Category: Projects Spring 2017

Interactive, Graffiti Wall

Posted on by Wen Cong

Ethnography Summary

A graffiti wall was conducted at the end of a peer-to-peer meeting where two questions were posed: 1. What were the biggest obstacles that you faced as someone just released from prison?. 2. What are the biggest reasons that you have had trouble finding housing?

However, the members at the meeting were unexpectedly reluctant to participate in the study. I think they felt embarrassed in front of the others, and the meeting ran a little long so many members left a little early. However, some people emailed me later that week with their answers, so those were also included in this summary.

Date: 3/8/17

Type: Interactive

Location: Imani Unidad, Peer-to-Peer meeting.

Top 3 Learnings:

  1. Housing related issues was listed as one of the top obstacle people faced upon release from incarceration in about half of the responses, and all of the individuals that did not face such issues, were lucky to have supportive family members to live with. Other issues include pressure from gangs/other negative influences, gaining employment, and obtaining official identification (driver’s license/social security card).
  2. Finding housing was only one of the housing-related issues stated for ex-convicts. Individuals said they also suffer from slum lords, terrible living conditions, and toxic environments in their easiest options.
  3. By far the biggest reason cited for why they had trouble finding housing was a lack of income and resources. This limits their options considerably and keeps them discouraged from even looking/applying. This was surprising given that we have been approaching this issue more from the lens of discriminatory behavior by landlords.

Key Insights – (1) This meeting was very enlightening and powerful, and a lot of insights were gained from observing and speaking to the clients. It was very interesting to hear about housing issues other than just difficulty finding a place to stay. We have not really considered the quality of the housing or the type of environment it would be for the former offender.  (2) I was pleasantly surprised by the positivity of a lot of the ex-convicts were about their future, and by how many of them were excited and open to hearing our ideas. We watched a documentary, 13th, in the meeting, and they were especially interested in hearing our perspectives on the issues discussed in the film.

Immersion: Looking for housing as an ex-convict

Posted on by Wen Cong

Ethnography Summary

Wen-Cong Toh investigated low-income housing options in South Bend as someone who was recently incarcerated would.

Date: 3/5/17 and 3/15/17

Type: Immersion

Location: In the library, making phone calls and using the computers to browse websites and applications.

Housing options investigated:

  1. South Bend Housing Authority, Public Housing: On the application, it asks if the applicant has a. been evicted from Public Housing before, b. ever been arrested for illegal use of a controlled substance or activities related to the abuse alcohol, c. been convicted or arrested of any criminal activity for the past three years, and d. been charged or convicted of a sexual crime. It was quite an uncomfortable experience filling out the application given those questions, and while they weren’t explicitly discriminatory in saying that answering yes to any of those questions would disqualify an applicant, it definitely felt implied.
  2. Dismas House: This organization houses former offenders and students in a family setting, and is meant to bring ex-convicts and the community together, in the hopes of a reconciliation. When I called the Dismas House to inquire about a living opportunity, they stated that they are currently full but they can put me on a waitlist. The house also had strict policies such as: each resident must secure and maintain a job, pay service fees of $115 a week, and obey a curfew among other rules (no violence, no use of alcohol/drugs, etc.).                                                                                                                                    
  3. Prairie Apartments: A very affordable apartment complex in South Bend. When I called to inquire about their openness to housing a formerly incarcerated individual, the secretary told me that a manager would call me back later that week. I was never contacted by them.
  4. The Upper Room: A sober living environment/community here in South Bend, for men who are recovering from alcohol/drug addiction. While there are many requirements, such as obtaining a 12 step fellowship sponsor, attending AA, providing 5-10 service hours per week, no record of criminal sexual behavior, and a clean drug/alcohol screen when applying, The Upper Room actually seemed like a very good fit for a former offender with drug/alcohol issues. Residents only pay $300 per month, and a social and support system is available 24 hours a day.
  5. Marmain Apartments: Their website is quite limited so I called to ask about the application process and if they were open to accepting ex-convicts. The man on the phone stated that I would have to come into the office to fill out the application (which brought potential transportation issues to mind), and stated that they had no explicit rules against former offenders, but that it would be a subjective decision by the unit manager. He made it clear that it would be a very subjective decision based on the crime. However, he did not give me any contact information for the unit manager, so I would have had to apply and then probably be interviewed after (about my criminal history).
  6. A few other apartment complexes that I called had similar responses to Marmain above. It seemed to be a subjective decision by managers and the specific type crime would be weighed heavily.

Top 3 Learnings:

  1. One constant throughout this process was that basically all of the apartments/landlords/living communities that I contacted would disqualify applicants with a history of sexual crimes, so if that’s on the ex-convict’s record, he basically has no options.
  2. While there are available housing options for ex-convicts, there is not nearly enough as existing programs lack necessary funding. Both public housing and Dismas house have very long waitlists, and The Upper Room has a waitlist as well. Since those are by far the cheapest options, it leaves an ex-convict with limited options if unemployed.
  3. The whole process is very vague and ambiguous as many websites are old and not up to date, and when called, you are often referred to a manager who may be very difficult to reach. Finally, if you do end up getting to speak to someone in a position of authority, they always say that it is up to their discretion and that they would have to look into the exact crime that was committed and conduct a thorough background check (politely implying that they would at least be very reluctant to rent to a former offender).

Key Insights – (1) I felt very awkward and embarrassed when contacting these organizations as it was uncomfortable to ask if they would accept ex-convicts. While no one was outwardly dismissive, there was often a shift in the tone after this point was raised. Before I brought up an ex-conviction, many apartment complexes would try to sell me on their amenities and try to get me in for a tour, but once I brought it up, it turned into me having to prove myself and convince them that they should at least give me a chance. (2) At the end of the immersion, I felt extremely discouraged and hopeless as I realized how much rejection I would have to face and overcome if I was really in this position as an ex-convict looking for low-income housing options. It is a very difficult process to undergo on my own so ex-convicts definitely need a lot of support and help in this area.

John, Individual Interview (Ex-Convict, Imani Unidad Client)

Posted on by Wen Cong

Ethnography Summary

Wen-Cong Toh interviewed John, a new client of Imani Unidad, before a peer to peer support group meeting.
John has recently been released (a few months ago) after spending a year in jail for burglary. He was convinced to go to this meeting by family, friends, and his social worker.

Date: 3/8/17

Type: Individual Interview

Location: Imani Unidad

Team participants: Conducted interview alone

User Characteristics:  

He is an African American male in his late 20’s, unemployed, and living with his mother. He has three kids (spread out in different homes), but only gets to see them once or twice a month.

What is this person about – what drives him/her?  He is driven to make a change in his life, get a job, and move out of his mom’s home into his own place. He wants to make these changes for his kids, as he wants more access/time with them; he plans on bringing them all under the same roof in the future.

What is this person’s biggest point of pain?  Not getting to see or spend time with his kids. He is embarrassed about his past mistakes and is apparently not in a healthy environment in his mom’s home.

Memorable quotes from interview:

“My kids are everything to me man. That’s why I’m doing all of this, I’m also taking an interview class to help me find a job. But it’s so hard, if it weren’t for the kids, I would’ve quit.”

“I think this group is going to help. It’ll be cool to hear everyone’s stories and help each other out.”

“I haven’t really started looking for housing yet because I just have no money right now. I gotta find a job first. Going to jail was a low point, I’m learning, I gotta focus on what’s important”

Top 3 Learnings:

  1. Going to prison was the low point of John’s life (thus far), He didn’t really think about how it would affect his family or kids until it was too late. If it weren’t for his mom’s help, he would be living on the streets right now.
  2. John blamed his incarceration on hanging around the wrong crowd and having bad influences since he was a child. No one has ever showed or taught him that he had an option to determine his own future, and not fall down the same paths of gangs/drugs/crime as his cousins and “friends”.
  3. It is very hard to stay motivated to turn your life around without goals like John’s desire to get more visitation with his children and earn back their trust. A support system is also critical.

Key Insights – (1) Imani Unidad must try to reach at-risk individuals, so that they realize that they do have a choice about which path to take. We shouldn’t wait until these individuals hit rock-bottom before helping them. (2) Goal-setting is very important and needs to be emphasized/taught to clients.

Activities:

  • Attends peer-to-peer group at Imani Unidad.
  • Taking a class to learn how to search and interview for classes.
  • Living with mother, but trying to find his own place.

Environment

  • Toxic, with many bad influences.
  • Growing support group.

Interactions:  

  • Hopefully with peers at Imani Unidad, where they can keep each other motivated and on track.
  • With potential employers and landlords.
  • With his support group, friends and family (primarily his kids).

Objects:

  • Transportation
  • Phone

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

Take your concepting down a level.  What are the specific user needs each idea is addressing?  How can you break down the concepts to engage with the user’s around what works and invite them to create new ideas.  Keep in mind the 5E’s so that you can understand best ways to Entice the user, Engage, etc.

For the Evaluation matrix, you will want to break out the aspects of each prototype to score the value.  For example with the counseling network, is it better to have the counseling offered in a group or one-on-one?  Should the setting be at the Center for the Homeless or other locations?  If you can score each aspect of the solutions as each team members takes the prototypes out for feedback, you will be able to collectively determine which aspects of each idea are strongest and explore ways to build on those.

*Just like with your ethnographic research, you will want to capture video, photos, and direct quotes.

For the 5E’s, remember for each idea how your user is “enticed”.  This is a big hurdle of how you will compel participation.  Implementation of ideas is always the toughest part!

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

To be sure you get meaningful feedback, go deeper on the ideas.  What is the need you are addressing for the individual?  A feeling of control?  Peace of mind?  Connectivity?  How do your ideas propose to meet these needs for individuals?  You want to test how you meet the need, and less of a focus on the actual thing.  How can you invite interaction and discussion with your user base?  And keep in mind as you begin capturing prototype feedback that just like with your ethnographic research, you will want to capture video, photos, and direct quotes.

For the 5E’s, remember for each idea how your user is “enticed”.  This is a big hurdle of how you will compel participation.  Implementation of ideas is always the toughest part!

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

Good job with outlining the various scenarios.  For the class the game of Life came to mind.  Perhaps that could be a good way to explore how to have the discussion and explore the potential paths for your two user groups?

With the social profile it will be important to understand the information that renters would need to see to find value in the system.  I know reliable funding is key, but what else?  And perhaps this could be a service that Imani offers to help individuals keep it up to date?

*Just like with your ethnographic research, you will want to capture video, photos, and direct quotes.

For the 5E’s, remember for each idea how your user is “enticed”.  This is a big hurdle of how you will compel participation.  Implementation of ideas is always the toughest part!

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

You have outlined some great learning opportunities.  Great job!  For the 5E’s, remember for each idea how your user is “enticed” to engage with the solution.  This is a big hurdle of how you will compel participation.  Implementation of ideas is always the toughest part!  And just like with your ethnographic research, you will want to capture video, photos, and direct quotes.

 

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

Go deeper on how you will test your ideas.  Think through the specifics using the 5E’s.  For bringing a friend, what would ‘entice’ the friend?  How will the message best be delivered?  What would ‘engage’ them once there?  A good way to prototype this is to have visual representation of the options – maybe photos of the offering options printed on cards, including a blank one where the kids could add their own ideas.  Similarly, what visitors would be appealing? What tutors?  And remember, just like with your ethnographic research, you will want to capture video, photos, and direct quotes.

 

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

Love the ideas!  For the newsletter concept it would be good to circle back with the priests and find out what they felt was most helpful.  Perhaps have them highlight on the newsletter which areas they felt helped them develop/guide their homily development.

For the 5E’s, remember for each idea how your user is “enticed”.  This is a big hurdle of how you will compel participation.  Implementation of ideas is always the toughest part!

*Just like with your ethnographic research, you will want to capture video, photos, and direct quotes.

 

Prototype Summary

Posted on by Wendy

Two ideas are testing the most compelling and engaging medium for informing would-be Clay students about all the school has to offer.  If we take a step back from the medium to the message, you think about what would be most important for a deciding middle school or junior high student to hear.  Who would they want to hear it from?  How would they like to receive that message (in-person, through social media, etc.).  Similarly for a parent.  Different messages and different ways to deliver that content.  I know you team has already done some work around identifying what the student and parent care about, so you could go deeper here and prototype types of messages and visuals.

To engage with the population, public places like the grocery story will give you a broad brush, but tough to find your direct target.  Perhaps look at track meets, baseball games, or other after school events for middle school or junior high kids where you will have kids and parents to engage with.

For improvements to aesthetics of Clay, maybe play around with prioritizing the what and the how in buckets of ‘no to low cost’ and more expensive.  What would the Clay students want to do if money was no object.  If they could hardly spend any money?  Would they want to be involved themselves, like school-approved graffiti?  Are their images from other schools that have done something similar that you could use to invoke the discussion?

Keep up the thoughtful work here team!  You are making great progress!