A Pathway Home: Community-Driven Housing Solutions
Thank you for reviewing our proposal for transforming lives through dignity, stability, and genuine partnership. As organizations serving vulnerable community members, we understand that sustainable change requires innovative approaches rooted in lived experience and community wisdom.
Healing by Dezigns can complement your vital work, creating pathways to stability for those failed by traditional systems. Together, we can build what our community needs most: a true pathway home.
About Healing by Dezigns
Dr. Ameela Boyd, Founder & Executive Director
With over six years of proven community impact, Healing by Dezigns has served:
  • 400+ men and women through holistic barbershop therapy and Healing Her Story programs
  • 40+ children through our Mammy and Me program
Our approach is informed by lived experience—I've been homeless three times, lived in transitional housing, and stood in welfare lines. This independent living model isn't just a program on paper; it's a blueprint for real lives, including my own.
The Problem: Housing Instability
Justice-Involved Individuals
  • 64.7% of individuals released from PA state prison are rearrested within three years
  • Recidivism costs PA taxpayers $3.1 billion annually
  • In Allegheny County: 67% of jail population is Black (vs. 13% of general population)
Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
  • 1,100 youth age out of foster care annually in Pennsylvania
  • 25% experience homelessness within four years
  • Only 44% secure employment by age 21
Veterans & Senior Adults
  • Veterans constitute 20% of homeless population in Allegheny County
  • 6.8% of Pennsylvania veterans live in poverty
  • 24% spend more than 30% of income on housing
The Gap We Fill
Current housing options force impossible choices:
  • Shelters: Restrictive, temporary, often unsafe
  • Group homes: Institutional, loss of autonomy
  • Market-rate housing: Unaffordable, discriminatory barriers
  • Subsidized housing: Years-long waiting lists
Our independent living model fills the critical gap between institutional care and unaffordable market housing.
The Solution: Independent Living with Dignity
Independent living means autonomy with accountability. Residents make their own decisions, manage their own lives, and access services by choice, not mandate.
How It Works
  • Shared housing: 3-bedroom homes housing 6 residents (2 per room)
  • Regular monitoring: Safety checks and house rule compliance
  • External services: Mental health, employment support, financial literacy
  • Resident autonomy: Independent living while rebuilding stability
Who We Serve
  • Justice-involved individuals reentering society
  • Young adults aging out of foster care
  • Low-income individuals facing housing instability
  • Veterans experiencing housing challenges
  • Senior adults priced out of housing market
Financial Model: Sustainable & Transparent
Per Home Financial Overview (Monthly)
Resident Rates & Market Comparison
Our lowest rate: $700/month (shared room)
Pittsburgh market rates:
  • Low-end apartments: $980/month minimum
  • Median rent: $1,154 - $1,450/month
Critical difference: Our all-inclusive model includes utilities, insurance, internet, and household supplies—saving residents $200-400+ monthly compared to market options.
Startup investment: Maximum $5,000 per house
Community Integration & Risk Management
How We Complement Existing Services
  • Fill gaps between shelter and market-rate housing
  • Support residents in accessing benefits and services
  • Partner with housing authorities, social services, courts, and reentry programs
  • Prepare residents for long-term housing success
Addressing Concerns Proactively
  • Professional management with regular property inspections
  • Clear house rules and oversight systems
  • Full liability protection and property insurance
  • 24/7 emergency contact system
Implementation Timeline & Impact
Immediate Goals (2025)
Launch first home next month
Establish 3 homes housing 18 individuals by December
Document outcomes and best practices
Growth Vision (Years 2-5)
Expand to 10+ homes across multiple counties
Purchase our own properties
Train 5+ community organizations in model replication
National Impact
Create replicable model for communities nationwide
Build movement of community-led housing solutions
Demonstrate that lived experience drives effective interventions
Every bed filled is a preventative strike against homelessness, re-incarceration, and long-term instability.
What We're Asking For
Property Access
  • Rental partnerships: 3-bedroom properties at or below $1,300/month
  • Property ownership: full joint, or lease-to-own
  • Accessible neighborhoods with public transit
  • Standard rental agreements with professional management
Startup Support
  • Furniture donations: Beds, bedding, kitchen items
  • Gift cards: Food, cleaning supplies, welcome kits
  • Funding: Startup costs, utility deposits ($6,000 per house maximum)
Community Partnership
  • Service referrals: Mental health, employment, benefits assistance
  • Professional recognition while maintaining program autonomy
  • Advocacy support to community stakeholders
Join Us in Building a Pathway Home
This proposal is about creating real change—one house, six people at a time. We know this model won't solve homelessness overnight, but it will create meaningful impact right now for those who need it most.
We need partners who believe that housing is healthcare, housing is justice, and housing is the foundation for everything else.

Contact: Dr. Ameela Boyd, Founder and Executive Director
Phone: 724-202-4685
Email: [email protected]
FOR MORE INFORMATION

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