How might we create a welcoming space at Jesse Tree for kids of all ages that is safe, engaging, and easy to clean, knowing that the family may be in a stressful situation?
Jesse Tree is a non-profit located next door to One Stone with a mission to keep “the traumatic, life-altering experience of eviction and homelessness from happening to our neighbors, and to our community.” Jesse Tree provides rental assistance to individuals and families facing the threat of eviction, in addition to helping renters communicate with their landlords and access needed resources. One Stone students began to work with Jesse Tree in fall 2019 to renovate their waiting area in order to make it more welcoming to the children of clients who come in to access support.
Through research and interviews with Jesse Tree staff, the team identified the trauma that can be caused by eviction and homelessness, as well as how expensive and challenging it can be to break the cycle of homelessness. The team also learned how stressful it can be for young children to visit Jesse Tree with their parents; in a time of financial instability and uncertainty at home, it can be hard to sit still for two hours while their parents are speaking with a case worker. It was this insight that led the team to research trauma-informed interior design and toys, with the ultimate goal of creating a welcoming space for children who visit Jesse Tree.
Because Jesse Tree had recently expanded into a new office space, there was preliminary work to be done in redesigning the waiting area. The team visited Jesse Tree twice to paint their walls a pale shade of blue, based on research indicating that blue is the most calming color. They also painted a section of the wall with chalkboard paint in order to provide a creative outlet for children. In addition to physical modifications to the space, the team planned to provide plants, toys, and a children’s book that they would write and illustrate. The book would follow the adventures and challenges of Boddhi, Jesse Tree’s therapy dog, after he got lost, with the ultimate message that home is family, and not a place. The team was in the midst of building a frame for the chalkboard wall when they were forced to go remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team quickly pivoted their focus to align with the realities of the pandemic: Jesse Tree was receiving more calls than ever due to the rapid increase in unemployment in Idaho. After empathizing with the staff of Jesse Tree, the team decided to develop personalized care packages for them, with a focus on gratitude, human connection, and stress reduction. Each team member wrote a letter to a member of the Jesse Tree staff, created a homemade gift, and provided their favorite snacks, in addition to other small tokens of appreciation. These packages were delivered at the end of May, which is an intentional decision based on the increase in calls to Jesse Tree at the end of the month when rent is typically due.
Outcomes:
The outcomes of this project include giving a fresh few coats of paint to Jesse Tree’s waiting area and the creation and delivery of ten care packages to Jesse Tree’s staff members.
