Since early in the process of bringing into focus the vision for Chloe’s Place (a self-sufficiency home for young single moms and their children) I’ve had a snap shot in my mind of just how it might look. It has a warm, comfy, living area with space for each little family to l live in community with the other little families; all living and working together toward common goals. The living space, the one I see when I ponder it all, does not look like a house from the 50’s (Think Leave it to Beaver or Father Knows Best). It does not look like the house I live in; eclectic furnishings, with lingering ‘country/traditional’ themes. I picture a modern space, open, with lots of space for children to play. It has wood floors and big furniture and an awesome kitchen for the moms to gather round as they learn to cook (Think classy loft).
There is another unique twist in my vision of Chloe’s Place. The living space, sits a floor above a bustling business... (Think coffee shop/cafe). The ‘business’ is a part of the whole package. It is managed and operated by people committed to the self-sufficiency vision. It serves several important functions:
≠ Provides the primary funding stream for CHLOE, Inc. residential and outreach programs, promoting organizational self-sufficiency.
≠ Provides hands on job skills training for residents of Chloe’s Place equipping them toward self-sufficiency.
≠ Provides the community with an excellent product and service. (Think food, drink, meeting space)
≠ Provides an opportunity to equip coffee growers in a Third World Country with resources toward their self-sufficiency.
I’ve pondered the whole ‘micro-enterprise’ potential, long before I knew it was becoming a trend for not for profit organizations in the U.S. It makes complete sense to me! We know that a residential program with educational and job skills programming is not an inexpensive venture. While individual and corporate donations will always play a vital role in the work, it seems reasonable to work toward having a substantial amount of the budget earned from within; self-sufficiency modeled from the core of the organization. Grant funds have long been the 'brass ring' for non profits. Over the past 10 years I have watched that funding stream get increasingly difficult to access. For example, in September we submitted a proposal for $ 8,000.00 to fund a CHLOE Outreach program that is ready to launch. A total amount of $200,000.00 available to be divided between 20 organizations... each receiving up to $10,000.00. I received word from the funding organization that they received 1,000 proposals requesting a total of $8 million! We are waiting to hear if our proposal will be awarded funds.
I recently met Tom Thompson, founder/director of The Refuge, a ministry to men in Vinton County, OH. Their operation is 80% funded by the catering business they established! Tom shared that the money is only a portion of the benefit that developing the catering business has afforded. Today I was reading about Q’s Cafe in Seattle and Ebenezer’s Coffee House in D.C.; I love their vision and successful implementation!
I no longer pine for the ‘miracle’ of instant embodiment of the vision. I’m most grateful for what I am learning, how I am growing spiritually and professionally in this venture. I am at peace with the pace of development and the realization that what CHLOE, Inc and Chloe’s Place is to do requires a firm, broad foundation that is laid brick by brick, day by day. I believe that if I accomplish what is reasonable and responsible each day, that before you know it you will be receiving an invitation to join in the grand opening celebration...and perhaps even have a cup o’ Joe with us, at our place!
