VIEW THE NEW WEB SITE:
http://KoinoniaCommunities.org
Phil 2:1-4 – If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
THE VISION
Koinonia (“Fellowship”) Communities is a faith-based initiative to provide safe housing and opportunities for volunteer service, employment and training for the homeless. It is required that everyone use their gifts and skills to assist other community members as needed. With a mixture of Permanent, Transitional and Shelter housing within an RV campground community, everyone participates in farming, maintenance, cleaning, cooking, training, educating, mentoring, promotion, transportation, security, volunteering and whatever other services are required to maintain the well-being of the community. The community is also supported by outside volunteers and organizations within Cherokee County. Plans are in place for on-site healthcare and social services.
Phase I focuses on housing all currently homeless individuals, including (in order of application preference):
PERMANENT HOUSING for rent – for those whose income is not expected to increase. Preference for on-site service opportunities is given to this group of residents:
- Physically disabled Veterans, Police Officers, Fire Fighters (First Responders)
- Mild cognitively disabled Veterans, Police Officers, Fire Fighters (First Responders)
- Physically disabled non-Veterans
- Mild cognitively disabled non-Veterans
- Low income Seniors
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING for rent – for those whose income can be expected to increase:
- Veterans and First Responders with addictions
- Veterans and First Responders – incarcerated (with preference going toward those with the least incarcerations)
- Non-Veterans with addictions
- Non-Veterans – incarcerated (with preference going toward those with the least incarcerations)
- Homeless Teens
TEMPORARY SHELTER HOUSING for rent or for free (on an individual basis) – for those who have immediate need for shelter, but for whom there are no available housing units:
- All groups listed above
TYPES OF HOUSING:
Permanent: Tiny Houses (with and without plumbing), RVs (with and without plumbing)
Transitional: Bunkhouses (without plumbing)
Temporary: Temporary Shelters (without plumbing)
TYPES OF COMMUNITY BUILDINGS:
- Bathhouses with private toilets and showers.
- Community Building for meals, meetings, training, daycare
- Clinic
- Chapel
- Outdoor Theatre
- Kennels – if combined with animal rescue in conjunction with Humane Society
TYPES OF ON-SITE VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
- Farming – on site vegetable garden, fruit and nut trees, chickens (eggs)
- Cooking, Food Preparation, Canning – foods
- Laundry
- Cleaning
- Grounds Maintenance
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Vocational training
- Educational training (GED, tutoring)
- Member Assistance
- Daycare / Nightcare
- Security
- Animal care
- Transportation
TYPES OF OFF-SITE VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
- Feed the homeless
- Help with lawn care for seniors and disabled
- Help with cleaning for seniors and disabled
- Help with participating church and non-profit organization projects, such as building houses for Habitat For Humanity, etc.
- Promote Koinonia Communities to Cherokee County businesses, churches, non-profits
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- FBI fingerprinting and background check.
- No sexual offenders or history of battery in Phase I.
- Must be a legal United States citizen.
- Must have proof of homelessness for minimum time period (to be determined).
- Must provide proof of income.
- Must pay $50 for application, or receive sponsorship for payment of application.
RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL:
- PRAYER
- Sufficient land to build the RV park.
- Zoning approval. ***Zoning, Planning & Land Use have approved us to move forward on appropriate land with a minimum of 10 acres as a private campground.***
- Utilities (if not present), including water, electricity, possibly natural gas or propane.
- Used and/or new donated RVs.
- Materials and labor for tiny houses, bath houses, bunkhouses, community buildings.
- Volunteers to help with all areas, including repair of RVs and vehicles, fundraising and promoting community awareness, training and mentoring, design and development of the community.
- Supplemental food stocks for community meals and feeding the homeless.
- Vehicles to transport members.
PHASE II is for Cherokee County residents not presently homeless, but facing homelessness due to low income, mental or physical disability, release from detention center or rehabilitation center, and other life-altering events.
Phase II would duplicate the model of Phase I, but would be family oriented, with family services, and all members of the community helping to take care of the families. This could include child, animal and senior daycare, after-school care with tutoring, animal rescue, personal assistance for physically and mentally disabled residents. Phase II could be duplicated as the community needs grow.
PHASE III is for homeless Cherokee County residents that are restricted from community areas, such as those with histories of sexual charges or assault and battery.
Phase III is for those that basically no one cares for. They are the outcasts of the community for whom very few people have compassion because of the stigma of their crimes, who have very little hope of finding employment or possibly joining a community due to restrictions on their living arrangements. This phase can only come to pass if there are those in the community who decide that everyone has a right to safe shelter, and they are willing to make this happen themselves.