_Planning Ahead to Build a Foundation for Success
_ In order to increase our chances for success it is important for us to have well thought out plans in advance of starting these programs. Planning has the potential to end problems before they begin and to correct problems before they get out of hand. Some plans stated in this chapter will not be applicable to all 3 Eden programs but most will involve 2 if not all 3 of them. There will be 3 categories of planning - one will consist of a broad range of general topics, the second will focus on our work model and last we will cover a broad range of ideas for generating an income to help us in accomplishing self-sufficiency.
_General Plans
_In order to better convey the wonderful potential Eden has and to keep it on the most direct path to success a great deal of planning and research has been invested and they have revealed the following:
Eden has the best chance of success in rural areas as large amounts of land will be needed. Being near a body of water and wooded area would help us irrigate crops, as well as provide fish and wildlife for food and income. Being far from pollution, cooling towers, reactors, mines and any of the like would also be beneficial as all of these can have a negative impact on crops, animals and people. The land will need to be fertile as growing crops represents a major part of Eden. Another bonus would be to establish ourselves near those who are at least partially self-sufficient such as the Amish, Indians, farmers or anyone else who is willing to have us as neighbors and help steer us in the right direction. Due to the non-profit nature of these programs, land grant applications will be filled out to acquire land from the government. Massive amounts of land are constantly given away and with the goals and potential of ending hp and h and reducing government costs on them to zero it is hoped that the requests for land will be met at least on a trial basis.
Eden should be made available to everyone with the exceptions of fugitives, addicts and the mentally ill refusing treatment and the extremely lazy. Even in small numbers these groups of people can do tremendous harm to our goals. The physically and mentally handicapped can be given tasks that are within their capabilities. If willing to receive help even the mentally ill and addicted can become productive members. Receiving treatment while eliminating hp and h from the lives of the mentally ill and addicted has the potential to reduce costs by more than enough to offset the costs of treatment and can reduce the number of those suffering from mental illness by up to two-thirds(#43A).
People should be able to contact Eden directly or be referred by other institutions. To get an idea if Eden is the right choice for them and if they are right for Eden, interviews and as much information as possible should be exchanged over the phone and through the mail. If both parties agree the new person or family is right for this, they should then be welcomed at the next earliest convenience. Hopefully they can reach Eden by their own means but if not we’ll need to be prepared to pay for their travel. Close contact with other institutions can help us find the right people as well as getting people the right help - be it mental/physical services etc..
An in-depth screening process must be set-up to find the right people and prioritize the most urgent cases. People could be categorized into different levels of priority determined by their situation, handicaps, income, needs and history. Criminal background checks must be done to ensure safety. Those who are in need through no fault of their own and the most dire situations should be given top priority, as these groups will likely be the most determined and successful. People will also need to know what to expect and it will be important to provide them with a list of our resources, locations and requirements for eligibility including information required as well as forms and applications to be filled out. In determining if Eden is capable of providing people with their needs, we will need to know whether or not they will require handicap access, addiction counseling, domestic violence counseling, mental health treatment, etc. . Eden will also need to know the answers to the following questions from both applicants and periodically from clients.
The answers to these questions must be verified and then used to determine if a person or family meets Eden’s eligibility requirements for assistance. Upon acceptance one would be assimilated into the program or put on a waiting list depending on Eden’s ability to take them in at that time and the urgency of their situation. The number of clients we can take in at each area will also depend on how many people the land is capable of sustaining.
Before the first person requesting help makes it to Eden it will be important for all staff to be capable of spotting red flags of unacceptable behavior, communication problems with others, violations, etc.. Staff must be trained and knowledgeable about resources, criteria, procedures, programs and services available both inside and outside of Eden. This will help in response to requests and even allow us to proactively offer help with the following: education, employment and training resources; schools and enrichment programs; healthcare and dental clinics; mental health resources; chemical dependency assessments and treatment; legal services; budgeting and credit repair. We should also have a childcare system in place so parents can drop their kids off daily so they can participate in Eden. There should be an orientation process consisting of tours, training, classes, rules, written and video material which could include a summary of all that is discussed in this book that pertains to their situation. A pamphlet, map and physical tour of the area both inside and outside of Eden should be given so people will be aware of where key amenities are, such as grocery stores, hospitals, libraries, schools, buses, and routes. A welcome letter should include all necessary contact info as well as local groups and clubs in the area. People will need to be set-up with their necessities (tools, food, soap, etc.) and directed as to where to get them from in the future. It would be a great moral boost to have existing members give gifts to the newcomers, this will also help to assimilate new people and get them acquainted with their new neighbors.
There will be goals for each program, class and/or activity that individuals will be required to meet to receive ongoing assistance. For each goal we should describe why it is needed, how it is measure and the consequences for not meeting it. Goals should be different for each person and setup by taking a fair, unbiased look at the individual’s abilities and barriers or vulnerabilities. Goals should be established and agreed upon by both Eden and the individual that they are challenging but not overwhelming or impossible. Goals can be anything from maintaining a household budget to growing a set number of crops or working a set number of hours. Upon agreement, the person should sign a contract stating they will accomplish these goals in order to stay in Eden. At certain intervals, assessments of the situation will be made to check for success or failure and to determine why (See Figure 4-1 for an example of an assessment). Modifications of the persons goals can be made if expectations were unrealistic. It must be understood that some people and families will require more time, resources and money than others because of chronic disabilities, addictions, family size, client history, such as past evictions or criminal background; or client functionality or their level of engagement in the program and commitment to change.
Eden has the best chance of success in rural areas as large amounts of land will be needed. Being near a body of water and wooded area would help us irrigate crops, as well as provide fish and wildlife for food and income. Being far from pollution, cooling towers, reactors, mines and any of the like would also be beneficial as all of these can have a negative impact on crops, animals and people. The land will need to be fertile as growing crops represents a major part of Eden. Another bonus would be to establish ourselves near those who are at least partially self-sufficient such as the Amish, Indians, farmers or anyone else who is willing to have us as neighbors and help steer us in the right direction. Due to the non-profit nature of these programs, land grant applications will be filled out to acquire land from the government. Massive amounts of land are constantly given away and with the goals and potential of ending hp and h and reducing government costs on them to zero it is hoped that the requests for land will be met at least on a trial basis.
Eden should be made available to everyone with the exceptions of fugitives, addicts and the mentally ill refusing treatment and the extremely lazy. Even in small numbers these groups of people can do tremendous harm to our goals. The physically and mentally handicapped can be given tasks that are within their capabilities. If willing to receive help even the mentally ill and addicted can become productive members. Receiving treatment while eliminating hp and h from the lives of the mentally ill and addicted has the potential to reduce costs by more than enough to offset the costs of treatment and can reduce the number of those suffering from mental illness by up to two-thirds(#43A).
People should be able to contact Eden directly or be referred by other institutions. To get an idea if Eden is the right choice for them and if they are right for Eden, interviews and as much information as possible should be exchanged over the phone and through the mail. If both parties agree the new person or family is right for this, they should then be welcomed at the next earliest convenience. Hopefully they can reach Eden by their own means but if not we’ll need to be prepared to pay for their travel. Close contact with other institutions can help us find the right people as well as getting people the right help - be it mental/physical services etc..
An in-depth screening process must be set-up to find the right people and prioritize the most urgent cases. People could be categorized into different levels of priority determined by their situation, handicaps, income, needs and history. Criminal background checks must be done to ensure safety. Those who are in need through no fault of their own and the most dire situations should be given top priority, as these groups will likely be the most determined and successful. People will also need to know what to expect and it will be important to provide them with a list of our resources, locations and requirements for eligibility including information required as well as forms and applications to be filled out. In determining if Eden is capable of providing people with their needs, we will need to know whether or not they will require handicap access, addiction counseling, domestic violence counseling, mental health treatment, etc. . Eden will also need to know the answers to the following questions from both applicants and periodically from clients.
- How urgent is the crisis?
- Are you currently living in permanent housing?
- Do you have access to food?
- Do you have access to money?
- Without intervention, how soon will you be hp or h?
- Can housing be preserved or is relocation necessary?
- Are you satisfied with your housing? Why or why not?
- If you are currently hp or h, when do you expect not to be?
- Within your 1st 30 days of being hp or h were your needs met? If not, why do you think it took so long?
- Do you currently have a paying job? If yes, is it part-time or full-time? If no, why not?
- Do you think you may become/stay hp or h in the future? Why or why not?
- Do you have any assets, friends, relatives or connections to organizations that could assist?
- Do you have tenant screening barriers that would make it difficult to find alternate housing?
- Is there a history of hp or h?
- What is your rental, credit, criminal and income history?
- What if any illness and disabilities are there? Explain needs.
- Upon ending your hp or h is there anything in your life that might jeopardize success such as mental illness, drug addiction, family conflict, etc.?
- What are the needs of your situation and the consequences if not addressed?
The answers to these questions must be verified and then used to determine if a person or family meets Eden’s eligibility requirements for assistance. Upon acceptance one would be assimilated into the program or put on a waiting list depending on Eden’s ability to take them in at that time and the urgency of their situation. The number of clients we can take in at each area will also depend on how many people the land is capable of sustaining.
Before the first person requesting help makes it to Eden it will be important for all staff to be capable of spotting red flags of unacceptable behavior, communication problems with others, violations, etc.. Staff must be trained and knowledgeable about resources, criteria, procedures, programs and services available both inside and outside of Eden. This will help in response to requests and even allow us to proactively offer help with the following: education, employment and training resources; schools and enrichment programs; healthcare and dental clinics; mental health resources; chemical dependency assessments and treatment; legal services; budgeting and credit repair. We should also have a childcare system in place so parents can drop their kids off daily so they can participate in Eden. There should be an orientation process consisting of tours, training, classes, rules, written and video material which could include a summary of all that is discussed in this book that pertains to their situation. A pamphlet, map and physical tour of the area both inside and outside of Eden should be given so people will be aware of where key amenities are, such as grocery stores, hospitals, libraries, schools, buses, and routes. A welcome letter should include all necessary contact info as well as local groups and clubs in the area. People will need to be set-up with their necessities (tools, food, soap, etc.) and directed as to where to get them from in the future. It would be a great moral boost to have existing members give gifts to the newcomers, this will also help to assimilate new people and get them acquainted with their new neighbors.
There will be goals for each program, class and/or activity that individuals will be required to meet to receive ongoing assistance. For each goal we should describe why it is needed, how it is measure and the consequences for not meeting it. Goals should be different for each person and setup by taking a fair, unbiased look at the individual’s abilities and barriers or vulnerabilities. Goals should be established and agreed upon by both Eden and the individual that they are challenging but not overwhelming or impossible. Goals can be anything from maintaining a household budget to growing a set number of crops or working a set number of hours. Upon agreement, the person should sign a contract stating they will accomplish these goals in order to stay in Eden. At certain intervals, assessments of the situation will be made to check for success or failure and to determine why (See Figure 4-1 for an example of an assessment). Modifications of the persons goals can be made if expectations were unrealistic. It must be understood that some people and families will require more time, resources and money than others because of chronic disabilities, addictions, family size, client history, such as past evictions or criminal background; or client functionality or their level of engagement in the program and commitment to change.
_
Clients lives should also be documented including information about their past, background, substance abuse, education, mental illness, employment, length of stay at Eden (entry and exit dates), successes or failures at Eden, where are they after Eden and why? The finding as with all others should be compared to the results of other programs.
We should solicit feedback from people on problems early on before they escalate; provide individuals with ongoing feedback, including “warnings” for serious problems; have reviews and approvals done by supervisors or managers before any decision to terminate; create and use an appeal process where a different program decision-maker or internal staff group hears the clients appeal; give timely feedback to the client on the result of the appeal; clarify any option for a “second chance” and describe exactly what is required for reinstatement of the subsidy or services; determine who makes decisions at each step of each process; ensure we use the lowest level of service for the shortest period of time while still being successful; restrict or not allow unauthorized tenants living with or without authorized ones; create and regularly update information on vacancies and waiting lists; define how staff and clients will know when services are completed; share information so everyone understands why we are continuing or changing a particular program.
Goals will also need to be set and achieved by Eden, they should include both short and long-term goals measured by how many homes to build, how much food to grow, how many successful clients and staying under a budget. Any other data that will be helpful will be utilized by Eden to asses and improve effectiveness, efficiency, quality and access. (See Figure 4-2).
Figure 4-2 A sample of what an assessment of Eden may look like is:
Clients lives should also be documented including information about their past, background, substance abuse, education, mental illness, employment, length of stay at Eden (entry and exit dates), successes or failures at Eden, where are they after Eden and why? The finding as with all others should be compared to the results of other programs.
We should solicit feedback from people on problems early on before they escalate; provide individuals with ongoing feedback, including “warnings” for serious problems; have reviews and approvals done by supervisors or managers before any decision to terminate; create and use an appeal process where a different program decision-maker or internal staff group hears the clients appeal; give timely feedback to the client on the result of the appeal; clarify any option for a “second chance” and describe exactly what is required for reinstatement of the subsidy or services; determine who makes decisions at each step of each process; ensure we use the lowest level of service for the shortest period of time while still being successful; restrict or not allow unauthorized tenants living with or without authorized ones; create and regularly update information on vacancies and waiting lists; define how staff and clients will know when services are completed; share information so everyone understands why we are continuing or changing a particular program.
Goals will also need to be set and achieved by Eden, they should include both short and long-term goals measured by how many homes to build, how much food to grow, how many successful clients and staying under a budget. Any other data that will be helpful will be utilized by Eden to asses and improve effectiveness, efficiency, quality and access. (See Figure 4-2).
Figure 4-2 A sample of what an assessment of Eden may look like is:
_In addition to what is discussed in this section and shown in figures 4-1 and 4-2, there are many other examples at http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/3513 that can also be incorporated into this model. The examples include questionnaires/surveys for each of the following: High level management, employees and clients. Although all the surveys are based on homelessness they can be modified to cover hp or h.
Much like the clients Eden is to serve, it too must be evaluated periodically to achieve success. Reasons for this include giving us the ability to:
4 key blocks of performance measurement are inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes and they should be measured both individually and cumulatively. Among the inputs to be measured will be money, staff and staff time, volunteers and volunteer time, clients and client time, facilities, equipment, supplies and land. Activities will consist of providing shelter, employment, food, money, services, self-sufficiency training and case management. All outputs will be monitored including the volume of work accomplished (homes built, food grown), number of participants served, dropout rates, turned away rates and reasons, case managers to client ratios, placement rates, etc.. The outcomes to be measured will include benefits and changes among clients during or after participating in Eden such as a change in client knowledge, attitudes, values, skills, behaviors, conditions or other attributes. We can then gauge our success against past numbers as well as other community services to search for ways to improve.
We should also rate each class/program as a high, medium or low achiever in which 75% or more successful would be high, between 50-75% would be medium and under 50% would be low. Other things to be kept a close eye on : Are we doing what we planned? Are we helping as many as we thought? For the cost? Why or why not? How much does each program cost in total and per person? Can we serve more people by providing less assistance to some clients? How long are people hp or h before, during and after Eden? How much do clients cost before, during and after Eden? How much are we saving from their old situation?
In a search to cover all our bases, it would be beneficial to get regular feedback from staff and clients. Questions to them should include - What about our programs work and what does not? What rules and procedures work well and which ones do not? Where can improvements be made? If we are not providing a service well can someone else provide it better? Are the right things being measured and evaluated? Do we work well together with other agencies? Where can we improve? Is there an organization in our community - a government body, healthcare provider, service provider, landlord, faith group, etc. that is a barrier to ending hp and h in our community?
With all of this information we can periodically revisit program expectations to find out which ones should be increased/decreased, kept or discarded. In seeing what works and what doesn’t as well as which staff is more successful than others, we can have the more successful staff pass their knowledge on to the rest.
Public meetings should be had every so often where all things pertaining to the program could be discussed by all involved. This is when decisions can be made democratically on all topics including should we: have probationary periods with limited privileges for newcomers? Reward successful members? Publicly denounce deviants, expel or deny them privileges? Publicly discuss quarrels between members? Purchase insurance against crop failure? At these meetings our successes and failures can be discussed and corrected, celebrations can also be had including the introduction of newcomers and farewells to those leaving.
Upon leaving Eden, individuals should give a written explanation as to why. The reasons given can be used to help shape Eden into a better place.
Much like the clients Eden is to serve, it too must be evaluated periodically to achieve success. Reasons for this include giving us the ability to:
- Understand what works and what does not.
- Ensure a common understanding among all partners, staff and clients of what we intend to achieve and how we plan to do it.
- Communicate and advocate for community support, such as defending our existence, brokering partnerships, building support, or applying for funding.
- Stay on track and accomplish our goals.
4 key blocks of performance measurement are inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes and they should be measured both individually and cumulatively. Among the inputs to be measured will be money, staff and staff time, volunteers and volunteer time, clients and client time, facilities, equipment, supplies and land. Activities will consist of providing shelter, employment, food, money, services, self-sufficiency training and case management. All outputs will be monitored including the volume of work accomplished (homes built, food grown), number of participants served, dropout rates, turned away rates and reasons, case managers to client ratios, placement rates, etc.. The outcomes to be measured will include benefits and changes among clients during or after participating in Eden such as a change in client knowledge, attitudes, values, skills, behaviors, conditions or other attributes. We can then gauge our success against past numbers as well as other community services to search for ways to improve.
We should also rate each class/program as a high, medium or low achiever in which 75% or more successful would be high, between 50-75% would be medium and under 50% would be low. Other things to be kept a close eye on : Are we doing what we planned? Are we helping as many as we thought? For the cost? Why or why not? How much does each program cost in total and per person? Can we serve more people by providing less assistance to some clients? How long are people hp or h before, during and after Eden? How much do clients cost before, during and after Eden? How much are we saving from their old situation?
In a search to cover all our bases, it would be beneficial to get regular feedback from staff and clients. Questions to them should include - What about our programs work and what does not? What rules and procedures work well and which ones do not? Where can improvements be made? If we are not providing a service well can someone else provide it better? Are the right things being measured and evaluated? Do we work well together with other agencies? Where can we improve? Is there an organization in our community - a government body, healthcare provider, service provider, landlord, faith group, etc. that is a barrier to ending hp and h in our community?
With all of this information we can periodically revisit program expectations to find out which ones should be increased/decreased, kept or discarded. In seeing what works and what doesn’t as well as which staff is more successful than others, we can have the more successful staff pass their knowledge on to the rest.
Public meetings should be had every so often where all things pertaining to the program could be discussed by all involved. This is when decisions can be made democratically on all topics including should we: have probationary periods with limited privileges for newcomers? Reward successful members? Publicly denounce deviants, expel or deny them privileges? Publicly discuss quarrels between members? Purchase insurance against crop failure? At these meetings our successes and failures can be discussed and corrected, celebrations can also be had including the introduction of newcomers and farewells to those leaving.
Upon leaving Eden, individuals should give a written explanation as to why. The reasons given can be used to help shape Eden into a better place.
_Plans for a work model
_Keeping everyone working is of the utmost importance. At Eden, idle hands will only serve to work against us. Clients should learn most if not all of the skills that are necessary at Eden in order to be prepared to fill needed positions due to another’s illness, vacation or anything else that may come up. Employees and guest teachers can give classes and instruction on self-sufficiency type skills like homebuilding, farming, cloth making and so on. These classes can be videotaped and the tapes can be kept in a library for all to view for reference. Learning all of what these classes have to offer would keep work fun and interesting. It will also allow people to pick their own jobs and switch them often to prevent boredom.
A balance can be found between volunteering and being assigned work in that some jobs will be less desirable than others and should be rotated or assigned frequently while other jobs may be requested so often that they can be handled on a volunteer basis. Necessary jobs will be mandatory and jobs of excess that generate income or privileges for the clients can be voluntary. Hard and/or monotonous work can be broken up with short periods of recreation. People who are good at one task or prefer to do it daily should have the opportunity to, so long as they are not required elsewhere.
The handicapped can be just as productive as anyone else in this work model. The tasks they can complete may be more limited than those of the non-handicapped but tasks such as washing dishes, preserving food and watching children are in every way as important as any other tasks we will need accomplished and can be completed by most handicapped people.
Many of Eden’s projects will be more laborious than most people are prepared for, due to this fact work hours will be light at first and gradually increase as clients health and stamina increases. In time contests can be setup to stimulate healthy competition - who can build the most houses, grow the most food, etc. Rewards can range from monetary to time off. Workers or groups should also be praised and/or celebrated for major accomplishments, be it getting things accomplished faster than others or major milestones like sheltering or feeding a certain number of people. For those who do not accomplish their tasks, discipline could include warnings, less privileges, less money and doing less desirable jobs.
To help in deciding productivity levels of individuals a 3-tier grading system could be set up consisting of a fast, moderate and slow worker tier. Which tier one belonged to would be based on their quarterly assessments, productivity in their work compared to others and the inputs of supervisors, employees and fellow clients. When determining ones rewards, be it monetary, time off or whatever it may be a worker in the fast tier should earn credits towards them faster than one in the moderate tier as the moderate worker should earn credit faster than the slow worker. This may not be necessary but it is good to be prepared as laziness can be addictive when the reward is the same regardless of the effort but hard work and determination spread like wildfire when there are increased rewards for those efforts. This part of Eden’s program would put it in everyone’s best interest to be good, fast and efficient in their work.
Although there is far too many factors and variables to attempt this now, it would be helpful in the future (after the program is established) to come up with a detailed manual of how much time and manpower is needed to complete each task?; How many labor hours are needed to support one client for a year?; What tasks need doing?; and when as well as what we want accomplished in the future and what resources they will require? If each task had a set number of labor hours it credited one with than the person who completes their job properly and faster than the time is credited will have more time to do as they please - as they will be credited the same hours as those who take longer than the time allotted. This is also a great incentive for saving labor hours, days, weeks, months and years towards vacation and retirement. It might also be a good idea to credit more labor hours to those who do the less desirable jobs.
Many things can be figured out using data to be calculated using the information form the last 2 paragraphs. Things like how much money each person is producing, how much they should receive, how many labor hours have they worked and how many hours saved for time off and/or retirement. Once we know how many labor hours it takes to sustain a client we could start a system of accumulating time off for sick days, vacation and retirement. A client at minimum should be expected to work the number of labor hours to support themselves and their household and all hours worked above that should go towards time off and retirement. For example, if 1500 labor hours are needed to support a client for a year and they worked 1600 hours, they would have 100 hours credited to them that they could take off or save for retirement. These hours could also be traded or sold so long as Eden is notified of its transfer. Also, if a person were to transfer to another Eden project, these saved hours should be accepted there. (As mentioned on page 29).
Finding work outside of Eden be it an Eden run for-profit business or not could further help generate income for clients. If possible it would be ideal to be able to rotate who worked these jobs as it would keep work fresh and new to people while providing everyone with an ability to earn money, work in Eden and have time off.
A balance can be found between volunteering and being assigned work in that some jobs will be less desirable than others and should be rotated or assigned frequently while other jobs may be requested so often that they can be handled on a volunteer basis. Necessary jobs will be mandatory and jobs of excess that generate income or privileges for the clients can be voluntary. Hard and/or monotonous work can be broken up with short periods of recreation. People who are good at one task or prefer to do it daily should have the opportunity to, so long as they are not required elsewhere.
The handicapped can be just as productive as anyone else in this work model. The tasks they can complete may be more limited than those of the non-handicapped but tasks such as washing dishes, preserving food and watching children are in every way as important as any other tasks we will need accomplished and can be completed by most handicapped people.
Many of Eden’s projects will be more laborious than most people are prepared for, due to this fact work hours will be light at first and gradually increase as clients health and stamina increases. In time contests can be setup to stimulate healthy competition - who can build the most houses, grow the most food, etc. Rewards can range from monetary to time off. Workers or groups should also be praised and/or celebrated for major accomplishments, be it getting things accomplished faster than others or major milestones like sheltering or feeding a certain number of people. For those who do not accomplish their tasks, discipline could include warnings, less privileges, less money and doing less desirable jobs.
To help in deciding productivity levels of individuals a 3-tier grading system could be set up consisting of a fast, moderate and slow worker tier. Which tier one belonged to would be based on their quarterly assessments, productivity in their work compared to others and the inputs of supervisors, employees and fellow clients. When determining ones rewards, be it monetary, time off or whatever it may be a worker in the fast tier should earn credits towards them faster than one in the moderate tier as the moderate worker should earn credit faster than the slow worker. This may not be necessary but it is good to be prepared as laziness can be addictive when the reward is the same regardless of the effort but hard work and determination spread like wildfire when there are increased rewards for those efforts. This part of Eden’s program would put it in everyone’s best interest to be good, fast and efficient in their work.
Although there is far too many factors and variables to attempt this now, it would be helpful in the future (after the program is established) to come up with a detailed manual of how much time and manpower is needed to complete each task?; How many labor hours are needed to support one client for a year?; What tasks need doing?; and when as well as what we want accomplished in the future and what resources they will require? If each task had a set number of labor hours it credited one with than the person who completes their job properly and faster than the time is credited will have more time to do as they please - as they will be credited the same hours as those who take longer than the time allotted. This is also a great incentive for saving labor hours, days, weeks, months and years towards vacation and retirement. It might also be a good idea to credit more labor hours to those who do the less desirable jobs.
Many things can be figured out using data to be calculated using the information form the last 2 paragraphs. Things like how much money each person is producing, how much they should receive, how many labor hours have they worked and how many hours saved for time off and/or retirement. Once we know how many labor hours it takes to sustain a client we could start a system of accumulating time off for sick days, vacation and retirement. A client at minimum should be expected to work the number of labor hours to support themselves and their household and all hours worked above that should go towards time off and retirement. For example, if 1500 labor hours are needed to support a client for a year and they worked 1600 hours, they would have 100 hours credited to them that they could take off or save for retirement. These hours could also be traded or sold so long as Eden is notified of its transfer. Also, if a person were to transfer to another Eden project, these saved hours should be accepted there. (As mentioned on page 29).
Finding work outside of Eden be it an Eden run for-profit business or not could further help generate income for clients. If possible it would be ideal to be able to rotate who worked these jobs as it would keep work fresh and new to people while providing everyone with an ability to earn money, work in Eden and have time off.
_Plans for generating an income
_Making money is critical to keeping Eden established and ensuring we can help others without having to ask for handouts. Some potential sources of income have already been discussed, such as community supported agriculture or we could sell food to supermarkets, at fruit stands or pick-your-own fields or we could start our own business(p.). Money can be invested in a number of different ways including fundraisers, fairs, concerts, parties, shows and music events. Each of these could take place in different cities with the local artists, musicians, sports figures, tv and movie stars.
Eden could earn money by charging visitors for day and overnight stays for providing food and housing and a unique project to be experienced. Visitors could also pay to be a part of our classes or to be taken on a tour of Eden. Also as stated earlier, Eden should be available to everyone but those who are not in need should pay to be a part of it.
Video recordings documenting the daily experiences of Eden could be turned into profit through getting a YouTube following or a reality tv show. If this were to be established, the general public would simply be able to end hp and h through watching tv. Think about all of the mind-numbing garbage on tv and instead of that you could see people working together everyday to end suffering - all while being a part of ending it yourself simply by watching tv and increasing the income generated by advertisements. This is the simplest method to self-sufficiency of Eden, it would end the need for money from other sources quickly and require nothing more than for people to watch a tv show that can end hp and h, could it be any easier?
Another idea is a program to be developed for computers that displays commercials continuously in the corner of the screen, no matter what website one is on. The advertisers would pay for the ability to be in the display, the person using the computer pays nothing - they just watch commercials while the money they generate from doing so goes to end hp and h.
My parts in this will include applying for government grants, hiking, raising funds, awareness and support for ending hp and h through any way I can conceive. Through this book, face book, twitter, emails, letters, phone calls and in person meetings I will do my best to raise awareness and funds. The purpose of the hike will be to raise money through pledges from individuals and organizations; getting the best, brightest and most powerful people in our nation to give their input on the ideas stated in this book; and getting the government to recognize it is time to change their policies on hp and h.
A non-for-profit with a name that requires a short story to understand has been created with the intention of accomplishing all that we’ve went over in this book. It’s (501 c3 tax exempt pending) accepting donations and with enough help ready to end hp and h xxxxasjkfd. It’s called Tom Joad - Helping Those Who Have Had Everything Taken From Them Corp.. The reason for the name comes from the John Steinbeck book the Grapes of Wrath and the film that was based on it. The main character, Tom Joad and his family were down on their luck through no fault of their own and wanted no handouts. They only wanted work and the ability to take care for themselves but everywhere they went they faced hardship and suffering. Towards the end of the story, Tom says to his mother “I’ll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there’s a fight, so hungry people can’t eat, I’ll be there…I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry and they know supper’s ready, and when the people are eating the stuff they raise and living in the houses they built - I’ll be there too” (#40R). The Grapes of Wrath and Tom Joads quote summed up the idea behind Eden so well that it only seemed fit to name the non-for-profit after him. It’s about having everyone filled with his spirit and sense of food and shelter for all - not about you or me being or feeling like Tom Joad but an entire society driven to end the suffering of as many as they possibly can because if someone is suffering we are all to an extent suffering and it is in all our best interests to end that. There will be a great joy to be had for those who couldn’t feed or shelter themselves to suddenly be able to and for those who help others accomplish this - they will be one with the love and happiness that comes with it.
Eden could earn money by charging visitors for day and overnight stays for providing food and housing and a unique project to be experienced. Visitors could also pay to be a part of our classes or to be taken on a tour of Eden. Also as stated earlier, Eden should be available to everyone but those who are not in need should pay to be a part of it.
Video recordings documenting the daily experiences of Eden could be turned into profit through getting a YouTube following or a reality tv show. If this were to be established, the general public would simply be able to end hp and h through watching tv. Think about all of the mind-numbing garbage on tv and instead of that you could see people working together everyday to end suffering - all while being a part of ending it yourself simply by watching tv and increasing the income generated by advertisements. This is the simplest method to self-sufficiency of Eden, it would end the need for money from other sources quickly and require nothing more than for people to watch a tv show that can end hp and h, could it be any easier?
Another idea is a program to be developed for computers that displays commercials continuously in the corner of the screen, no matter what website one is on. The advertisers would pay for the ability to be in the display, the person using the computer pays nothing - they just watch commercials while the money they generate from doing so goes to end hp and h.
My parts in this will include applying for government grants, hiking, raising funds, awareness and support for ending hp and h through any way I can conceive. Through this book, face book, twitter, emails, letters, phone calls and in person meetings I will do my best to raise awareness and funds. The purpose of the hike will be to raise money through pledges from individuals and organizations; getting the best, brightest and most powerful people in our nation to give their input on the ideas stated in this book; and getting the government to recognize it is time to change their policies on hp and h.
A non-for-profit with a name that requires a short story to understand has been created with the intention of accomplishing all that we’ve went over in this book. It’s (501 c3 tax exempt pending) accepting donations and with enough help ready to end hp and h xxxxasjkfd. It’s called Tom Joad - Helping Those Who Have Had Everything Taken From Them Corp.. The reason for the name comes from the John Steinbeck book the Grapes of Wrath and the film that was based on it. The main character, Tom Joad and his family were down on their luck through no fault of their own and wanted no handouts. They only wanted work and the ability to take care for themselves but everywhere they went they faced hardship and suffering. Towards the end of the story, Tom says to his mother “I’ll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there’s a fight, so hungry people can’t eat, I’ll be there…I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry and they know supper’s ready, and when the people are eating the stuff they raise and living in the houses they built - I’ll be there too” (#40R). The Grapes of Wrath and Tom Joads quote summed up the idea behind Eden so well that it only seemed fit to name the non-for-profit after him. It’s about having everyone filled with his spirit and sense of food and shelter for all - not about you or me being or feeling like Tom Joad but an entire society driven to end the suffering of as many as they possibly can because if someone is suffering we are all to an extent suffering and it is in all our best interests to end that. There will be a great joy to be had for those who couldn’t feed or shelter themselves to suddenly be able to and for those who help others accomplish this - they will be one with the love and happiness that comes with it.
