Contributor: Amy McInnes, Austin Allies Intern
As tensions rise and as we hold our breath to see what becomes of the aftermath of Election Day, allow this post to be a form of distraction for a minute. This week we wanted to highlight a nonprofit organization here in Austin that does some incredible work and deserves more attention. Allow me to introduce you to The Other Ones Foundation, or TOOF. The Other Ones Foundation, in their own words, is “a nonprofit that provides extremely low-barrier employment, case management, and humanitarian aid to people experiencing homelessness in Austin, TX.” As a person born and raised in Austin, Texas, I’ve seen a lot of changes happen in my hometown. From local businesses shutting down, to skyscrapers over populating downtown, to the massive increase of visitors that turn into residents, but nothing compares to the drastic increase of the population of people experiencing homelessness. What The Other Ones Foundation does is invest in individuals, offering opportunities to work and earn an income during the day while shelters aren’t operating. They ended up creating the Workforce First Program, “an alternative employment program, where individuals are offered the opportunity to work in service of the community as an alternative to panhandling ... The Workforce First Program has paid out over $380,000 in earned income to individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty, and 67 of our clients have moved into stable housing!”
Personally one of my favorite programs that The Other Ones Foundation hosts is the Box of Rain. Box of Rain is a mobile hygiene service that delivers essentials like showering facilities, toilets, food, clothing, and first aid supplies, to individuals experiencing homelessness all over Austin. The Box of Rain was created in response to COVID-19, the mobility of the Box of Rain encourages social distancing and reduces the amount of traveling done by people experiencing homelessness. Another incredible thing is that the Box of Rain and Workforce First Program work together, the people operating the Box of Rain are people experiencing homelessness and are paid hourly to oversee and execute the operations of the Box.
I highly recommend reading on their website (https://toofound.org) about their programs, especially their Esperanza Community.
What I haven’t mentioned yet is our partnership with The Other Ones Foundation. Together we are launching the At Home Advocacy Campaign, aimed at amplifying the voices of people experiencing homelessness while also giving people who aren’t experiencing homelessness the chance to be educated and lend a hand to our friends who need help. Through the At Home Advocacy Campaign, volunteers are able to donate resources through their Resiliency Kits or donate monthly through their Community Builders. An important thing to remember about helping people experiencing homelessness is not to assume anything; we know nothing about what they are going through and we do not know what is best for them. What we should be doing is listening to our friends and helping in any way that we can.
Max Moscoe, The Other Ones Foundation’s Community Engagement Coordinator said, “Every time we see someone break through into a fulfilled, safe, and dignified life, it brings so much joy into all our hearts. It makes the rest of the work, which can be extremely draining, completely worth it.
The Other Ones Foundation is always looking for extra support through donations and volunteers. To donate a Resiliency Kit (or individual items), visit: https://cocobundle.co/toof
For more information about the incredible work TOOF is doing and how you can help, visit their website - https://toofound.org.