Send us a text

A lot of people talk about homelessness. Fewer people step inside a shelter and see what actually works. We sat down with Helen Kuchera to pull back the curtain on a low‑barrier, trauma‑informed approach that treats people as people—and the results are both practical and hopeful.

We start by dismantling the myths: laziness, “choice,” and the assumption that everyone on the street is addicted. Helen shares the real barriers—no ID, no address, no clean clothes—and how those small missing pieces shut people out of jobs, health care, and housing. From there, we tour the inner workings of a 75‑bed congregate shelter with pods for families, women, men, and couples, an on‑site clinic, housing navigation, and a chef-led kitchen serving thousands of meals each month. The low‑barrier philosophy is clear: you can come as you are, be a good neighbor, and start building stability today.

One of the most eye‑opening parts? Co‑sheltering with pets. By assessing and welcoming animals, the team removes a major reason people avoid shelter, and in the process preserves bonds that carry guests through their toughest days. Helen also talks candidly about staff compassion and the cost of caring—secondary trauma, the need for boundaries, and why self‑care and education are non‑negotiable if you want sustainable kindness. Along the way, we offer concrete ways for listeners to help in their own neighborhoods: targeted donations (think adult pull‑ups and hygiene kits), volunteering, and small, human gestures like water, fruit, or a steady “good morning.”

If you’re ready to replace judgment with understanding and questions with action, this conversation will give you the language, the tools, and the motivation to start. Subscribe for more stories that center dignity, share this with someone who cares, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your kindness travels farther than you think.

Support the show