Latest / The Scene Projects / Courtney Wagner on Homelessness Solutions, Support Services, and a Benefit Concert

Transcript

Courtney Wagner on Homelessness Solutions, Support Services, and a Benefit Concert · The Scene Projects

• 0:20
  Welcome in to another exciting episode of the scene.
• 0:23
  I'm your host, Bubba Sartz, with a special edition today.
• 0:26
  Joining us from Pathways for the Homeless in Yankton, South Dakota is Courtney Wagner.
• 0:31
  Courtney, welcome to the show.
• 0:33
  Hi, Baba, and thanks for having us.
• 0:37
  It's an absolute pleasure of mine.
• 0:40
  Well, you got a big benefit concert coming up here June 28.
• 0:44
  Before we get into that, I I wanna get just a little bit of a background on Pathways, and
• 0:50
  then we can jump into all the fun, exciting things that are gonna be happening Sunday, June
• 0:55
  28.
• 0:56
  Yeah.
• 0:58
  Pathways began in 1994, so we've been operating for thirty two years here in Yankton.
• 1:04
  We serve the Yankton community, but we also serve those 60 miles within the radius of us.
• 1:11
  So it could be as far as Vermillion.
• 1:14
  It could be as close as Sioux Falls, but it has to be within that 60 mile radius and then have
• 1:21
  some type of tie to yanked in on top of that.
• 1:23
  We do offer different services.
• 1:26
  So we have our main service, which is our emergency shelter for our families and
• 1:30
  individuals.
• 1:31
  And then we have our young adult housing program, which we serve 18 to 24 year olds,
• 1:37
  along with our reentry program, rapid rehousing, and then financial assistance
• 1:41
  program.
• 1:46
  Incredible stuff.
• 1:47
  And, obviously, it functions as a nonprofit, and not always is it enough in government
• 1:54
  funding that are able to fund these that are nongovernment agencies.
• 1:59
  Correct?
• 2:00
  Correct.
• 2:01
  So our emergency shelter area is primarily funded through private donations.
• 2:06
  So this would be basically funded through the community.
• 2:12
  So that would be, like, food, clothing, monetary donations, versus, like, our reentry
• 2:18
  program.
• 2:19
  It's funded through the South Dakota Department of Corrections.
• 2:22
  And then we have our YHDP program, which is funded through a YHDP grant.
• 2:28
  So it definitely varies.
• 2:31
  But if you you want to take away, we are primarily 75% funded through private donations.
• 2:42
  Incredible.
• 2:42
  And such a need that you are facing.
• 2:45
  I I think a lot of people don't understand.
• 2:47
  And as someone who has experienced homelessness at different parts in my life, I understand
• 2:52
  what a benefit these are to the community.
• 2:55
  We not everyone who becomes homeless, I don't think anyone who becomes homeless, wants to be.
• 3:02
  And, I think a lot of the population that do become homeless and around larger cities, have,
• 3:10
  you know, especially in California or something like that, drug addiction, mental health are
• 3:15
  some of the reasons that but it can literally be anything.
• 3:18
  It can be, you know, getting out of a bad situation and just needing somewhere to be able
• 3:23
  to go.
• 3:24
  And I know that you serve a wide variety, the reentry program, also someone who, you know,
• 3:30
  didn't need those but knew several people who would need something like that, you know,
• 3:34
  reentering after incarceration.
• 3:37
  So I I I realize from a much deeper level than I think a a regular everyday citizen would, the
• 3:45
  need that you are serving inside of the community of the less fortunate and those who
• 3:50
  have fallen on tough times.
• 3:53
  Absolutely.
• 3:54
  So just like what you said too, like, people become homeless for various reasons.
• 4:00
  Yes, there's that substance use aspect or mental health aspect, but it could also go
• 4:08
  along the lines of, Hey, I got sick with cancer, and because I got sick with cancer, I
• 4:15
  had to step away from my job.
• 4:17
  Well, because I had to step away from my job, I lost my housing.
• 4:21
  So it's just kinda one of those factors where it's like a ripple effect sometimes, and it's
• 4:26
  just needing that extra oomph and be like, okay.
• 4:28
  Well, now I need guidance.
• 4:29
  So we offer those high level case management services.
• 4:34
  So when somebody comes into shelter, they are gifted a case manager that is able to help them
• 4:39
  with the resources that and tools that they need to be successful and get on the right
• 4:44
  track to be independent again.
• 4:51
  Yeah.
• 4:51
  And exactly, you know, what you just alluded to is that anyone who becomes homeless, you you
• 4:57
  didn't you don't know the resources that are available to you until you're in And without a
• 5:03
  Pathways, really, people are out there on their own, and the problems exacerbate.
• 5:09
  And it's a downward spiral where Yeah.
• 5:13
  Pathways and programs like this and especially here in our local community provide a safety
• 5:18
  net for people who have befallen tough times and now providing them with the resources to
• 5:23
  get them back onto their feet and get them back into independent housing.
• 5:30
  Correct.
• 5:31
  And it sometimes, like, we get a lot of questions on how long someone is housed here,
• 5:37
  and it really does vary case to case.
• 5:39
  So we can have somebody that might have a job coming in, but they lost housing for some
• 5:45
  reason, and maybe they're only here for two weeks.
• 5:48
  And the longest we've had somebody stay in our emergency shelter is ninety days.
• 5:55
  Now versus our young adult housing program, those folks we serve 18 to 24 year olds, so
• 6:01
  they can be in that program for two years.
• 6:03
  They learn life skills with through our life skills coordinator that we have on board, and
• 6:09
  that could be simple basics of doing laundry, learning how to cook a meal, stuff that wasn't
• 6:15
  shown to them previously growing up.
• 6:18
  So it's great to, like, kinda have that intervention before, you know, they become
• 6:23
  older, and the cycle just kinda continues on.
• 6:27
  It it's just nice to have those resources available.
• 6:34
  Yeah.
• 6:34
  And as someone who experienced a lot of turmoil in my early years and that led to further and
• 6:41
  further problems, trouble with the law, and substance abuse issues, I really I'm gonna have
• 6:45
  to have you back, Courtney.
• 6:47
  We don't have a ton of time today, but I wanna really dig in to that program with you sometime
• 6:52
  in the future.
• 6:53
  And maybe it will be an opportunity for me me to take the quick half hour trip from Tyndall
• 6:58
  over to Yankton to see this facility and maybe talk with, some of these young people that are
• 7:03
  going through this program because I think it is incredible what you're doing to have that
• 7:08
  because it took me until I was 30 and and coming through and having to learn some skills,
• 7:14
  you know, through the prison system even to to build up into that and to learn a trade so that
• 7:20
  I could be the man and the father that I am today.
• 7:24
  So how nice to know that there's a program out there that is trying to work with these young
• 7:28
  adults that and a lot of times, no, you know, no fault of their own that they're in this
• 7:34
  situation to to help give them a leg up and to provide them with that safe place to go and the
• 7:41
  skills they need to be successful adults.
• 7:43
  So, we're gonna have you back on.
• 7:46
  I can already guarantee you that whether it's me coming out there and seeing the facility,
• 7:50
  but I really wanna dig into specifically that program.
• 7:53
  But this is exactly the reason that you're doing the benefit concert to raise money.
• 7:58
  You exist on 75%, you know, private donations, and and it's not always people are never going
• 8:04
  to really find you unless they've become aware of you through someone maybe they know doing
• 8:09
  it.
• 8:10
  So I think a great, move that you've made here to throw a big benefit concert to raise
• 8:15
  awareness around the foundation, but now to also raise some money for that too.
• 8:20
  So Sunday, June 28 at Ben's Brewing Station right there in Yankton.
• 8:25
  You're you're hosting the Pathways Benefit concert featuring Justine Crawford.
• 8:30
  Tell us a little bit more about the event and what people can expect in attending.
• 8:34
  Yes.
• 8:35
  So with Justine Crawford, she sings all genres of music.
• 8:40
  You, request something, she'll sing it.
• 8:43
  She came to Yankton a couple months ago and has been widely known since she's come here, so
• 8:49
  she's been great.
• 8:50
  She actually works for Pathways here as an advocate.
• 8:53
  And then we are planning on having a fifty fifty raffle but in fun form.
• 8:59
  So we'll be doing a chuck a duck.
• 9:02
  So the goal is they'll come in, buy a duck, and then whoever throws the duck in the middle of a
• 9:08
  pool, the closest to the dot, will be able to win it or be able to get a chance to win half
• 9:14
  of the pot of the money when we do the fifty fifty raffle.
• 9:18
  We'll also have t shirts for sale, and then we also have free will donation jars during the
• 9:22
  event.
• 9:23
  Now you are able to go ahead and still buy from Wicked Eats from Ben's Brew Station, and any
• 9:30
  drinks included over at Ben's.
• 9:37
  Incredible.
• 9:38
  And I and I'm sure both of the organizations are probably donating a portion of proceeds
• 9:43
  Mhmm.
• 9:43
  During that time, and lots of other cash donations will obviously be accepted at the
• 9:49
  event as well.
• 9:50
  And a chance for the community to come get to know you and everyone that's there at Pathways
• 9:56
  and and get to know the work that you are doing and really being a vital part of this community
• 10:02
  because there aren't many resources like this in many communities.
• 10:07
  And and it's why a small community like Yankton can continue to serve their the the community
• 10:14
  at large, really, by keeping these young people from the drug abuse and and the trouble with
• 10:21
  alcohol and then causing more trouble because of those things.
• 10:25
  So I think it's amazing what you're doing, Courtney.
• 10:28
  I'm so appreciative of you spending some time with me today.
• 10:32
  I know we had a little bit of miscommunication getting it done, but we got it done
• 10:36
  nonetheless, Courtney.
• 10:38
  Anything more to add?
• 10:39
  I know that everyone can go to yanktonpathways.org and and find out more
• 10:46
  information there as well.
• 10:48
  But anything else that you want to add before I let you go?
• 10:51
  Yes.
• 10:52
  So we do host tours on Fridays.
• 10:56
  So those will be at twelve and three.
• 10:58
  And then during our Pathways, benefit concert, we will also have staff available during that
• 11:05
  event for any questions, and maybe, hopefully, we can help clear up any, confusion anybody may
• 11:12
  have, or they just wanna learn a little bit more about Pathways.
• 11:19
  Fantastic.
• 11:20
  Well, I can't wait to learn more about Pathways myself.
• 11:23
  Courtney, thank you so much for spending a few minutes with me today.
• 11:27
  Thank you for all the work that you're doing for the community of Yankton, and thank you for
• 11:31
  being part of the scene.
• 11:33
  No.
• 11:33
  Thank you.