda is in charge of overseeing the cleanliness of the bus daily as well as overseeing the laundering of bedding.

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.

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 Consultant(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 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 an appropriate 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.

Hold a Public Event when you are ready to launch your Bus! You may partner with your City officials and your Chamber of Commerce by 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 attract local attention.

As opportunities arise, bring your Bus to local events where the public will 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.

Dinity Foods culinary student giving an on-air interview about her experience spending the night on the Dignity Bus®

A prayer and welcome at Palm Bay Bus Ribbon Cutting

IN CONCLUSION

Good Luck!

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 at times, for beautification or mechanical repairs, we 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 full capacity passengers nightly for their

individual safe and secure sleeps. All our 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 received invitations to bring our bus to conventions and other cities to explain 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 replicate 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.

Palm Bay Dignity Bus® is our second bus serving the needs of the homeless community.

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.

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.

PHOTO AND GRAPHIC CREDITS MaryAnn Ketcham Paris Productions Rowlinson Media Group