A Helping Hand in Madison, WI A Helping Hand in Madison, WI
RODNEY ALEXANDER, THE PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE UMBRELLA TRANSITION PROGRAM, GREWUP ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGOWITH NINE BROTHERS AND SISTERS. WHILE HE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO NEVER HAVE BEEN HOMELESS HIMSELF, HE CAME CLOSE TO IT AT TIMES AND HIS FAMILY CERTAINLY KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO STRUGGLE. “I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS THAT COME WITH BEING HOMELESS OR LIVING IN AN IMPOVERISHED AREA,” SAYS RODNEY. THAT ISWHY HE FOUNDED THE UMBRELLA TRANSITION PROGRAM, A PROGRAM AIMED AT GETTING THE HOMELESS COMMUNITYOFMADISONBACKONTHEIR FEET. THE APPROACH AT THE UMBRELLA TRANSITION PROGRAM, RODNEY BELIEVES THAT INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE IN COMBINATION WITH A COMMUNITY APPROACH IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. DUE TO THIS, EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT SEEKS OUT THE PROGRAM WILL BE ASSESSED FOR THEIR OWN SPECIFIC, PERSONAL NEEDS DURING THE INTAKE PROCESS. DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL, PERSONAL NEEDS MIGHT MEAN MAINTAINING SOBRIETY, FINDING JOB STABILITY OR RENTING AN APARTMENT. DURING THE PROGRAM, MEMBERS WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS AND FORM CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROGRAM ASWELL AS THE STAFF. TO ASSIST WITH THE PROCESS, RODNEY WORKS WITH HOUSING MANAGEMENT IN THE MADISON AREA TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND MOVE INTO THEIR OWN PLACE. HE ADDITIONALLY TALKS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SECURE JOBS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF SKILL SETS THATWILL APPEAL TOTHOSE INTHE PROGRAM.
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