Voices of Hope
Voices of Hope is where stories of courage, community, and change come alive. Each episode amplifies the real voices of people shaping a brighter future — right here in our neighborhoods and beyond. From personal journeys to community victories, we’re talking hope in action, challenge turned to change, and the power of people working together. Every episode will include "Hot Takes", which are Bold opinions. Real talk. No apologies.
Whether you're looking for inspiration, connection, or just a reason to believe in what's possible, this is your place. Tune in. Speak up. Be part of the movement.
Voices of Hope
Real Talk, Real Hope
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You have to be comfortable with the reality that we are facing long time change, that nothing happens overnight.
SPEAKER_03So it isn't always about, you know, individuals with the most amount of money being able to give. Now, I will say, if you have the financial resources, please make a gift.
SPEAKER_00Welcome to Voices of Hope, the new podcast from Hope Station in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Here, real stories from black and brown communities take the mic and lead the conversation. We're talking about culture, identity, and economic and social mobility, the challenges, the triumphs, and the path forward. It's not just talk, it's a movement. So lean in, be inspired, and join us as we amplify voices that break stereotypes, build bridges, and spark change. This is Voices of Hope.
SPEAKER_01Today we have a packed episode of interviews that cover something for everyone. Starting with our Voices from the Block segment, Heather Mandeval talks about what nonprofit work means for community, informed by her experiences during a 15-year career in the nonprofit sector. Following that conversation, we move towards our spotlight segment featuring Crystal Brown, Vice President of Equity Initiatives at the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. For over a century, TFEC has established itself as a trusted partner for local nonprofits and community members alike. Speaking of local establishments, Kelly Crawford joins us for our final segment, What's Next, and speaks on her work at Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities, sharing information about what to do if you're an unhoused individual at risk of losing your housing. Without further ado, let's get right into our first segment, Voices from the Block. Heather, thank you for joining us today and welcome to the podcast.
SPEAKER_04So to get started, you have spent over 15 years working in the nonprofit sector. What is one experience or connection that motivates you to continue this work?
SPEAKER_05I don't think there's any single one. You know, I started out at Please Touch Museum. I've worked at a number of organizations. Anyone who knows me knows that I bleed persimmon. I often say I am a huge YWCA supporter fan. I cut my teeth as a nonprofit executive. Um so I I will say um my passion work is working with survivors of domestic violence, um, sexual assault with human trafficking. Um, and so my experience at the YW and how passionate the folks are who worked there um really inspired me. And I think that for me was an anchor to say, no matter what my next journey is on life or chapter, that I'll always stay involved with human services.
SPEAKER_04I love that. That's wonderful. And then how does the work you're doing now as a consultant at Spur and Sprout differ from your previous work?
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Well, so the biggest difference is it's for-profit now instead of nonprofit. So even though I'm helping for our nonprofits, I'm still running a for-profit business. Um, but the other thing that I like to say, and it sounds cheeky, but it's I'm being serious, is I'm doing the actual work is the same. You know, I'm writing grants, fundraising strategy, connecting with donors, um, helping with plans, listening to employees talk about things that would make their workplace better. It's all the same thing as I used to do when I'd roll into my CEO's office real hot and be like, we need to do X, Y, and Z. The difference is in this work, people listen to me. Um, and so nothing's changed. My advice has really been the same, the vantage point has been the same. Um, and I think that the value for that tends to just be that organizations know that there's a lot to be said about an outside perspective, um, someone that's not embedded in the internal politics. So it's it's all the same stuff I love, but it feels so much more rewarding and more oftentimes I get to see my recommendations come to fruition. Um, you know, bud and flower and seed.
SPEAKER_04So yeah. Um, and then oh, you kind of already answered that. My next question I was thinking what is the same. I did a two for and then what advice would you give to someone considering nonprofit work as a career path?
SPEAKER_05Yes. Um, so nonprofits are I I know everyone loves their job, right? Of course we all love our jobs. It's so not true. But um, I think that nonprofit work really is a passion. Um, so if you're someone that's waking up in the morning and you're a high achiever and you like to get X, Y, and Z done and you want a fast turnaround, I say find the industry that's gonna better align with that. And there you're looking at corporate America, right? You're looking at organizations who have boards, and part of what boards are looking for is changes in profits, differences so that they know that the bottom line and their investments are um uh are are ever flowing. Um but if you want to work in nonprofits, you have to be comfortable with the reality that we are facing long time change, that nothing happens overnight, things take time. Um, I often use as the analogy if when we're looking at nonprofits and poverty and of housing affordability issues and like huge systemic issues that we're trying to challenge and champion. They're most likely, unfortunately, not going to be changed in our lifetime. Um, but you can start to see impact. So Hope Station's work actually falls into this because we're really starting to plant the seeds for collective impact around black economic mobility. Um and if you want to look at something akin to that, is looking at the initiative of trying to get students more interested in STEM jobs. So when I was in middle school and high school, that was just rolling out. So, how do we have more after-school curriculum? How do we excite people in it? And now there are very few of my friends' children who are going into college that aren't looking at something that falls into STEM. Um, that effort was successful. You know, there are my more students now who are preparing for the jobs of the future. So being in nonprofit work, um, I think the biggest thing is you have to be willing to accept that things take time, it's slow movement. Um, and so it's a place where you have to be comfortable being patient and very humble.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I think that's really great advice, especially because a lot of things now you expect, like kind of this like very quick turnaround. That's just not how it is here.
SPEAKER_05No, it's erosion, not an earthquake.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, exactly. That's saying that. And then how has work in nonprofits impacted your day-to-day life or relationships within your community?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I mean, definitely relationships in my community. I feel so much more involved. Um, so I'm on a number of boards on nonprofits. I um have so many different nonprofits that are clients that are also friends. Um, so my social circle tends to be individuals who are nonprofit or at least people who are really involved, invested in it. Um, so it's really shaped a lot of of my daily interactions. Um I also think it's made me at times a not fun dinner party guest. So, you know, I can I can be fun and I can make funny jokes and yada yada yada, but I also find that like I'm the person that like five minutes into me making some like diatribe point about like, well, if you're really gonna get the indicators of poverty and da-da-da-da-da. After someone has said something that like they just didn't think their way through or they're just not an expert in it, and then I look around, everyone's just staring at their wine glass awkwardly. Um, so I think it's definitely made me less socially tolerable for people who don't want to hear about like the problems of the world. Um, so a little grating, but I think for the most part it's had benefits on my social life. I just wanted to ask my husband.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, but it's great that you're like building these connections in the community. I know that's something that like I at this internship I've met a lot of like different people, and it's been like really cool to just to see everyone. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, and at the end of the day, like your community is what you've got. So, you know, when I first started, um, so I I'm from central Pennsylvania. Um, I grew up in Lancaster County. I left and so I was never coming back. I was gone for 10 years, um, and then came back briefly in Mechanicsburg and left again in Swarez never coming back and then came back again. Um, but over the last five or six years of living in Mechanicsburg, I had worked at Shippensburg. I spent a lot of time working in York. Um, and so something when I was starting the consultancy was I really want to get to know my own backyard. Because working in New York, I got to see how that community ecosystem can really work when people focus on their own community. Um, and so that's been a really fun part of working with Hope Station is it's you know, 10 minutes down the road, it's part of my county, it's part of my ecosystem. Um, and that's become really important for me when folks talk about spur and sprout and you know, where do you want it to go and grow? And I'm like, I just want to grow here, you know, I want to be a part of the fabric of where I live.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I think that's great, yeah. And then one final question that I have for you is during your time as interim executive director for Hope Station, what lessons did you learn and how does this experience help you at your firm today?
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Um Hope Station's a really hard. There were so many lessons learned. Like so many lessons learned. Um, but I think the most important thing that I learned is that people want to see one another succeed. Um, there are there are so many, like I could do like a shout-out thing back when I was a youth. Um, we had these like ex pages and it was like a website where you would like shout outs to all your friends on it. It was just like this list of all your friends. It was actually kind of disgusting. I've talked to a few people and like I kind of wonder if it's like specific to like my school. I don't know. But like my shout-out page would be like like Marcellus Taylor and Carol over at Partnership for Better Health and Gail. I mean, they were just tremendous um champions for the board navigating what to do next. Um, you know, the United Way was so fantastic at opening up the table of all of their partners. You know, I'm so grateful to Kate for that. Um, the borough has been a wonderful partner. And every time we've talked to folks outside of Cumberland County, uh I'm sorry, outside of Carlisle about expanding that reach of Hope Station, there's a lot of excitement around it. Um, oh my gosh, Jeff at the Bosler Library is like the coolest person in the world. So all this is to say, and I think it goes back to that point of community, is um, you know, Hope Station, what I've learned from it is there are certainly areas in which the organization had some uphill battles that Rogette has expertly been handling. Um, but they had the heart of the community. Um and they had individuals with resources, um, both financial and people and knowledge, um, who wanted to jump in and help it succeed. So um I think it I think it gave me a lot of um I went to bed at night with a smile on my face, knowing that there would be a big challenge, but I felt that the organization had what it needed to grow and thrive, and it's amazing to see that happening.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, that's great. Well, thank you so much for your time today.
SPEAKER_02Thanks for joining us, Heather. Up next, we're welcoming Crystal Brown for a segment where we'll spotlight Crystal's work as the vice president of equity initiatives at T Fac, a steadfast partner and proud sponsor of Hope Station. Crystal's roots in community building stretch back to her time serving on one of HopeStation's earliest committees, and she's continued to champion equity and justice through her work at T Fac. In fact, T FAC helped fund HopeStation's expanded week-long gym cheat celebrations this year. Thank you, Crystal and the T FEC team, for helping us honor that milestone in such a powerful way. And welcome to the podcast. So let's get into it, Crystal. Welcome to Voices of Hope.
SPEAKER_03Hello, thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be here.
SPEAKER_02Before we dive into your current work, let's rewind a bit. Uh, you served on a committee with Hope Station back in the day. What pulled you into that work originally?
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, so that is the beauty of connections in networking with people. Um, I had someone that I had been working with in the community, Heather from Spur and Sprout, that worked on Hope Station's strategic plan. And so I had met her just from some different AFP events and things like that. And so at the time, I actually happened to be working in the for-profit, and I was working in HR at that time. And so she had reached out, and I thought it was just an incredible opportunity to be able to take kind of some of the skills and things that I was relearning with HR and take it and to be able to help an organization that was community focused.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's awesome. Uh, are there any standout memories from that time that still make you smile or think this is why community matters?
SPEAKER_03So I like employee handbooks, and I understand I'm probably one of maybe two people in the world that people like that. But they're such a valuable, a valuable tool. And so that was one of the things that we were working on with Hope Station, and nonprofit organizations, they are so important, but they need operations just like all other entities. And too often nonprofits aren't able, don't have the resources or the capacity to build up those kinds of structures, finance, HR, IT, to help them really be able to carry out their mission. So I know at the end of the day it's not as exciting, but we had a new handbook for HomeStation. But that to me was just this moment of these are the things that help organizations thrive and be strong so that they can deliver on the mission so that they can have their impact. So it was awesome to be a part of the team to put together a handbook.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and it's not like big and flashy or fun, but it is one of those, like, oh, it's like someone has to do it, like we have to do it.
SPEAKER_03Yes, and it felt good to be able to share my skills to do that, right? So that I can free up then, you know, the team at the Hope Station to do the important work out in the community and to be able to support kind of back behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's awesome. Um now you work with TFEC, which is the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Uh, can you tell us a little bit about the work you do with them?
SPEAKER_03Sure. So um I joined the team at TFEC in January. So the Foundation for Enhancing Communities is our local community foundation, and we cover um Dolphin, Cumberland, Perry, Franklin, and Lebanon counties. And so my position is actually a new position that TFEC created, and I really appreciate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. So I am the VP of Equity Initiatives. So it has been an incredible journey over the last six, seven months now. Um, just learning more about the organization, um, getting out in the community across our large footprint to understand what is going on, what the needs are, and being able to bring that back into the organization to see how we can look at our internal policies to ensure that they are equitable, and also how we can then support the community with that work as well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Is there this is not written down, so I'm sorry, but is there something that you think like between those communities, do you ever notice like the way that you work in various communities? Like is like parrying daufing, are those like wildly different to work in?
SPEAKER_03Um, so yes. So um, I'm sure you know lots of other states and larger regions see this too, right? But each county um is very unique and different, and so I think that is the beauty of TFEC, and also sometimes the challenge. We don't have that singular county focus, but what we have is this diversity and industries and experiences and landscapes and just all these different communities. Yeah, and at the same time, it's different when you go into each one. So it really is something that you can see each community pulls together and they unite. Um, and so it's just wonderful to get out to kind of see and to learn and to be aware of some of those different.
SPEAKER_02Um, from my understanding, uh TFEC isn't wildly different in terms of mission than Hope Station is. Do you find that there's a big difference working at one or the other, or is it really just sort of a scope?
SPEAKER_03So I think TFEC and Hope Station have that alignment around wanting the community to thrive and be better. I do think TFEC has a really unique way that it goes about accomplishing that mission. And our mission is a little different with being a community foundation in that the way that we are looking to make longstanding changes and impacts in our community is through helping donors to fulfill their philanthropic goals.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So that is the way that we're able to work with those who have passion for the community, who want and care about specific missions or areas of interest. We want to be able to connect them then with those phenomenal organizations in the community that are doing that work. So I have been incredibly fortunate in my career to be on like all sides of this. Yeah. So started in nonprofit, you know, running an organization, understanding the challenges and the beauty, to be on the front line. I've gotten to work in for-profit, and now I've gotten to come to be on the side of a funder, to be in philanthropy and just to see how we do share that commonality of wanting our communities to thrive and to be healthy, to understand that there are systems in place that do kind of sometimes marginalize and separate certain communities. But if we can all come together, there is such beauty, and I think that's why there can be synergy between Hope Station and TFEC, and why TFEC has been, you know, a supporter of the Juneteenth event because they are trying to do that work in the communities to strengthen here in the Carlisle in the Cumberland County wide area.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Do you have a preference? Nonprofit, for-profit, philographic? What's your favorite?
SPEAKER_03Interesting. Um, so I am a social worker, so I I have to say non-profit.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I have to say to say nonprofit, um, just just my heart.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Just my heart. But I'm loving what I am doing now. Because it's just a different, different kind of lens to see, you know, of how we're helping them to get resources to those organizations. But yeah, the social worker needs gotta go now. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, maybe a follow-up specific on differences between Cumberland County and Harrisburg would be lovely.
SPEAKER_03Oh, this is such a good question. Um, so I'm actually I am from Harrisburg, I've kind of grown up in this area and been here all my life. And so, you know, Harrisburg City is obviously just much, much smaller of a region um than all of Cumberland County. And actually, I believe Cumberland County right now is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. Yeah, so there's been a lot that is happening in Cumberland County. Um, and as much as there are differences between these communities and the river that kind of falls between us, um, I think in some ways communities are still facing similar challenges. And I think really getting that opportunity to lean in almost kind of in the ways that we are similar can really help us be able to rally together. When I'm out talking to organizations all across our footprint, I'm always hearing feedback about the challenges with housing and education and early um access to early childhood education. And so, you know, while there are you know differences between Harrisburg and Cumberland, I think there really are those lot of similarities that exist that communities are navigating through.
SPEAKER_01And even like touching more so on like the topic of education, like I think it's interesting whenever we look at institutions too, they're often like microcasms of larger reflections of like systemic problems. So there's a lot of similarities even within the smaller subtopics. If we're gonna talk about Harrisburg versus Cumberlake County, like larger, it's important for us to know and realize that even the smaller components are more similar than we think too. Yes, you know.
SPEAKER_03You you hit on it because you use the word systems, right? Systems are at play and I think understanding history of how communities or honestly, even how they're defined, right? Even their geographic regions and all those things really play an important part. So to kind of understand the current Harrisburg in Cumberland County, I think we could probably take that back a hundred years or so and gain so much more insights understanding those systems.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. So well said, so well said. Alrighty. Moving on to question number seven. On the About Us section on the website, there is still a DEI section listed. On that subject, could you talk a little bit more about some recent changes on like the federal level and how that has affected um your ability as someone engaged with nonprofit work and maybe what that might mean for nonprofit work at large?
SPEAKER_03Yes, that is a very big question because there's a lot to unpack there. So obviously, over the last six or seven months, there have been significant changes at the federal level, and as that comes down, it has a direct impact on how nonprofits do their work. I will say at TFEC, we are an organization that has been able and has intentionally decided to stay committed to our core values, and the and this isn't just a statement on the website, this is really something that TFEC embraces and has woven into the fabric of who we are as an organization. Also, with that being said, we do not have direct federal dollars and aren't as directly impacted as some other nonprofits are. And how this third sector, right? So government for-profit and non-profit, what this means in our communities. And the nonprofit industry is a huge part of our society, right? They fill many gaps, right, that the government or that for-profit are not able to fill. They provide services to incredibly vulnerable people. They advocate and they stand up for those who may not be able to have their voice heard in other ways. And so I think we're still so early in this that there's a lot of uncertainty as the impacts, but it does give me, you know, great concern for what this means for nonprofits and then how that then spills over to the vulnerable populations that they serve.
SPEAKER_01For sure. So just to kind of like echo to make sure that I even I heard it correctly, it's a complicated and nuanced issue that is something that is living and breathing that is ever changing. And so it's something that you kind of have to sit back and ride the wave with a little bit. And as uncertain and I don't even know, like anxiety-inducing as that can be and truthfully is, um, it's just the reality that we're gonna have to be gritty and like put our head down and work with.
SPEAKER_03That is it. And I think that's what nonprofits are are faced with. Now, nonprofits never had, you know, overwhelming abundance of funding opportunities, right? That never existed. But even more so now they're really gonna have to look at other ways to diversify the revenue. That is, of course, something much easier said than actually done. Yeah. Um, but I agree it is an incredibly nuanced and you know, organizations are making the best decisions with the information they have at the moment, and that information changes constantly. So it really is kind of we have to be much more open and receptive to that change, which is hard.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_03Very hard.
SPEAKER_01Right. As someone who's experienced in nonprofit work centered around enhancing communities, what are some steps that you think someone who cares about their community can take in today to help with that mission?
SPEAKER_03So I love this question. Um and I often get it when I'm out, and I think sometimes people are looking for like some big, profound answer, but honestly, anything, right? So we all have power, and I think sometimes because problems seem so big, right? And systems are so intimidating and so complex, we sometimes can feel like we can't do anything. Um, but anything, right? And I think even I'm a huge advocate at the local level of getting involved with whatever that looks like, right? Volunteering, you know, at your school's local PCA, right? If there's an organization that you are passionate about, we always say individuals can give of their time, their talent, and their treasure, right? So it isn't always about you know individuals with the most amount of money being able to give. Now, I will say, if you have the financial resources, please make a gift, right? I will always say that. But even I look at you all right now, you are volunteering and you are giving of your time and your talents, right? The skills and the expertise that you bring to the table to put this together in such a huge and impactful way. And so I would say reflect on kind of who you are, what your skills and your strengths are, and the time that you have, and then find that opportunity to plug in, you know, one hour a month or whatever that might look like, that can make a difference. So use and understand who you are and leverage those strengths to add it to a cause that you feel passionately about.
SPEAKER_01Perfect. Um I also know that there are some resources of stuff for people to do at home, they don't necessarily even have to get out. So, like, for example, like um we organize a lot of phone banking at the college, and that's something that is just like so easy. You plug in your county and you plug in like your zip and it tells you exactly who your representatives are. And if you have somebody who's good at writing, to write just a quick insert your name here, insert your address here. This is what I'm writing to cons like as my concern as your constituent, yeah, so on and so forth, sincerely plug in your name. I mean, it can really be that easy of copy pasting, plugging in information and sending out an email. Like it doesn't have to be the going and sitting at a board meeting and listening to tax dollars being thrown around at your school board. It doesn't have to be two hours of your time. Um, so even keeping in mind like those little super small things that they really do make a difference. What is one thing that you have taken away from your experience in your field?
unknownUh-huh.
SPEAKER_03There's always something new to learn. Like there is like always something new. It doesn't matter how many years of experience, right? Everyone that you meet is an expert in something. And if you have that open-mindedness when you approach it, it will serve you well.
SPEAKER_04Awesome. Crystal, thank you so much for joining us today and for your continued support of Hope Station through your work at the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Your leadership, your insight, and your heart for this work are exactly what our community needs more of.
SPEAKER_01Before we move on to our final conversation, let's take a moment to talk about our second annual award ceremony held on November 8th. Held each November, our award ceremony is a time that we honor our community members for their community service in the Cumberland County area. Each year we also give out the Jim Washington Award and our Youth Leadership Award for high school students. We have a form open right now for you to nominate someone for the Youth Leadership Award, which recognizes a high school student who has shown leadership on social and racial issues in school and or the community at large, and another form for an individual who embodies the spirit of Jim Washington, Hope Station's former executive director, as a dedication to improving the lives of minorities and underprivileged community members. Visit www.carlisleHopestation.org and head to our events tab for more info.
SPEAKER_02Our next guest is Kelly Crawford, a housing programs director at the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities of Cumberland County. She's dedicated to serving her community and taking action to support those in need. The CCHRA of Cumberland County is a partner of Hope Station, and we are so proud to have this connection. Kelly, thanks for sitting down with us.
SPEAKER_06Oh my. Chronic homelessness refers to individuals with a documented disability who have been continuously homeless for at least 12 months or have experienced homelessness four or more times in the last three years, which has to total out at least 12 months. And people become homeless for many, many reasons, often due to a combination of factors like lack of affordable housing, job loss, medical issues, mental health or substance use challenges, domestic violence, family breakdown, criminal charges and background, abuse, eviction. It's rarely one single cause. And most often it's a result of ongoing instability, limited support, and systemic barriers.
SPEAKER_01How do you usually get to the point where you can serve these individuals? I imagine it's a lot of meeting people where they are. But I was wondering if you can maybe elaborate on like the specifics of like what that looks like or what that means.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely. So I will I can talk for homeless and special needs division and who we serve. And we serve individuals and families, and we actively engage with them through the coordinated entry system to assess their needs and prioritize assistance. So we receive referrals. Actually, it's known as a push now from our uh we actually do the referral to our coordinated entry manager. Um, and they it's a list for those that are on a by name list. So coordinated entry if somebody's homeless, uh, literally homeless, fleeing domestic violence, um, they are to call our coordinated entry system or contact 211. Um and or they can ask for connect to home, which is the umbrella term, um, and they are asked a list of questions. It's an assessment. Uh, we also have an access site here in Carlisle at Community Cares, um, our emergency overnight shelter. Um, and they ask those questions in person if you feel more comfortable. So it can be done over the phone. Um, and there's a variety of assessors that can they can be connected to. So if somebody just calls 211, that's information and assistance. If they ask for coordinated entry, they're going to be asked a uh a list of questions. Um, and what it is, it's gonna show, it's going to um show, not show, that's wrong. Um it's gonna assess for their vulnerability of their homelessness. Where are they? Where are they staying? Um so when we get this push, my case managers actively engage with the participants um and we build a trusting relationship with them. We provide the support, let them know we're gonna be there for them. Um, and we are consistent with communication and we work closely with landlords to try to find them a housing unit um to rent. Uh, we have uh payment standards to follow, rent reasonableness to follow. We also have fair market rents. Um, so we work closely with these landlords and we engage with them. And mind you, we don't know these people like holistically like everything. We know enough to get the ball rolling. Um, we also talk to landlords about hey, we're working with them, we're gonna be checking in with them, we're gonna be calling them, we're gonna be going out to the home, uh, we're gonna be working on goals. So we work on goal settings, on goal, on goals, and goal planning to help them achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency, whatever that may look like. Um, it's not always necessarily like a goal being like maintain your housing. Well, what does that mean? What does that even mean? Like, it's like, oh, if somebody needed to set up because they haven't had a medical provider in five years, well, hey, we're gonna work and get you the resources and connections to get with the PCP, um, or if they're looking for other services, if they uh are in need of mental health services, we're doing referrals to outside agencies. Um, if they need childcare, we're connecting them to the child care in Cumberland County, you know. Um, so and we also incorporate PrEP, which is a prepared renter education program. Um, it's it's a program developed by the Self-Determination Housing, the Pennsylvania and PHFA. Um, so it teaches the essentials of renting, understanding affordability, searching for home, to complete applications, how to even fill out an application for housing. Um, how to we review leases uh to make sure there's an understanding. Um, and hey, that's a legal binding contract. It's a protection for you, a protection for the landlord. Just don't sign it, don't sign something just because need to understand it. Uh, but prep has it to where it helps them guide, it helps guide tenants um on maintaining good tenancy, following rules, housekeeping. Um if something is a challenge, how to find um find a way to turn that challenge into not a problem. It's okay. I got by. Um it helps them to also become successful. Um, it builds a portfolio. Uh, we maintain open communication uh with the landlords, uh, with any of the agencies that we are connected to, food banks, shelters, um, churches, the local social service agencies. Um, we work with re-en reentrance. Um, we has a how we have a housing first approach, um, which means there's no barriers. So we do take people that have criminal backgrounds. We do take people um that have, you know, they don't want mental health services. Um, and they don't have to because it's client-driven. It's what they want, it's how they want to live their life. We're there to support them. Um, not only support, but engagement, collab, collaboration, advocacy. Um, and then we are a consistent point of contact. And we offer mediation even with landlords, like, oh, well, you know, Billy Joe Bob, like, you know, had this party and he wrecked the place, but you know, and we're like, well, we haven't he has no other place to go. So do you think we could help him? Like, what can we do here? You know, would you keep him if this doesn't happen anymore? So we can really talk to the landlords. That's where that negotiation piece came in. Um and being an advocate. Um, and we have regular communication with them and home visits um while they're enrolled in our program.
SPEAKER_01That sounds awesome. I imagine that with that kind of like financial literacy aspect, that's such an important, like, knowledge-wielding, I don't even know, like tool and power that gives leverage not only to the person in question, but also I can imagine that's so rewarding for you as like a career, whenever we're thinking about just like the nonprofit sector as an intern at Hope Station. Um, I want to go into higher education when I'm out of here. Yes. And just thinking about the ways in which working with other people and like feeling good while doing it is something that I think is super inspiring.
SPEAKER_06I think it's sometimes interesting when you're doing a budget with someone and you're looking at their paychecks and you're breaking it down. You know, we all know that the gross is not everything you bring home. You're looking at that net and then you're looking at the budget, and it could be multiple categories. It's amazing that some are going, I didn't think about I didn't think about that. Like, oh what, those sodas count? Or wait, how many packs of cigarettes do you smoke in a week? You know, for example, or you know, you never know, someone might like to gamble, and it's like, well, you gotta count that money in because if you don't have enough to pay your rent and keep the roof over your head, then you're gonna run into problems. And sometimes putting a band-aid on a bigger issue is not always the answer.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_06Not always the answer.
SPEAKER_01Continuing on with our conversation, I want to hear what's one moment from your experience at HRA that motivates you to keep going?
SPEAKER_06Hmm. So this I have multiple over the years, uh, but while at a uh CCHRA, uh, we just had a a recent move. Um, so we had a gentleman who has been in the program for 10 years. Um, he started with no income um in uh and an efficiency, so very small. Um so he finally got income. So it it's so that was celibatory. Um and we offered to move him into a one-bedroom unit. Um it's it's one of our properties that we manage and and own. Um, so when we met up with the property manager, the case manager, myself, and we met up with the with the client, with the participant, um we were in the back of the unit, and we're just standing there, and my case manager and I were in awe just because we had seen what it the unit looked like before, and then we saw it as it was like empty. And I was like, Wow, wow! Like I was myself just impressed. And he's standing um in the back of the room, um, and he teared up, and I said, Are you saying yes to the unit? Like, kind of like, are you saying yes to the dress? Yes, cute, and he's like, This is my forever home. Oh, I got goosebumps, actually. Wait, that's so sweet. I don't, I'm almost gonna cry because when he did, I was just like, but then I was like, oh my goodness, I could totally get the sign. Like, are you saying yes to the unit? Are you saying like and that's when I was talking to you know with Owen earlier about pivoting? Like, it's just you pivot and like you're just like that's the aha moment. Um, moments like that is exactly why I do the work. They're not always often, but alongside my incredible team at CCHRA, you know, we are committed to serving others with humility, making meaningful ripples when it counts. And pretty much I'm kind of living a Martha life with a merry heart, and I'm focused on action and fueled by compassion.
SPEAKER_01That was a line. Okay, that was really good. I had to add that in there. That was so good. Um, continuing forward with our last question for this segment, I want to know what is something that everyone can do to work towards ending homelessness as a call to action to end this final segment.
SPEAKER_06This one's big. This one's big. Um, so you know, a lot of people think ending homelessness is this massive issue uh that may seem out of our hands. Um, but the truth and the reality is everyone can do something. It starts with seeing the humanity in every person, regardless of their housing status, regardless of what they look like. Um from there it's showing up in whatever way you can. Speak up for those who are often unheard, be a voice for those that don't have, share what's in your heart, your mind, and your gut, because I always believe like if it's there, you have to say it. Um, and refuse to let no be the end of the conversation. Um, call your elected officials, write to your elected officials, um, reach out to them. I was telling Owen, this is my first year that I've done a lot of advocacy and writing, um, and I've gotten some responses, but I've also really put my my words um on paper and and putting it out there um and showing up at community uh meetings, advocating for housing as a basic human right, um, and your voice matters more than you think. Um, get involved, volunteer with local programs, go see, live the life, walk the walk, um, support policies that promote housing stability, start conversations that challenge stigma and misinformation, a lot of education. Um, because lasting change doesn't always start with a megaphone. It often begins with a small, consistent act of compassion and courage and planting seeds for growth and change. Um, ending homelessness isn't just a systems systems issue, it's a people issue. Um, and because every step, no matter how small, brings us closer to a future where everyone should have a place to call home.
SPEAKER_01Beautiful. Well way to end this segment. Thank you so much for joining us today. I really, really appreciate it. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_04Kelly, thank you so much for speaking with us. And another thank you to Crystal and the T FEC team, as well as Heather. Before we close out, let's hear from Executive Director Roget Harris for the Executive Director's Corner.
SPEAKER_00You've been listening to the voices of hope.