I Need Housing: Finding Support

​

No matter your race, culture, or background, welcoming seasons of change and transformation requires a foundation of stability and self-awareness. For example, pursuing education, improving economic circumstances, or developing new skills can become significantly more challenging when basic & safety needs are unmet since homeless (unhoused) individuals are usually operating in survival mode.

A holistic approach to care, such as the Dagara Medicine Wheel, is a valuable tool for wellness, healing and creating actionable steps towards change. The Dagara Medicine Wheel recognizes that personal growth is not a single pathway but an interconnected process that considers multiple dimensions of self. By acknowledging identity, safety, emotional healing, life transitions, and purpose, unhoused individuals can be supported as a whole person rather than focusing on only one area of need.

​

The journey begins with Mineral (Identity): understanding one’s sense of self, values, strengths, and belonging. From there, Earth (Safety & Basic Needs) focuses on creating stability and grounding, because it is difficult to grow when survival needs remain unmet. Water (Healing & Emotions) allows space for emotional processing, reflection, and restoration. Nature (Change & Transformation) supports seasons of change by welcoming life transitions, uncertainty, and striving for personal growth. Finally, Fire (Purpose & Response) helps individuals strengthen their self determination and inner drive, they also work towards enhancing their self awareness in regards to the actions they take in response to life stressors/ events.

By moving through these interconnected elements, support can be addressed through acknowledgement of the different layers of a person’s experience, creating a pathway toward healing, resilience, empowerment, and meaningful transformation.