[0:00]If you believe everyone deserves a place to call home, whether they live in McPherson or across the country, you can make it happen. At Housing for Good, we shine a light on housing challenges, spotlighting real people, real stories, and solutions shaping communities near and far. And with your support, we can go further in ending instability for good. Donate now at Mcpherson Housing Coalition.org to help transform shelter into stability for someone somewhere today.
[0:36]Welcome to Housing for Good, a podcast dedicated to housing topics and issues affecting our communities in McPherson County and beyond. With years of experience and expertise, host Chris Goodson and Carolyn Moore discuss housing challenges and opportunities with other experts from a variety of housing fields.
[1:04]Hello and welcome to this week's episode of Housing for Good. I'm Carolyn. And I'm Chris. All right, Chris, we're brush up Mac. Yep, that's our news for the day. So what about it? So we got people getting ready to sign up. Well, when is it? Do you know? Yeah, when is it? April something. April 18th. Oh, April 18th. Yes. And um, people can find their applications homeowner applications or volunteer applications at the Chamber or the Senior Center here in Mcpherson. You can also go to our website Mcphersonhousingcoalition.org and you can fill it out there and I get it as an email. So that's a really quick easy way. So, and here's the other part about Brush Up Mac. If you live in a community and you're like, what are they talking about? Contact us. We would love to help you get that started in your community. Basically, what it is is taking senior citizens, not taking them, but helping senior citizens. There you go. I'm not taking them anywhere. Maybe I should take them somewhere. You know, it'd be nice to have an extra pair of grandparents, right? Anyways, so helping them stay in their homes by doing yard work and minor home repairs. And it's such an easy program. We end up with about 300 volunteers every single year that come out into the communities in Mcpherson County and beyond. And they help our seniors stay in their homes. Um, some of them are, we have one that how old is she now? 100. 100 and three. And, yes. And then I have another group that volunteered from one of our, uh, local businesses and they said, Can we have the same person we had last year? I said, well, if she fills out a homeowner application, absolutely, you can't. So people start to look forward to the same person they've helped this year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And and we can have kids, if you have your kids and they want to join in, we really think it's important that we teach our kids how to volunteer. So, Yeah, it's a fun family day. We feed you breakfast. We bring you snacks. It's probably last about half a day unless you take on some giant project. But it's a super fun day. But anyways, if you want to ever know how to do that in your community, please contact Carolyn and I, we'd be happy to do that. So, Anyways, I got something fun. Okay. Okay. So somebody sent in a question. Oh my gosh, the very first question on radio. I know. I'm so excited. I hope I can read it and not sound like a dork because I, well, you know. So anyways, it says, Hi, Chris and Carolyn, I really enjoyed listening to you guys. You have some great ideas and you're kind of funny. So, I have a couple of questions. Why does affordable housing take so long to build if everyone agrees it's needed? Oh, who's going to answer that? Oh my gosh. That is a really loaded, tough, tough question. Yeah, it's a hard question, but it's multi-layered. Um, part of it is when somebody wants to develop something, they have to make a profit typically. Yeah. Unless you're like us and you're a nonprofit, you, you go in these things to make money. Well, it's hard to make money when you have to keep costs down and you can only have somebody living in the units that only make so much money. That is very difficult. So that's where grant funding federal and state funding comes in, and that's the only way that that works. But then you have to meet certain criteria and there's a lot of competition. So it's kind of complicated to be able to do any type of housing project. So I don't know if that's a very good answer, but that's what I got. Yeah, nope. I think that's a good one. And then I also think that, um, you know, any builder, if they are worth anything, they want to make sure what they turn out is beautiful and quality. And so, sometimes that costs a little bit more than taking the cheapest route. So, okay, there's what, what? What was the other part of the question? It's a two-part question, so don't be getting all excited. Okay. Why do permitting and inspections add so much cost to housing projects? Well, so that's a hard question because I don't know in our particular case, if permitting and inspections cost a lot. However, what does add is so in our particular case, our city has this thing about sidewalks. And so we're constantly having to put sidewalks in that typically don't go anywhere. And that adds a lot. So they have all these little things they want us to put trash can enclosures around things, which I understand the reasoning behind it and sidewalks and this and that. We have to our engineering plans cost a fortune. We have to get architects involved. That is actually what is adding cost to these projects. And I don't think that anybody who is not a developer for income property understands that at all. So they continue to add costs. And I know in bigger cities, this is a huge problem. We don't have this necessarily where we live, but in bigger cities you have whole departments that go out and check every little thing, and make sure that you're following everything. So we're a I think, I feel like we're maybe, we do a good job, but we're a little more lax here, a little more reasonable, except for these sidewalks that go to nowhere. Yeah. That thing, you know. So anyways, and it says, thanks and keep up the great work. So, anyways, that's from Sherry from Springfield, Missouri. Well, thank you, Sherry, for first of all, for listening to us. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And for being the first person to write in with questions. We keep saying, give us any feedback and so, yeah, that was super fun. Okay. So today we are going to hear from some ladies out of Salina. We have Tammy Thayer and Rachel Holt, and they're going to visit with us about their nonprofit that they work at in Salina, called Ashby House, which we love. We love them. We do love them. We were just saying they're our people. Yeah, we love them. So when we wanted to do the Oak Arbor Cottages, this was one of the first conversations I ever had was with Tammy. Oh, and We gotta add this too, that our daughter was an intern for us. Yeah, that was our in. That was our in. And man, she was incredible. Wow. I mean, she really set that bar up for every intern that came behind her. I was like, well, that's not how she did it. All right, so Tammy and Rachel, for listeners that might not know about Ashby House, can you explain to us what you do and who you serve? What I do at Ashby House is I'm the director of the Emergency Shelter part of Ashby House. And you are Tammy Thayer. Yes, I am Tammy Thayer. And we, what was the question? Well, that's okay. You got to remember your name first. That's complicated. Explain what you do and who you serve. Yeah. Okay. I'm Tammy Thayer and I am the director of the Emergency Shelter at Ashby House. And we house women and families with children that are experiencing homelessness in in around um Salina. Okay. And I'm Rachel Holt. I am the uh program director for our Housing Plus program and supportive housing, transitional housing. Um, and I same, we, for the, our supportive housing program, we serve, uh, women and families and then our permanent supportive housing program, uh, which is Housing Plus. Uh, we serve, uh, pretty much anybody who is unhoused. So, with, um, chronic homeless episodes and, um, they have to meet specific, um, diagnosis criteria. Okay, so I have a real quick question. Yep. I heard them say women or families with children. So, our program, we let the father figure, whether they're married or not, if that's the family, father figure stay in the cottages. You guys are the same way, right? Yes. Yes. It's also single dads with children. Yeah. There's a lot more of those coming. I'll even noticing that more of a pattern. It used to be women and then all of a sudden these men are having these children on their own. Well, not their having them on their own but you know, I'd like to see that.
[8:48]You are getting us way off topic. I know I'm sorry. I've had one of those days today right where this things keep coming at me in the more stressed I am, the more funny that I am. This would probably be the highest ranked one we ever had. Probably, just please keep in mind this is a family friendly show and we are talking about housing. Okay. So serious question. How did the Ashby House begin? What what started it? Do you know anything about that? I know a little bit about that. Um, it it started in 1992. The Ashby House is located next to a church and um, the person John Ashby. Oh, lived in that house and someone decided that there was a need to take care of women and children experiencing homelessness in Salina and so they decided to start with that house. That's about what I know of it. Do you know more than that? That's the gist. Well, that's the gist. That's that's really, really good. I mean, I mean it was created. You saw somebody saw a need. It's interesting because when I first started getting involved with the Emergency Solutions Grant, which is what we used to do our stuff, I said, okay, we'll get this little grant and we'll help a few people. I was overwhelmed by the need. We had no idea. It's so hidden in the Midwest. It's so hidden. So, um, I wonder if it was the same for them. I mean, we don't know that answer, but I wonder if they saw a few people and they said and the next thing you know, you're overrun cuz Salina has quite a population of homeless. I mean, it seems to me people experiencing homelessness. They do. So what makes Ashby House unique compared to other housing or support programs in Salina? I think one of the things that makes us unique is we are the only full-time, um, shelter that houses families with children. Yeah. So when you, so if you shelter someone, do they get a room? I don't even, I've never been there before. I know you guys all have, but. No, it's time to come visit. I know. I need to put that on my list of things to, to, my giant list of things to do. I have a lot of places I'm supposed to be visiting that that I still haven't made it to. I have a couple dinner things I haven't made it to. It's a long story. But anyways, but when you house somebody, are they in a room or do they have a little apartment or how do what does that look like? Yeah, so in the emergency shelter, and I'll let Rachel talk about the other, but in the emergency shelter, they're in a room. A per family. Um, single women share rooms. And we, we have four bedrooms. That's all we have in our shelter. Oh, okay. And so it's pretty small. But family stay together. We don't double up families. Um, and so single women share rooms. Okay. Yeah. So for supportive programs, we have, um, our, um, apartment complex that we house about 12 families. Oh, that's a lot. Um, single individuals as well. Um, we also have our transitional house that, um, houses about six, five to six individual persons. Is there a difference between the supportive and the transitional? They're kind of the same or what? They're kind of the same. Are they the same? They often we offer the same services. Supportive is more required. Um, transitional you know, have they have a little bit more flexibility. Okay. The living structure is different. Living structure is different. So what services and supports do what do they receive? What do you, I mean, you have the case manager, what does that look like? All of our clients receive case management. Um, case by case, uh, basis as to how often they receive it. Um, we have life skills programs, recovery support programs, uh, financial literacy. Oh, wow. You're doing a lot. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot. Yeah. Parenting support. Parenting support. Yeah. That is a lot. Yeah. So what does success look like for somebody in your program? I'll let you answer that. Well, success to me would be their emergency fund is established and they have signed a lease. But success is going to be whether they feel like they're successful or not. Um, one of, one of our residents the other day was saying how she felt like she was doing good, but all of her ducks weren't really lined up yet. So, they were kind of here and there. So maybe when that person feels like all their ducks are lined up, that's success. So does there any stories that you might have that really would show the impact of what all you're doing. You have to have a million stories. I'm sure. How do you, just one? I know. Just pick one. I mean, we've had so many different stories. I mean, there's one, there's some that, you know, now they work for Ashby. They've gone through all the programs, they've been housed. They've, you know, gotten education. And they are now employees of Ashby. Um, we have families that, um, I always enjoy seeing them come back and tell their stories about how, you know, they've moved out and then because of our support, they have got an education, their kids are doing well, things like that. So we have a million stories. That's the best. That's the best. So how do you pick the best one?
[14:55]Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I love how you you have kind of highlighted on the point that we tell folks that we work with is what I view as the perfect life is not what your perfect life is going to look like. It's up to you. So you tell me what help you need and then I'll figure out how we get that for you. So what are some of the challenges that women and families experiencing housing is instability right now are facing in Salina? Number one, affordable housing. I mean, it's it's got to be that affordable housing. How about child care? Is that is that a major issue as well? Yeah, childcare, um, yeah, major barriers for, um, So do you see in Salina, do you see people trying to solve some of that or are they spinning their wheels or do you think that were, that you're moving in that area in the right direction? I think there's some efforts out there that they're trying to, to do, um, I know I've heard several people in the city talk about, you know, providing opportunities. We have relationship with landlords that help us, um, with affordable housing, maybe they'll lower the rent or maybe they'll just say, hey, you know, our rent's already low, but we know that, you know, we know the population that you serve. And so here's an opening, you know, let us help you. Wow, that's awesome. That that is, that is. So what are some of the common misconceptions about homelessness and transitional housing programs? I know what we've heard here. What what do you guys say they are? People are lazy. That's what people always say. They're not, they're not trying. Um, and and some people, I think, don't view us like giving handouts or too much that allow people to continue to stay in that situation. Because they can go here for this, you know, um, it's a lot of it's negative. So, when I'm thinking about when you're saying that, are there time limits in the shelter? Or can they stay as long as they need to? Do you have time limits at all? Um, we have, uh, emergency 48-hour stay. That's just in the living room and that's just for people, you know, experiencing like sometimes we get somebody that's stranded, you know, and the cops want to bring it. And so, but our extended stay, we try really hard to wrap things up within 90 days. It's tricky. Yes, it's tricky. Yeah, it is. It's very tricky. And people just don't realize how difficult and, well, first of all, to come to a shelter and put yourself in the shelter is pretty brave. Yes. And for someone to come with absolutely nothing and think they're going to be able to move and get everything they need within 90 days. Some do. You know? Um, but most most of them don't and they require, you know, a longer stay and we just do that a case-by-case basis. Because everybody, somebody may only need a month in the shelter. I just may just right be right there, you know, ready. And a lot of it depends on how fast Section 8 or other housing programs in Salina are moving. Sometimes they don't move the, yeah, sometimes they don't move that fast. So that's just proves that you're not doing handouts because there are limitations. That's what people don't understand was we all have limitations within our programs. We can't just be handing things out or they're getting all this stuff because it's not possible. It's not allowed with what we do. We can't do that. So, I, I wanted them to explain that for that reason. So people could hear, no, no, wait a minute. This is how we're doing our program and this is, this is how this works. They have to move forward. I mean, sometimes we get somebody that refuses to do anything. At some point, you know, you've only got this much time and then we don't have anything else for you potentially, depending on the situation. You got to get your act together here or you're gonna be the same spot you were when you got here. Right. You know. Well, and I love how you said, you know, it's a case-by-case basis. Every situation, every family, every individual, they come with their own baggage and their own resources. So, if you take somebody that's been living in their car, at this point, they've lost everything. So to start over, just to get documents that you need to get employment or whatever. People that have don't live in it and have never experienced it. have no idea how hard these people are trying, how hard they're working. And so yeah, it just infuriates me when somebody calls them lazy. It's like, are you kidding me? These are the hardest working people you will ever meet. 100%. I've met some really good people. Oh yeah. Um, during my years working at Ashby House. Yeah. So, do you guys partner with other people in your community? What does that look like? Do you have lots of partnerships that help you with some of the things that you provide, some of the services? Well, of course we do. So what, who would who would that be? I mean, who are you partnering with and what does that look like? Various agencies. Um, Salina Grace, um, Central Kansas Mental Health. Um, we do work with D-Back. Um, different agencies. So that's medical, that's mental health. That's, um, Veterans. That's, okay. So that you have all of it. So you have a big network. Is there actually a formal network up there or you have an informal network? I'm curious. A little bit of both. Um, yeah, because we have the Regional Planning Group that, um, comes together, um, that the COC does. Yeah. Um, that monthly we have conversations about what's going on in the community and who can help with different things. So, do you have a place for volunteers? Maybe somebody's hearing about this program and they think that could be really cool to help out and I live in the area. So tell us about the role that your volunteers play. How does somebody get into that role? How would they start? We have a director of operations and he also does, um, work with the volunteers. His name's Patrick Parker. So, you want to call Ashby House, um, you have that number? You have that number? Yes. Give us that number. Yes. Give us that number. And we can get started that way. 7858264935. I can give it to you now. So the facts number. Yep. No, I don't think that. Don't. So people still fax. They do. Really? Okay. They do. All right, keep going. Okay. So what would be the most meaningful way that people listening can support Ashby House today?
[22:56]Well, I think that's a toss up between, um, monetary donations and of course, and volunteering and with maybe client direct, um, volunteerism. Maybe helping with a life schools of of somebody had a something they were good at or wanted to share with others. Um, I've had students come in to read stories to the kids or bake cookies or financial literacy and, yeah, financial literacy. Um, So I'm kind of hearing that if you are a professional and maybe you're now retired, and this was your field of expertise, where you made your living, that's what you need to bring back and help the people that you guys are trying to work with to get better at. Yes. Yeah, that's really cool. Okay, so what goals or hopes do you have for Ashby House in the coming years? Do you have goals that you've set up or things that you'd love to see happen or any anything coming up that you can actually talk to us about? Sometimes people have secret things they can't say. We don't have secret things. We don't keep secrets. Okay. I know what mine is. I was looking at hers because I was wondering what hers was. The number one thing is the house. It's finishing the house so we can accommodate more families on our campus. And so, um, that's a big, big project that we're hoping to finish here, hopefully in the next few months. It's a long project. So, to finish that, do you need volunteers and money or do you have that part set up already? We always need volunteers and money. Well, I know. Volunteers and money is Everybody needs that. Yeah. Definitely something. Yeah. But I, I my hope is that we continue to expand and grow and are able to continue to accommodate those families like I mentioned. And then also, um, kind of growing as far as who we are. Um, in so many different ways. I don't I can't even explain just one, I guess. So, yeah, I think we have a lot of opportunities that we should we could expand on and my hope is that we continue to do that. You mean like in the, in other words, that maybe more people know about you or what do you, what are you thinking about like, maybe more social media or more more stuff like this Housing for Good podcast?
