To Our Community Members in Onondaga County or Small and Large Businesses alike, to the community of The U.S.A. and to all of Mankind:

My mission is to see more Humane Encounters and End Homelessness: “Humane Encounters, and a Home for All”. To provide homes to those without, increase awareness about agoraphobia, find ways to help others suffering from social anxiety, while providing support and jobs in the area, and possibly the country, and world.

Why am I doing this?

By the good graces of a few good people I have gotten my life back to “normal” and I am now looking to pay-it-forward and help those in my community. You must truly know my strife to understand. Recently I became homeless due to unforeseen life circumstances. Being this had been the first true time I have been at need for life’s simplest of items, I found myself at a loss. Going to each shelter and church in my area I learned that there is a larger need for shelters and support programs for those affected by homelessness. It was especially hard being a person with a disability as I suffer from agoraphobia, and anxiety/panic attacks.

What makes this movement unique?

As I do suffer from agoraphobia, which makes it hard for me to be around groups of people, unless medicated. And on a personal note that may make me be able to bare it, but inside it feels horrid, and still feels like somewhere there is something that I can’t see that will come after me. So “What makes this movement unique?” I would be starting a home base organization. Meaning volunteers can even do so from home. Volunteer’s could help look for funding and send the information, they can help look for housing in the area that meets a family or individuals needs, ect. Some volunteers might even help case manage, depending on career and education background. This organization has endless potential, and will rely on its volunteers the most. As I know I have stated my condition a couple times I do also dream of a brick and mortar locations in as many places as needed in our community and all other affected areas. Even though I would not be able to see myself going there (not at this time) I would like to see a facilities with staffing as well as a remote @Home work force without limits to help those affected by homelessness. And as I, a person with a disability, learned I could work from home without fear of judgment of ones condition, or worry to have to have a specific required education to help.

Now the part every one is waiting for what is he asking for?

Starting cost has been figured out to be roughly $3k. We could use more but we keep small goals at hand to work towards the bigger picture. The money beings asked is for all legal fees and other costs associated with starting a nonprofit organization (services, equipment, supplies, incentives for volunteers/contributors, ect.). As we need to file both reserving the project name and getting a 501c before we can even look into grants we are relying solely on you. Once funded this would start our processes of registering, getting grant funding and additional community support and volunteers. Eventually with a grant possibly a brick and mortar location to house those in need and staff those who need jobs, and those positions created by this organization/movement. This is a noble dream and I hope you wish to share it with me, and those we help.

While I will be working from home, and volunteering my time to this cause, as well as yourself and others. At this time the community would be in need of a free meeting place to organize, help with office supplies to print flyer’s, funding, or any other help you or your company/organization can offer would be more than appreciated. As we all learned growing up and in schools, you can always fund raise the money to support a venture or trip or whatever you biggest little dream was at the time. So that is what I am looking to do today fund a venture to help my fellow man in every possible way I can fathom.

What impact will this have?

As of the end of 2013 annual reports show that there were already 2,947 individuals and 1,523 families in emergency shelters in Onondaga County alone, as shown on www.hhccny.org. No wonder these resources are hard to come by. We will work with the community, the already existing agencies, and various health care providers in the area to help relieve this strain. If you help bring this dream to fruition and we manage to get complete funding with a location, you will be more so helping the community in several ways. This will clearly help those in need, but it would also create more jobs in the area, even if only a few. Remember a single grain of rice and tip the scale. And eventually I would like to make this a national movement but one small step at a time. So here I stand asking for a kick-starter for a worthy cause.

And lastly the book I briefly spoke of.

Majority of proceeds, excluding costs of course, from the book will go directly into this fund as well. So please if you get involved even though I plan on giving you a ‘shout-out’ write your own experiences down while you help work towards this movement and submit it and it will be part of this journey’s permanent story in binding. This will help fund and help raise awareness of the struggle and journeys of us all affected by homelessness and this movement. Always thinking and never looking for anything to personally gain.

Want to help or have questions?

Please contact me via email with any and all concerns questions comments or even contributions. You can also call a message line 315.278-6835 and I will return your call. I have also started a website for free, and you can find additional information there or even contact us through the website.

Regards,

James Clarke

Humane Encounters

Founder/Volunteer

jamestyec@gmail.com

Funding: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/humane-encounters

Website: http://jamestyec.wix.com/humane-encounters

Addendum: Eventually When we become an Organization with a brick and mortar location to shelter the homeless, all persons employed would be individually contracted as grants and funds become available. There are currently no paid positions, and we are looking to create a board of directors/committees all on a volunteer basis at this time.

First Press Release on CrowdFundingPR.org