LightHouse project will help prepare young adults

By JUDD WEIL 
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Interfaith Housing and Community Services held their open house for their first LightHouse property on May 18 in Hutchinson. 

Interfaith is addressing the housing needs of struggling young people between the ages of 18 and 24 with their LightHouse program.  

LightHouse stands for Living Intentionally with Goals, Hope, Trust, Honesty, Opportunity, Understanding, Skills, and Empowerment. 

The project was incepted in 2019. Interfaith received a Community Service Program tax credit award to fund the development of supportive housing for populations experiencing housing insecurities. 

Through research and community input, Interfaith identified a considerable housing gap for young people past traditional high school age experiencing some type of housing insecurity. 

The 4200 square foot house at 1005 N. Washington St. is the first LightHouse property. 

The house was originally constructed in 1887 and had been severely damaged in recent years.

In fall 2021, Interfaith Housing began the process of renovating the house. The project included completely gutting the property. 

"So this was an 18 month project and it includes approximately 10,000 hours of volunteer labor," Clint Nelson, Interfaith Housing CEO, said. 

Volunteer hours included furniture and amenities for the house, bedding and linens, food pantry donations, and even financial assistance. 

Several people, churches, private companies and businesses donated to fund LightHouse's completion.

According to Nelson, Interfaith believes there are an estimated 100 to 120 young adults who have been displaced due to a variety of barriers preventing access to safe and affordable housing options. 

The LightHouse on Washington St. will host up to eight tenants at a time.

Those living in the LightHouse will take part in the LightHouse resource program. 

"So it's two parts. The LightHouse, as a project, is this property," Nelson said. It's it's the structural, secure, safe quality housing."

The units at LightHouse are fully furnished and are owner-paid utilities.

Residents will have free laundry access, as well as a free Wi-Fi network. 

The housing side of the two-part program is flexible. 

"On the rent side, we're looking to meet these individuals wherever they're starting financially," Nelson said. "Employment-wise, we realize a number of them may come in with lacking employment or at zero income, and we plan to work with them on that level and skill with their housing expense accordingly." 

The LightHouse will be a transitional housing option for people between the ages of 18 and 24. Individuals will be housed up to 24 months as Interfaith Housing helps get them to the point they can afford permanent housing.

Running parallel with the housing part of the LightHouse, there will be the LightHouse program.

"Here at LightHouse, we have the LightHouse program that we've designed with a team, an interfaith team, that are established as resource partners for these individuals," Nelson said. "They're going to walk with them in connecting to all the local resources, trying to connect them to a positive adult influence or mentor, and really work with them on their life skills in their educational and financial goals, really just try to be a support and a positive influence and get them into a very stable adulthood." 

Interfaith Housing has been helping seniors in the community and working in affordable housing for 30 years. Nelson sees what Interfaith Housing is doing with LightHouse as the next step and an extension to their services. 

"We've never directly targeted this young adult population, so we believe that services are going to be key resources," Nelson said. 

Unless they are a single parent, the age range category that LightHouse will be serving often does not qualify for state and federally funded subsidized housing for young and homeless individuals. 

According to Diane Crabtree with Interfaith Housing, resources can take the form of establishing connections with mental health services, substance abuse services, higher education services, and even financial planning. 

"We will work with them individually to find out what will be beneficial to them, what is needed, so that they can eventually leave the house," Crabtree said. 

All of these resources will come from partnerships with community entities. 

Interfaith Housing's LightHouse program will also include community partnerships to help with entry-level employment options. 

Some of the life skills training in the LightHouse program will be required. Tenants will be required to maintain contact with their resources as they prepare to leave the house at their pace within the program's 24 month period. 

Contact with resource partners is meant to establish trust, as well as gauge where goals need to be met and where they need to be established on the timeline. 

Tenants start the program by being interviewed by Interfaith and going through the experience of lease agreement with a landlord as if they were going to be living completely independently. 

Crabtree said rent will include all utilities at $500, and that will be on a sliding scale. 

Tenants time at the LightHouse will establish rent history as well. 

As tenants continue with the program, depending on the pace of their progress, Interfaith may meet with them less or more often. 

"I have no doubt we will meet needs as we discover more options," Nelson said. "Our goal is to operate this with as much grace as possible in helping these individuals overcome the challenges that they're facing." 

Interfaith Housing intends for the LightHouse on Washington to be the first in the overall program, with room for expansion. 

"I mean, this community is not lacking in old two-story houses that could be converted for this type of occupancy," Nelson said. 

Ultimately, the goal for young people exiting the LightHouse program is preparation through experience. 

"I think it's all part of the experience that we're looking to provide," Nelson said. "These are all positive steps towards being a successful adult. We would love them to come out of this housing program feeling more confident, and understanding their rights as a tenant and just more prepared."

Interfaith Housing released their intake application within the last couple of weeks. They hope to have all eight units of the LightHouse full in its first 90 days. 

Nelson added that several sponsors have helped the project come together.

"We were so blessed to have worked with over 40 amazing partners in this project," Nelson said. "Key partnerships include Kansas Gas Service, Rich & Beverly Benjes, First Mennonite Church, Crestview Bible Church, First Presbyterian Church, architect Joel Hagg, Stutzman Refuse, United Way of Reno County, Kevin Rule (Sleepe Shop), Chris Schwartz (Wildcat IT), Nathan Alexander (Oneok), and Patrick Thomson (Power Solutions Inc.)."

If you are or you know someone who is a struggling young adult between the ages of 18 and 24, and are interested in the LightHouse program, contact Diane Crabtree at (620) 259-9913 or at [email protected]. People can also contact Rose Smyres at (620) 259-9927 or at [email protected].

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