Having a job, a home and a steady income provide a sense of security and stability. But sometimes, due to circumstances beyond our control, all of those safety nets can be yanked out from under us, and we could find ourselves alone, hungry, and homeless.
When Kevin Hawkins found himself in this frightening position, he not only got help through the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope, he got his life back and is now working for the shelter.
“The hardships that led to being homeless were loss of employment and being injured,” Hawkins said. “Then, COVID and the pandemic hit and everything shut down. The pandemic actually set me back for almost a year.
He had worked at a large, local manufacturing company.
“The work was very labor intensive. It was hard on my back and legs. I had to eventually go on short-term disability through the company.”
Because he had not been with the company for a year, he was not eligible for long-term disability through his place of employment.
Being homeless was not something he had ever imagined would happen to him. He considers himself very fortunate that when he became homeless he never was forced to sleep on the streets.
“Honestly, I really never encountered any homeless people,” Hawkins said. “I know that I had seen people on the streets that I figured were homeless, but I never really had any interaction before becoming homeless myself. The decision to begin utilizing the homeless shelter was really my only option at the time. I had some issues that I could not stay with my sister or mother. My mother didn’t really have enough space to have anyone live with her. As far as food, the shelter serves breakfast and lunch and the shelter would provide a sandwich and snacks upon entering the night shelter.”
The Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope connects clients with the services they need while creating a safe place of belonging for everyone. The shelter, founded by Sister Vickie Perkins, has been assisting those who live in poverty since 2014. An emergency night shelter was added in 2016 and a day shelter was added in 2018, funded by churches and donors. More than 100 volunteers keep the shelter running 365 days and nights a year.
The day center serves breakfast and lunch, seven days a week, no questions asked.
Welcome Central is also a part of Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope, and it provides services to those in Leavenworth County living in poverty, which includes instructions about daily living skills, information about social service providers, access to job seeking skills, assistance in getting personal documents and transportation to helping agencies, and other essential services.
Hawkins believes that many people do not understand how easily life’s difficulties can land someone on the street. “People do not realize that most people are just a paycheck or two from losing everything. No one is ever prepared, or expects to end up homeless. I believe that most people think being homeless is a choice made by an individual. Granted, some people are out there by choice, but not the majority of people. I do believe it is easier for most people to just categorize all homeless as alcoholics and drug addicts. This is not to say that some of the homeless self-medicate with either alcohol or illegal drugs or misuse their prescription drugs. I believe that most people view the homeless as invisible and as a shadow population. The general population does not realize that the vast majority of homeless have some form of mental illness.”
The help he received from the shelter encouraged Hawkins to not only get on his feet again, but also to help the organization that had ensured his safety and survival. He is now a Day Center Supervisor at the shelter.
“Basically, I open the day center for the guests that had stayed the previous night at the night shelter,” Hawkins said. “Preparing lunch is also a function of the job. The job also consists of interacting with the guests in a positive and meaningful way, which, I can attest to, isn’t always as easy as it would seem. You have to be able to relate to, and interact with so many different types of people. The job began with me just doing odd jobs around the shelter whenever Myranda (Executive Director Myranda Agnew) needed help. She decided to put me on the payroll last July and the rest is history, as they say. I am definitely grateful for the chance to help others in the same situation try to improve their life and help them along in their journey.”
Hawkins said the shelter was a blessing for him (and many others). The staff at the shelter helped him connect to resources around the town. “My determination had to be nurtured back by Sister Vickie and the staff at the shelter,” Hawkins said. “It seemed a very overwhelming and frustrating situation at the time. As far as helping others and being compassionate, I have always been empathetic since childhood.”
Many of the homeless population that Hawkins has encountered suffer from some form of mental health issues.
“I myself have mental issues I still struggle with daily,” Hawkins said. “I suffer from severe depression, anxiety disorder, OCD, panic attacks. These are issues I have to deal with each day. Fortunately, I have a great support system. I have family in the area and I have my shelter family.”
He believes that rural areas are especially a problem for the homeless, since most of the smaller, rural areas have few resources to help serve the homeless population. “Leavenworth is really blessed to have The Leavenworth Guidance Center,” Hawkins said. “They are a great resource for not only the homeless population but the general public, as well.” The Guidance Center is a non-profit agency that provides a full range of quality outpatient and inpatient referral/release services for individuals, families and businesses in Atchison, Jefferson and Leavenworth counties in Kansas.
His job at the shelter has also helped Hawkins find housing of his own. “I was fortunate to get on a program through NEK-CAP, which is for the homeless only.” NEK-CAP provides comprehensive education and social services to low-income community members through collaborative partnerships focused on promoting the development of individuals and families, empowerment and economic security.
For Hawkins, the issue of mental health illness should be one of the top goals for every state.
“I believe that by focusing more on mental health issues it would help alleviate a myriad of problems from homelessness to police brutality to helping us to become a better nation. The sad stories for the homeless abound. There have been people that lost everything because of a fire. People have been evicted for non-payment of rent. I have seen younger people that have been kicked out of their homes and end up on the street.”
If a homeless person, who is feeling disposable and invisible, asked Hawkins what he or she should do, his advice would be that things will seem overwhelming at first, but they can get through it and come out better on the other side. “This is a difficult question in a way. First of all, there will be feelings of hopelessness, but it will fade. The best thing to do is begin to locate services in their area. Catholic Charities, a mental health facility, and local churches are all great places to begin.”
He is most grateful for the love, respect and hope that the staff at Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope staff had for him. “Also, for showing me encouragement and believing in me, so that I began to believe in myself again,” Hawkins said. “Everyone from Linda Martin and Sister Vickie to Myranda and Paula (Cathey) (day center director) and I have to include my man, Stephen (Walker) (Welcome Central director) and every one of the staff and all of our wonderful volunteers.”