All of a Sudden
Film Synopsis:
All of a Sudden is the story of “housing first” from the perspective of the formerly homeless. What is the truth—told in personal stories—of the idea that you can’t fix the problem of homelessness until you get a roof over someone’s head? Eden Village has been particularly effective in getting roofs overheads — so much so that it’s now getting national attention. But what, exactly, in human terms, is that success based on? All of a Sudden will explore the lives of the residents, share how they became homeless, and come to some understanding of what having a home now means to them.
Background:
Eden Village results from a decade-long concern with homelessness by David and Linda Brown — two wealthy residents of downtown Springfield, Missouri, who began to see the homeless not as annoyances but as neighbors. They saw a need for a drop-in center for the homeless in downtown Springfield during the early evening hours, so, in 2010, they opened The Gathering Tree. The purpose was two-fold: to provide a safe place for homeless persons to get off the streets for a few hours and build relationships and gain a first-hand understanding of homelessness.
In 2012, The Gathering Tree leased their facility and expanded the hours to five evenings a week. Meals were provided along with essential items such as clothing, personal care items, and survival gear. As many as 150+ individuals were served during these evenings.
Over the next four years, The Gathering Tree met with some challenges that led the Browns to seek a different way to help. During this time, they discovered the “housing first” theory: “The causes of homelessness cannot be successfully treated until the individual’s fundamental needs are met. Those fundamental needs include food, clothing, and shelter. Once the individual has these basic needs met, they are much more likely to be able to focus on addressing why they became homeless.”
They purchased land for Eden Village in late 2016, and the facility opened and began housing residents in August 2018. In December 2019, the Browns announced plans to build four more facilities in Springfield, with EV2 currently under construction. Eden Village has gained national attention as a “housing first” model. By February 2020, the Browns were beginning franchise negotiations with individuals in several U.S. cities.
Current State of Production:
“All of a Sudden” will be in production through the end of 2021, with a premiere in the Spring of 2022 on our Youtube Page.
Watch the Teaser:
Crew:
Director: Shannon Cay
Executive Producer: Dr. Andrew R. Cline
Producer: Chelsea Eichholz
Director of Photography: Jym Wilson
Students working on the project doing various jobs:
Chris Gawat
Keely Flanagan
Cameron Durington
Corey O’Connor
Katherine Saltkill
Laney Saunders
Jack McGee
Dalton Sneeden
