Micro-Shelter | Ozark Op

Micro Shelter Initiative

Ozark Opportunities Inc. is working with local youth groups in an effort to erradicate homlessness in the North Arkansas area. Youth groups from Baxter, Boone, Marion and Searcy counties will be given the chance to apply for a grant from Ozark Opportunities Inc. to construct a micro shelter that can house a family of 4 individuals in need!

Through the support of several local partners who have generously donated their funds or resources and the time and effort of Ozark Opportunities and the youth groups involved we hope to have several micro-shelters in the counties where they are most needed by the middle of 2019.

Complete the documents to the right for your Youth Group to be eligible to win this contest! Applications must be received by January 11. 2019 and contest winners will be announced on January 18, 2019.

Please contact Rebecca Hanlin or Ben Glover @ (870) 741-2089 with any questions. Applications can be emailed (provided all information is in one document) to rhanlin@ozarkopp.org or you can mail to the address listed below:

Ozark Opportunities Inc.
Community Services Department
Attn: Rebecca Hanlin
1856 Church Park Drive, Suite C
Harrison, AR  72601

Application

Letter of Interest template

Micro-shelter Flyer.docx

Overview-micro-shelter-project

Homeless Population is on the Rise Across the US

2017 marked the first time since 2010 that there was an increase in the homless population of America. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development reported on 12/4/17 that the homless population had increased to 554,000 individuals which is a 1% increase from 2016.

More Homeless = Less Room in Existing Shelters

Of the 554,000 homeless individuals reported in 2017, 193,000 of those individuals have no access to nightly shelter and are forced to stay in places that are deamed “uninhabitable” such as tents, vechicles or on the streets. This unsheltered figure is a 9% increase from 2015 (when the data was last gathered).

Suprising Homless Statistics from Arkansas

Out of the growing national statistics on homlessness as of 2017 there were 2,467 individuals that were classified as homless living in the state of Arkansas. In the Harrison, AR school district there are almost 200 children currently enrolled that would be considered homeless.

Here is an example of an entire community of micro-shelters that were created by a group of students in Seattle, WA. Nickelsville

Seattle, WA