D.C.E. (Direct Community Engagement)
Circle Up Indy (CUI) seeks to improve the quality of life for Martindale Brightwood (M.B.) residents. C.U.I. recognizes that lack of access within the area hinders racial equity, and our work is informed by a mission to connect community members to empowering resources. According to a 2019 S.A.V.I. study, 92% of M.B. residents are black, with 40% living in poverty, and an average household income of $17,610, nearly half the county average of $33,699. These poverty rates reflect decades of commercial disinvestment, poor access to quality education, lack of employment, discriminatory access to capital, and systematic racist city planning. Additionally, MB residents have been excluded from the intergenerational wealth-building opportunities created by home ownership, with just 44% of residents owning their own homes and 25% below the poverty line.
Socioeconomic trauma is a highly pervasive physiological and psychological trauma created by circumstances and stresses strictly caused by socioeconomic status. The burden of trauma is not equally distributed among all groups of societies and often disproportionately affects poor populations. That is why understanding this particular trauma and the inequity it breeds is essential. Their effects are so deeply entrenched and often misunderstood that they often catastrophically combine and ultimately lead to the infiltration of ineffective solutions revictimizing the community struggling the most.
Our Direct Community Engagement (DCE) program links the M.B. community with empowering resources to provide community development opportunities and begin to address the effects of socioeconomic trauma. We look to inspire others in the community with hope and opportunities they can take advantage of to develop and maintain alternative paths for success. This increases access to opportunities and builds equity and inclusion within the neighborhood.
Socioeconomic trauma is a highly pervasive physiological and psychological trauma created by circumstances and stresses strictly caused by socioeconomic status. The burden of trauma is not equally distributed among all groups of societies and often disproportionately affects poor populations. That is why understanding this particular trauma and the inequity it breeds is essential. Their effects are so deeply entrenched and often misunderstood that they often catastrophically combine and ultimately lead to the infiltration of ineffective solutions revictimizing the community struggling the most.
Our Direct Community Engagement (DCE) program links the M.B. community with empowering resources to provide community development opportunities and begin to address the effects of socioeconomic trauma. We look to inspire others in the community with hope and opportunities they can take advantage of to develop and maintain alternative paths for success. This increases access to opportunities and builds equity and inclusion within the neighborhood.
Program Description
C.U.I.’s one-on-one case management process is a core tenet of Direct Community Engagements. Community Conductors (CC) canvas targeted portions of the neighborhood to assess needs and educate community members on additional resources and economic support. After the assessment, the CC, serving as a community case manager, will work with residents for continual follow-up and support. They engage residents continuously to assess needs and concerns, identify key goals, and refer to additional supports and programs such as CUI’s Rising Evolution.
This personalized approach to resource intervention is intended to relieve immediate burdens that could prevent an individual from addressing more complex needs in their environment. This is achieved using one-on-one case management by trained community conductors who identify resources for residents' barriers. The CCs assist with housing stability, homeowner repair and remodeling, and constant connection for community engagement support and educational development.
C.U.I.’s one-on-one case management process is a core tenet of Direct Community Engagements. Community Conductors (CC) canvas targeted portions of the neighborhood to assess needs and educate community members on additional resources and economic support. After the assessment, the CC, serving as a community case manager, will work with residents for continual follow-up and support. They engage residents continuously to assess needs and concerns, identify key goals, and refer to additional supports and programs such as CUI’s Rising Evolution.
This personalized approach to resource intervention is intended to relieve immediate burdens that could prevent an individual from addressing more complex needs in their environment. This is achieved using one-on-one case management by trained community conductors who identify resources for residents' barriers. The CCs assist with housing stability, homeowner repair and remodeling, and constant connection for community engagement support and educational development.
Targeted Population
Circle Up Indy was founded to serve the Martindale Brightwood community, and this program, Direct Community Engagement, will focus its efforts there. We will also help the surrounding areas within the 46218 zip code identified as high crime and low income. We will focus our efforts on the following populations within this geographic area:
Assistance Requirements Checklist
Processes
Circle Up Indy was founded to serve the Martindale Brightwood community, and this program, Direct Community Engagement, will focus its efforts there. We will also help the surrounding areas within the 46218 zip code identified as high crime and low income. We will focus our efforts on the following populations within this geographic area:
- Residents of color
- Homeowners, especially seniors and single-parent households
- Veterans
- Individuals with a criminal history, past evictions, and struggling credit
- Individuals who are under-educated and under-employed in low-income households
- Families currently living in Section 8 housing
- Other historically neglected populations
Assistance Requirements Checklist
- Complete assessment to understand the client’s ongoing concerns
- Client must be residing within Martindale Brightwood or the surrounding 46218 area (provide referrals to other neighborhood programs for those not residing within 46218)
- Valid photo ID (we will assist in obtaining one if they do not have one)
- Priority is given to those whose bills are late, in disconnect notice status, eviction status, currently disconnected, or need major homeowner repair. Clients can receive rental support once a year, utility support once every six months, and transportation services (bus passes, gas cards, etc.) every 30 days:
- We are currently only paying the following:
- Utilities such as electricity, gas, phone, or internet
- Rent & mortgages
- Food & Clothing
- Home repair and maintenance (an additional on-site assessment will be required for this category along with proof of home insurance)
- Utilities such as electricity, gas, phone, or internet
- We are currently only paying the following:
- Bills must not exceed $1200 combined (exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis) (Provide referrals to other neighborhood programs for those over $1200)
- Client must provide updated or hard copies of utility bills, lease or rent invoices, or other applicable supporting documents
Processes
- Before being paid, all requests must be verified with the C.U.I went through two-step verification. Project Manager and Executive Director
- Clients will not receive direct payment. Instead, all payments will be made directly to utility companies, landlords, etc
- Preference is for online or via bank transfer (ACH) payments. C.U.I. is also able to cut a check if needed. Each review will have to be signed for by the company if possible. If unable to sign, the bills will be sent via certified mail
- Detailed notes must exist within client case files and be signed off by C.U.I. Executive Director