Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Be Able on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 287
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We sit down with Scott Voos from Be Able and hear from Gary, a program graduate who goes from jail and instability to recovery housing and a real plan for the future. Gary shares how basic needs, accountability, and community help him rebuild his health, reconnect with family, and aim for a traditional lease.
• winter pressure points and why cold months are harder
• what a Be Able program graduate means in practice
• Gary’s path from jail and probation to stability
• why showers, clean clothes, and a safe bed unlock employment
• rebuilding trust and family connection through consistent change
• how peer examples create hope inside a recovery community
• the biggest barrier after progress starts: renting with a record
• how Be Able’s transitional recovery housing program is growing and staying structured
Find out more about their efforts at BeAbleCommunity.com
On the 28th, just in front of the houses at 10:30, 500 block of Yuma
Don’t forget Grow Green Match Day is coming up, too
Sponsor And Segment Setup
SPEAKER_01Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode, we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMCF Community Hour, as heard on News Radio KMAN. We are back with the GMTF Community Hour here on News Radio K M A NB Able is our next uh focus here on the show. We have Scott Voos, who's the executive director.
SPEAKER_00And welcome back, dude. Hey, it's it's glad to be back. Uh always appreciate the invite and uh opportunity. You told me that it was brisk outside. Thank you. Yeah, uh piercingly cold out there.
SPEAKER_01Holy cow, it is. Yes, it is. That wind yesterday was stepping out of church and it was snowing, and and I wasn't prepared for that.
SPEAKER_00No way. It was at least a four-club wind. You got to keep the ball low in that type of wind for sure.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Thanks for the golf analogy here on the Monday. Appreciate that. That's good for spring break to get in that mindset. Yep. Yeah. How are things down to be able?
SPEAKER_00Oh, uh think things are popping and uh rocking still. I think the cold weather months are still proving to be uh probably the most difficult um because everybody is so cooped up and um just in in the the same environment for so long together. So um we are all just ready to kind of break out for uh for the springtime.
SPEAKER_01You had some nice days last week. Hopefully they return here later this week.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely. Uh we just we just left uh the uh the shop earlier and there was there was 25 people in there all uh kind of huddled up again today.
Meet Gary And The Program
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, you know, with the cold, it's nice to have that facility for a lot of people and a lot of your neighbors, and then also, you know, the warming shelter and a lot of you know it's just neat to see the community rally around these. Yeah, it it's the exact purpose of of what we hope to do. Yeah, all right. Well, hey, you bought a you you brought a neighbor along. Yes. So uh we're going to introduce to our listeners Gary. Welcome to the show, Gary. Thank you. Yeah, glad to have you here. So you are a beable program graduate. Yes, sir. Uh okay, so this is like new terminology for me, Scott. So so um what does a program graduate mean?
SPEAKER_00Gary's the second graduate of our our program, which means that the the men in the housing program who successfully uh complete the program and then take their next step for a a traditional lease um opportunity, um that that's Gary right there. So uh we're very excited and um uh happy for for Gary's next step. All right. So Gary, let's talk about you.
SPEAKER_01Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Well, I'm from upstate New York. Really?
SPEAKER_02How'd you end up in Kansas? Family. Okay. My mom and my sister and brother and parents all lived here. So I moved here with my daughter and son 2017.
Gary’s Turning Point After Jail
SPEAKER_01Tell me about the journey that you've experienced and how be able came into your life.
SPEAKER_02Well I had five four sons and one daughter, and then I worked and took care of them for a long time. Then stuff happened in New York, so I came I took my youngest son and daughter, and we moved here to Kansas and lived in Lamigo for a couple years. And uh some stuff happened and I made some poor choices and ended up in jail and in and out of rehab and everything. And when well long story short, I got out of jail and I didn't have anything, nowhere to go. I was on probation. And when I found out where Be Abel was pretty much saved me from being homeless or being back in jail or or prisoner dead because what they do there is uh pretty much give you bas your basic needs, you know, a little food, some clothes, a shower and eventually give me a place to live. So that made it so I could go get a job and be safe and be held accountable and and be clean because you can't get a job and better your life if if you're not gonna be clean or you know, have clean clothes or be able to take a shower or have a stove. So and plus I made I made a lot of friends there, like Scott became my friend. He's kind of easy to get along with. He's everybody there is, you know, Chad and Marlon and it's just a really fun family environment, isn't it? Super fun. And uh they can tell when you're doing good, and it's it's great to be treated like you hope to be treated, you know, because a lot of people remember you from when you weren't doing so well, and that's how you'll be treated, but it's good to be recognized for trying and doing well.
SPEAKER_01We're not gonna get into the stuff that happens, but you came here with a son and daughter. And and of the stuff that happened, how did that uh impact the relationship with specifically those two children here that were here with you?
SPEAKER_02Well, I was really worried that I wasn't gonna be able to have a relationship with my daughter or my other sons that are in New York because it's hard to call big people and and say hi or answer your phone when you're homeless or you know, in jail and not doing well because it's just real hard, so it's uh I feel like it's kinda like a miracle that I have such a good relationship with her now and she just had a baby six weeks ago. Grandpa? Yep, grandpa, and I and I that's where I've been staying with her now since I graduated out of uh Beable's house. Are you enjoying that grandpa role? So much. Uh-huh. And I feel like she likes it too, like she appreciates it. I get to babysit once in a while and you know, so she can do things and just be there for her and go to work every day and come home and you know, it's my turn to take care of the the baby for a little while. It's really amazing because a few months ago I wasn't sure I was gonna be able to even be there to see either one of them for a long time. And when when I got out of jail and went uh be able to come into jail and visiting with me, and I had made a plan to go stay at their house. So I real lucky. I couldn't feel any more lucky, thankful, grateful.
SPEAKER_01So you know, Scott, when we have an opportunity to visit with one of your neighbors, the stories all vary. Yeah, but there is a consistency that um they have found a home. They have found a place that they can be um amongst people who are also in, you know, similar journeys. Yeah. And also witness similar successes like what uh like what Gary is talking about. And I would imagine that that could be fairly infectious with your neighbors.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um that that's uh the terminology I use often is the the infectious um uh just aura that that someone like Gary can can um just walk in a room and he people recognize him and see him, and they may not tell you right away, but but they're thinking to themselves, well, if Gary can do that, like I think I can do that too. So I had lots of people tell me that. Yeah, and and there is no better example or or worker or uh person than somebody who has recently been through the thick of it and has has proven that that that they they can do it. So uh it takes one to know one is one of our best adages, and a lot of our staff members are are similar in that respect. Um we we've we've all been through some trials and and proven that that it can be done. So that's what we're about. The the recovery community, I think, is is something that that we're gonna we as an be able is gonna really try to hang our hat on for this upcoming year and and uh the year ahead is uh just fostering an environment of overcoming challenges, uh recovering from whatever uh ailment or phenomenon that you're going through. So yeah, we're gonna we're gonna really head towards that direction.
SPEAKER_01Gary, what is your engagement now, now that you are a program graduate with BeAble? Do you still, you know, make your way in there and talk and hang out? I do all the time.
SPEAKER_02I uh I always try to do my best to volunteer my time whenever I can. And yeah, I go there all the time. They're my friends. When you walk in the door, how do they treat you? They treat me great. Just like like like family would. Like I go around and shake hands, good morning. I get hugs, I drink coffee, find out if there's anything I can do to help, and a lot of times there is. Sometimes there's not. Sometimes the place is full of volunteers, but I know them too. Yeah. I'm I feel proud when I walk in because like I said, the people recognize the change, like Scott said, and it's feels really, really good.
SPEAKER_01Do you feel like you have become kind of like uh something that people can attach to, uh a leader, someone that, you know, an example of this is what uh you also can do through Be Able with uh with the support mechanisms that you have in place? I do, definitely.
SPEAKER_02And I try to share that with people, and I have shared it with some people, you know. What are some of the things that you're most proud of? Well, I'm most proud of being able to be there for my daughter, and I plan on being a good grandpa, you know, and and I'm proud of a lot of things. I don't know if there's something I'm most proud of. I'm proud of you know being able to make my first doctor appointment and then I keep going to the doctor and I'm pretty proud of my health. I mean, I've gotten my big blood pressure way under control, everything, my cholesterol, I've lost 60 pounds.
SPEAKER_01And you know the cleanliness is an an is an important part of your health, obviously.
SPEAKER_02Obviously. Very much so.
SPEAKER_01What has been your biggest challenge?
SPEAKER_02Well, my biggest challenge really still is trying to find uh an apartment or a house with my record now, because I just I keep giving$40 application fees and keep being denied because I have enough money. My credit's not horrible, but having that record makes it pretty hard. But because my friends that be able are are are friends with some realtors. I'm pretty sure that when July or August comes around, I'll be able to move into a place. Well with my daughter. We're trying to find like a two or three bedroom. Place for all of you? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. How old's the is it a grandson or daughter?
SPEAKER_02My grandson.
SPEAKER_01Okay. How old? Almost seven weeks. Oh, we don't even have an idea of uh if he's gonna cheer for uh you know the New York Jets or Giants or or the Kansas City Chiefs yet.
SPEAKER_02I imagine he's gonna be a Cowboys and Yankees fan. Cowboys I was born a Cowboys fan.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Interesting. You know, Scott, I I would imagine, you know, we talk about you know the work that you do and and uh the neighbors that you that that come through the doors have be able. And you know, and I would imagine uh uh it it may be safe for me to say that this doesn't always happen. But you see, yeah. You you you do what you can, and you certainly hope that it takes root with those individuals that you're working with.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. We have to remind ourselves that we're it we're in the the business, it it's a marathon and it's not it's not a quick race. Um we see so many setbacks and and uh we'll say failures and um it's tough to deal with, it really is. Um but for for us, that's where our um you know reliance in in the Lord's um words and um you know what the what the scriptures say. Um it there there's more to it than than just one failure, one setback. And there's always room for redemption and um you know just kind of taking a knee and collecting yourself. So yeah, that's why we celebrate wins as small as they may seem, I think Gary mentioned, um, like trying to find an apartment. Um those are incredibly difficult things for for individuals to do. Um, but we're we're not gonna give up and you know, we'll continue to uh to do those little reach outs to to try to help him find his home. Um so every little win we want to celebrate because that that helps uh fuel the fire.
SPEAKER_01Let's uh talk about some business aspects of B. Abel, because you know the structure of what you're doing is is obviously something that's very important, uh, and it contributes to the success of individuals like that you that you see with Gary. Yeah. But let's uh first talk about the housing program. And and you have seen that grow considerably within the last year.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um with we we've come so far in the last year uh from acquiring the property, renovating the property, um, and creating the structure uh behind it in order to successfully launch it. Um uh very in-depth um back-end work that is being done. We we meet weekly, more than more than just weekly, but we've got an internal housing team. Uh we've we've um successfully become accredited through through the National Alliance of Recovery uh programming. Um that that's huge to pre to to give clout to the program itself legitimacy. Um and we're beginning, I mean, we we've already filled the the housing, um, we're beginning to fill the the rooms available. There there is still more um open beds right now, and um it the the interested men keep finding their way to us. We haven't necessarily advertised it per se. We don't have to do that. Um they are uh finding the applications and um you know the word of mouth is spread that way. So every day we're we're getting a new applicant and uh we are meeting to determine if that that is a uh viable candidate.
SPEAKER_01I understand you have 24 individuals in recovery housing now.
SPEAKER_00Well, uh that that number fluctuates a little bit. It it's it's dropped just a little bit, but you know what? This week we're we're taking in four more. So again, it it kind of goes up and down. Uh and that's the that's the business of of uh transitional housing is um every month it it changes. You know, sometimes you have a bad month per se, you gotta you gotta evaluate and collect yourself, and um then there's a whole new wave of individuals looking for a second chance.
Open House Details And Thanks
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well you have uh a housing program dedication coming up. Yeah, we do. And uh next week. Next week. Is it? Yeah, it's coming up twenty eighth.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we have an open house uh uh um ceremony for for the houses. We we really we're we're proud that we we want to showcase these houses, uh to see all of the hard work that was put into it, and just so uh anybody from the community can can walk through and and set their eyes on it. Um we have identified there was three significant, actually four significant um uh entities that that helped us launch this program, and we are going to dedicate each house uh to those entities and then the housing program uh to the the the Phil Howe Family Foundation, who they were instrumental in helping us get it get it off the ground.
SPEAKER_01Well, there have been a lot of folks that have uh come to the aid of a lot of neighbors and uh through Be Able, we're seeing a lot of great success stories like what uh we're hearing out of Gary today.
SPEAKER_00So Yeah, definitely. We're thankful the community of Manhattan responds every time that that we have a need. So uh just so thankful for for Manhattan. So you listeners out there, thank you for for all that you've done for us. And don't forget Grow Green Match Day is coming up too. Yeah, that's that's a big day coming up.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Gary, thanks for sharing your story, dude. Congratulations and continued best wishes to you. Appreciate uh um, you know, it's not easy to come in front of a microphone, especially when you're dealing with people like me. That um, you know, give you, you know, when we when we get the chance to visit with people who have been through the stuff, like you say, it's um it's rewarding for us to be able to be a part of sharing that story. So thank you for doing so.
SPEAKER_02You're welcome. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01And continue to enjoy being Gigi, Grandpa Gary. Yes, sir. Did they call you that? He doesn't call me anything yet. What does mama call him?
SPEAKER_02We were just talking about that. She has to be what I wanted to be called. I'm like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Grandpa would be great. Gigi sounds kind of yeah, yeah. Grandpa would be great. All right. Be Able, find out more about uh their efforts at BeAbleCommunity.com on the 28th. Is there a meeting place, a time?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh just in front of the houses at 1030. Okay, and the houses are where? Uh uh 500 block of Yuma.
SPEAKER_01Okay, sounds good. Vern Hendricks is going to be stepping back in the studio. We're gonna be talking about a number of things, including some some, you know, updates on a lot of things that are going to be happening. And of course, you know, we may just dabble a little bit in about the CFAs. This is the GMCF Community Hour. We do this every Monday morning now in the nine o'clock hour here on News Radio K M A N.