HomeMore Project: Interview with Zac Clark, founder of the organization

The HomeMore Project is an organization that was created to directly address the ongoing issue of homelessness in San Francisco, California. The organization's founder, Zac Clark, a recent graduate of USFCA, started this program after coming face-to-face with the shocking number of unsheltered folks in the neighborhood of Tenderloin.

“Just from living there, I learned a lot of stories about people that were homeless, I chatted with them directly, and just from those conversations I learned some insights and ultimately I decided to change my trajectory from corporate America to starting a non-profit,” Clark said.

The HomeMore Project spent 18 months developing the “Makeshift Traveler,” a solar powered backpack, specifically made to support the needs of unsheltered individuals. This backpack contains waterproof USB-A and USB-C outlets, radio tuning and volume knobs, as well as a headphone cable grommet.

As a newer organization, HomeMore does a lot of independent outreach, meaning members will use cars and wagons to distribute as many backpacks as they can directly to those who need it. This method of outreach has allowed their organization to make personal connections with many unsheltered individuals.

HomeMore collects data on the different groups within the unsheltered population they serve so they can better understand specific needs within those groups. “The data that we collect on the people we serve breaks it down at about 40-45% are White or Caucasian, around 30-35% are African American, and 15-20% are Latino,” Clark said.

Another minority group within the unsheltered population in San Francisco is the youth LGBTQ+ community. Although youth only make up a small percent of the homeless community in the United States, according to True Colors United, up to 40% of them are part of the LGBTQ+ community. “Even in California which is very accepting of that community, those youth still face a lot of issues at home and growing up and that can lead them to shelters or different ways of being homeless,” Clark said.

Clark touched on some of the main causes of homelessness in San Francisco specifically, which included lack of affordable housing, job loss, substance abuse issues, and mental illness.

“I think a third tier that is often overlooked is lack of support and family and friends. Most of the people I meet, when they're asked about their upbringing or their family support, it usually is some type of troubled background,” Clark added.

The HomeMore Project understands that its Makeshift Traveler backpacks serve as a temporary form of aid, to make day to day living easier for unsheltered individuals. “Our long term goal is to launch a transitional housing program, so we’re kind of utilizing the backpack program to get in the community and better learn their needs while we prep towards that,” Clark said.

HomeMore plans to distribute 1,500 Makeshift Travelers next year and expand its distribution to 15 other cities in California. They also have a 27 step journey towards the transitional housing program that they hope to launch by 2030. More information and ways to donate can be found on their website.

To learn more about the HomeMore Project, visit https://thehomemoreproject.org/

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