A Case Study of How Sharing and Caring Hands Impacts the Lives of

114 Pages·2013·1.44 MB·English

by  Dean R. Hildebrandt

University of St. Tomas, Minnesota
UST Research Online
Education Doctoral Dissertations in Organization
School of Education
Development
2011
Serving the Poor: A Case Study of How Sharing
and Caring Hands Impacts the Lives of the Urban
Poor
Dean R. Hildebrandt
University of St. Tomas, Minnesota
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Recommended Citation
Hildebrandt, Dean R., "Serving the Poor: A Case Study of How Sharing and Caring Hands Impacts the Lives of the Urban Poor"
(2011). Education Doctoral Dissertations in Organization Development. 3.
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SERVING THE POOR:
A case study of how Sharing and Caring Hands impacts the lives of the urban poor
A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS
By
DEAN R. HILDEBRANDT
IN PARTIAL FULLFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
August, 2011
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS
We certify that we have read this dissertation and approved it as adequate in scope and
quality. We have found that it is complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any
and all revisions required by the final examining committee have been made.
Dissertation Committee
John Conbere, Ed. D., Committee Chair
Alla Heorhiadi, Ph. D., Ed. D., Committee Member
Pat Stankovitch, Psy. D., Committee Member
Date
Copyright © 2011 by Dean R. Hildebrandt. All Rights Reserved
Acknowledgments
Thank you:
LeAnn – for teaching me beauty.
Zach – for teaching me courage.
Andrew – for teaching me grace and forgiveness.
John – for teaching me more than I knew existed. My ontological and epistemological
perspectives have expanded because of your influence.
Alla – for teaching me your contagious and energetic quest for knowledge.
Mary Jo and Dick Copeland – your selfless love and caring heal people. You are an
inspiration.
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Abstract
Serving The Poor:
A case study of how Sharing and Caring Hands impacts the lives of the urban poor
Homelessness is a serious national issue. It carriers a significant cost to our
society in terms of both current financial expenditure, and perhaps a much greater cost,
the loss of human potential. Related research has provided many quality indications on
how to assist this population, but little interpretive work has been conducted to truly
understand the experience of serving and supporting the homeless in a manner which
helps them achieve housing and life stability.
This case study seeks to understand how one particular non-profit organization in
Minneapolis, Sharing and Caring Hands, seeks to serve and heal this disenfranchised
population. This case study included thirty-eight in-depth, as well as significant record
reviews and time spent observing the operations at Sharing and Caring Hands.
This case study includes a number of unique findings. The interpretive nature of
the study allowed for the findings to present themselves over an eighteen month period.
Paramount among the findings is that Environment is a critical factor in creating a
healing experience, self-determination and self-efficacy are critical to a person’s ability to
improve their station in life. The most important finding was that the presence of
unconditional love is also a significant ingredient to the growth and development of this
disenfranchised population.
The implications for this study on future research are numerous. The study would
prompt a natural longitudinal study to further examine the longevity of the healing nature
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of the experience at Sharing and Caring Hands. A positive study at Sharing and Caring
Hands would also be valuable in that it would enable a review of a more expansive group
of individuals. Finally, study is warranted to further examine how the financing
mechanism involved in supporting a non-profit also impacts the service paradigm and
service offering.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION…………………………..……………………........1
Background Information………………………………………………..........................5
Purpose……………………………………………………………………….…..……..6
Research Question………………………………………………….…………...……...7
Importance of Study………………………………………………….…………..……..7
Researcher Bias……………………………………………………………………...…9
Definitions…………………………………………………………………………….10
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE…………….……….…….11

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……………………………...….15
Qualification of Approach………………………………………………….…………15
Research Design…………………………………………………...…………………..16
Interview Structure…………………………………………………………………….17
Fieldwork Frequency……………………………………………………………….…17
Observation Structure……………………………………………………………...….18
Data Analysis………………………………….………………………………………19
Confidentiality…………………………………………………………………..…….19
Validity and Generalizability……………………..…………………………………...20
Limitations………………...…………………………………………………………..20
CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH FINDINGS………………………………………...…22
Physical Environment…………………………………………………………………22
The Poor being Served………………………………………………………………...40
Volunteers…………………………………………………………….……………….41
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Employees…………………………………………………………….……………….42
A Day in the life of Mary Jo……………………………………………..……………46
Government as Stakeholder…………………………………………………...………49
Shelter Comparison……………………………………………………………...…….51
Theme Development………………………………………………………………….53
Theme One – Thankfulness………………………………………………………..….54
Theme Two – Desire to Give Back……………………………………………………55
Theme Three – Quality Environment………………….……………………….……..57
Theme Four – Rules are Beneficial………………………………...………………....60
Theme Five – Faith Foundation……………………………………………………….64
Theme Six – Transition……………………………………………………..……...….67
Theme Seven – Self Determination…………………….………………….………….70
Theme Eight – Love………………………………………………...………...……….74
Additional Literature Review Conducted During Fieldwork…………………….…...78
Specific Literature Review through Fieldwork…………………………..……………79
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS…….………………………………………………87
Research Evolution………………………………………………………………..….87
Theme Development………………………………………………………………….88
Dilemma of Findings………………………………………………………………...89
Future Research…………………………………………………………………...…90
Implications for Organization Development……………………………….….…….92

Personal Impact………..……………………………………………………….....….93
REFERENCES………………….…………………………………………………….…96
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FIGURES
Figure 1: Homelessness framework of Causation…...………………………………...4
Figure 2: Sharing and Caring Hands as seen from North Seventh Street, Minneapolis,
Minnesota…………………………………………………………………..24
Figure 3: Sharing and Caring Hands as seen from North Seventh Street, Minneapolis,
Minnesota…………………………………………………………………..24
Figure 4: Lunch line at Sharing and Caring Hands……………………………..……25
Figure 5: Cafeteria at Sharing and Caring Hands…………………………………….25
Figure 6: Cafeteria at Sharing and Caring Hands…………………………………….26
Figure 7: Mary Jo Copeland washing feet……………………………………………29
Figure 8: Clothing distribution area at Sharing and Caring Hands…………………..30
Figure 9: Food shelf distribution at Sharing and Caring Hands……………………...31
Figure 10: Private shower areas in the lower level of Sharing and Caring Hands…...32
Figure 11: Dental services at Sharing and Caring Hands…………………………….33
Figure 12: Outside of Teen Center at Sharing and Caring Hands…………………....34
Figure 13: Daycare Center at Sharing and Caring Hands……………………………34
Figure 14: Weightlifting area in Teen Center, Sharing and Caring Hands…………..35
Figure 15: Mural on wall as you walk in to Teen Center…………………………….36
Figure 16: Mary’s Place transitional housing residence……………………………..37
Figure 17: Laundry facility at Mary’s Place…………………………………………38
Figure 18: Children’s play area outside of Mary’s Place…………………………….39
Figure 19: Sandra Murray: Impact of Self-Perception on relationships……………..76
APPENDIDUM
Addendum A……………………………..………………………………………….103
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