Bubbles Update

Services will continue through October and hopefully beyond! While Madison Homelessness Initiative is backing off after creating and running Project Bubbles for 5 years – volunteers are stepping up with time and money for it to continue, perhaps with changes.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Last night, at 9:50 I was informed:

Brenda,

I am no longer able to sustain Bubbles and its last day will be this Friday.
Please spread the word as will I.

I will come by TRC to pick up the remaining cash and supplies on Friday afternoon.

Thank you.

Donna

7:05 this morning, this was sent out:

Dear Community,

Regretfully, due to fiscal and other considerations Project Bubbles is announcing its last day of operation to be this Friday October 7, 2016. Please spread the word.

Thankfully the opening of the new day resource center with ample laundry (and shower) facilities is on the horizon. Until then, perhaps some short term solutions will show themselves to address the great need revealed by Project Bubbles over the past five years.

It was the compassion and generosity of the City of Madison, the Madison Rotary Foundation, the Evjue Foundation Inc. – a charitable arm of the Capital Times, private donors and dedicated volunteers that made this dignity program possible. Abundant thanks!

From the heart,

Donna Asif
Founding Director,
Madison Homelessness Initiative
Fiscal Sponsor: Center for Community Stewardship

Every moment since then, we’ve been scrambling to figure out what to do.

Short-term fix
Volunteers are willing to continue, but we do need more!

4 donors (past and present volunteers) stepped up to make sure the program runs through the rest of October while we figure things out.

We are willing to continue to run the program through when the day resource center opens and hope the city will continue to support the program at the level they funded it at for that time. The county has 2016 funds for homeless services that could also be tapped into. At the moment, we need to secure a fiscal agent with non-profit status and the requisite insurance that already has an audit completed each year – typically only those organizations that already have funding from the county and city.

Temporarily, Occupy Madison can receive funds for the program to keep it running until a fiscal agent is secured.

This is the emails that went out to the homeless services consortium late this afternoon:

4 current and past Bubbles volunteers have made donations to get us through the end of October. We know there is additional community support out there for this program and we believe it will continue!

The Madison Homelessness Initiatives laundry program might be closing, but the volunteers are trying to figure out something to continue the service. In the meantime, we will keep the program open and Bubbles WILL BE OPEN next week Tuesday and Friday 9 – 1. And I’m quite certain it will stay open one way or the other. It may not be a Homelessness Initiatives program, but the volunteers (past and present) are dedicated to keeping it going.

Sorry for the scare, please reassure people that the service will remain in effect for now. We have not abandoned folks! There may be some changes to dates and times and location, but we are seeking participant feedback on that.

Donations still welcome (especially due to the anticipated increase with the changes at Salvation Army), but we’re not sure which entity will be taking those donations. If you know of people who are interested in donating have them email brendakonkel@gmail.com and we will let them know how when we figured it out!

If you know of anyone interested in volunteering – we do still need some volunteers who can double up with our volunteers and take some shifts when people are out. They can also email brendakonkel@gmail.com.

Please find the attached flyer you can print and hand out to clients.

Finally, we all owe a HUGE debt of gratitude for the vision Donna showed in starting this program to provide dignity for our neighbors who find themselves without a home. The program and need has grown beyond what anyone expected and please thank her for keeping the program alive and running for last 5 years!

Here’s what the flyer says:

Bubbles is NOT closing!
You might have heard rumors that Bubbles is closing. That is not true!

Madison Homelessness Initiatives has ended but our volunteers are working to keep the laundry program open.

We want your opinion!

We are thinking about moving Bubbles to Parktowne Coin Laundry at 306 S Brearly St.

If you have time, please look at the location and tell us what you think.

We also might be changing the days and times and want to know when works best for you.

You can either come give us your opinion in person at Bubbles or email us at madisonbubbleslaundry@gmail.com

I spent about 10 hours today figuring this out, not done yet, but Bubbles will continue and we will seek input and ensure that we give proper notice about any changes that are made. I’ve been working 16 hour days at work and now I’m another 10 hours behind, but it was important. Thanks to everyone who helped problem solve!!! (Love to you all!!!!!)

Services will continue through October and hopefully beyond! While Madison Homelessness Initiative is backing off after creating and running Project Bubbles for 5 years – volunteers are stepping up with time and money for it to continue, perhaps with changes.