New non-profit builds connections with homeless communities

projectUmbrella is a new non-profit organization dedicated to de-stigmatizing homelessness and re-humanizing individuals through seasonal care packages and meaningful connections. Their vision is to inspire a nationwide movement of empathy, support and empowerment for houseless individuals.

The organization was founded in 2015 in New York City, NY. Since then, it has expanded to Seattle, Phoenix and Austin.

Rami Sibai, Co-Founder of projectUmbrella, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the care packages and the process for sharing them with the homeless.

“The essence of our organization is to use care packages as an ice breaker. To start conversation with the most vulnerable in our communities which are the unhoused. And through the years especially after the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve seen a rise in those populations and we try to be there for the most vulnerable. And not just in giving them something, but also just being a listening ear and we’ve realized that goes a long way,” Sibai said.

Sibai shared that projectUmbrella works with local and national sponsors to share care packages and meals with the unhoused community. Although, one important thing that projectUmbrella is able to share with the unhoused community is a listening ear and conversation.

“At the end of the day, we’re looking to destigmatize the idea of the unhoused communities. We want to bring a sense of re-humanization back to these people because so many of them you know feel like they’re forgotten. They feel like people walk past them on the streets and don’t even notice them or acknowledge them anymore. So, sometimes I think that conversation is so incredible and so, it’s lasting for them,” Sibai said.