New home and fresh start highlight community collaborations

On the day she celebrated her one-year anniversary of being drug-free, Kayla received some unexpected, good news.

She found out she could move into her own place. Her support team from the Bert Nash Center helped her move in.

The brand-new, 450-square-foot home, called the Phoenix House, is a collaboration between Dirt Works Studio and Tenants to Homeowners. Dirt Works Studio is part of the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Kansas.

“When they showed me the house, I almost cried,” Kayla said.

The house is subsidized through a Douglas County HUD Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Grant.

Kayla moved into the house in August. Earlier that month, she had graduated from the Douglas County Behavioral Health Court (BHC).

The goal of the BHC program is to improve participants’ lives through mental health treatment and coordinated support services that address issues such as lack of housing, substance abuse and unemployment.

Kayla began receiving court-appointed mental health services from the Bert Nash Center through the BHC. As part of her participation in the program, she was also ordered to check in at  DCCCA-First Step at Lakeview, a women’s-only residential treatment addiction facility in Lawrence.

Before entering First Step, Kayla had been homeless. She had also struggled with substance use issues for the past 10 years. Her partner passed away from a drug overdose when she was living at the homeless camp in North Lawrence, which has since been closed.

“After he passed away, I went on a really bad path and got into trouble,” Kayla said.

Kayla was arrested on drug-related charges and as part of the diversion program was accepted into the Behavioral Health Court.

After completing the rehab program at First Step, Kayla moved into Transitions, the Bert Nash Center’s 12-bed supportive group housing facility that is part of the Treatment & Recovery Campus of Douglas County.

“Transitions was a life changer for me,” Kayla said. “It gave me people to talk to, healthy, sober friends. I had the staff to talk to and hold me accountable. It was just a really good environment for someone who was freshly getting clean.”

Residents at Transitions have a more structured schedule, which was a big adjustment for Kayla, but also something she needed in her life.

“At Transitions, it was a lot of doing what you’re supposed to do because when I was homeless, I was used to doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted,” she said.  “It was a big adjustment at first, but Transitions taught me how to take care of things at home, to cook for yourself, to get a sleep routine so you can get up and do what you need to do the next day.”

Through living at Transitions and going through Behavioral Health Court, Kayla formed a new circle of friends.

“Behavioral Health Court is very intense,” she said. “You go to court every week, you meet with a case manager every week. I wasn’t allowed to see my old circle of friends, it was pretty much limited to my friends at Transitions, but that was healthy for me. And those people are still in my life today.”

Behavioral Health Court Officer Jolene Cullen, of Douglas County Criminal Justice Services, described Kayla as sincere and caring.

“I’m extremely proud of the enormous obstacles that she overcame during her time in Behavioral Health Court. Kayla is one of those people who grabs your heart, and I wish nothing but the very best for her,” Cullen said.

The Honorable Sally Pokorny presides over the Behavioral Health Court, which is funded by Douglas County. The program is a collaboration among the District Court, District Attorney, Criminal Justice Services, Sheriff’s Office, DCCCA, Bert Nash Center and select defense attorneys.

“Kayla became the darling of Behavioral Health Court. After in-patient treatment she embraced sobriety and all the members of the treatment team. She asked for advice, followed suggestions and was always so positive, cheerful, and supportive of everyone else’s journey through BHC,” Judge Pokorny said. “I was sad to see her graduate, only because that meant I would not see her at least once a month. I still miss her big smile.”

Kayla lived in Transitions for about six months before successfully moving on to Bridges, a Bert Nash Center transitional group home where residents stay before transitioning to independent living.

While living at Bridges, Kayla went back to school and finished the credits to earn her diploma from Free State High School and she started working part time.

“Bridges is far more independent than Transitions,” said Eddie Velez, Bert Nash Center Supportive Housing program manager. “The goal is to empower people to make their own decisions. We provide case management, but it’s independence with a safety net. Kayla did really well there. She’s come a long way.”

Kelly Martin, Bert Nash Center Supportive Housing supervisor, said Kayla’s experience is an example of the community’s continuum of care.

“This is the jewel idea of what permanent supportive housing really is and it’s made possible through all of these collaborations,” Martin said.

Rebecca Buford, executive director of Tenants to Homeowners, said, “What a great partnership and it is such a good example of all of the steps we need to help someone reintegrate into the community.”

Kayla is still getting settled into her new place, but it feels like home.

“I remember at one point in my life thinking I have no clue when I will sleep in a bed again,” she said. “Going from Transitions to Bridges to here, where now I have my own place, I can lock my own door at night, it’s really nice.”

For Kayla, it’s a fresh start. She had never lived by herself sober. But she’s not alone. She has the support of her treatment team. She also has the support of her family.

“My whole family is in recovery. I have a brother that is eight years clean, my mother is seven years clean, and I have a sister that is almost a year clean,” she said. “They are my biggest support, outside of Bert Nash.”