Richmond
Coach: Liana Kleeman
Year of Participation: Third
Organization: Daily PlanetLevel of Programming: 1D
About the Program
In 2008, non-profit The Daily Planet partnered with Street Soccer USA to found Street Soccer USA Richmond. The Daily Planet provides a wide scope of health and human services to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Daily Planet offers comprehensive and integrated programs to guide those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness toward self-sufficiency. By offering a holistic approach to their programs, they address the total wellness of each man, woman and child seeking help. By extension, the Street Soccer USA Richmond program promotes discipline, goal setting, and team building through sports, and offers an innovative method to help connect participants to the services they need.
Under the direction of their lead volunteer, Liana Kleeman, Street Soccer USA Richmond came in 11th in the 2008 U.S. Cup and were 14th in the 2009 national championship. The team has twelve active members and ten volunteers. The program this year has added CARITAS as a second partner for player services. CARITAS made the commitment to become a year-round shelter program for single adults and to offer case management services. The goal was and is, to provide support beyond basic needs for clients in an effort to transition homeless adults into stable housing. The program practices twice weekly at the William Byrd Community Center and has the support of Richmond soccer legend Rob Ukrop and the Richmond Kickers professional soccer team. The success of Street Soccer USA in Richmond and across the Street Soccer USA network has raised the nation’s awareness of homelessness and brought attention to a proven strategy for addressing the needs of homeless men and women living in the Richmond, Virginia area.
Results
The Richmond Team, while relatively small has seen major success with participants. Paul Jones was named to the Street Soccer USA National Team pool and although he did not travel with the team, he later earned his GED and then entered the military. Of the eight team members from 2009 all of them addressed either pursuit of education, received their high school diploma or GED, addressed a substance abuse or alcohol problem, moved into housing, became gainfully employed or received mental health treatment.
