Our Chief Operating Officer
Chris Mitchell has been the HSH Director since 2012. He has dedicated his life to helping the underprivileged restore their lives to become productive members in our community and to help displaced families pick up the pieces and find a permanent home. Chris has implemented The Senior Employment Rehabilitation (SER) program for HSH Homeless Ministry, INC (HSH) and The Community Access Center (CAC) since joining the HSH Homeless Ministry family. These programs provide resources for members of our community and members who work for HSH and CAC. As Chris has stated, “An awesome program and a win-win for everyone!” Chris is also very active in the community working with other organizations and our veterans.
HSH Director Chris Mitchell 2012-Present
Our History
A concept formed in 2009, of helping our community address homelessness and addiction, Home Sweet Home Homeless Ministry, Inc. was created. Beginning with helping men who suffer from homelessness and addiction, HSH Ministry has evolved into accommodating not only men, but women, families, and even veterans. According to data taken between 2011 and 2022 (chart towards bottoms of page), more than 800+ community members have used our resources to become functioning members of society.
Mission
The mission of HSH Homeless Ministry, Inc., is to provide temporary housing, mentorships, and professional guidance in hopes to attain an independent lifestyle for men, women, families, and veterans.
Focus
HSH Ministry does not provide overnight accommodations but rather focuses on rehabilitating men, women, women with children, families, and veterans towards independent living.
Facilities
Our current homes include Bobbie House, Bright House, Henson House, Miller Veterans House, Freedom House, and the Indy Resource Center. All homes are donated from members of the Independence community and are sponsored separately through fundraisers and volunteer work.
Budget and Use of Funds
Our expenses for clients in 2022 were approximately, $71,400. We have only one (part time) employee; the Director, Chris Mitchell. (The other employees are paid through an SER grant.) On a “per client” basis the cost are around $400-$700 per successfully graduated client. This – we believe – is a hugely efficient use of funds when compared with usual published costs of homelessness abatement statistics.
Community Involvement and Outreach
The larger Independence City / Montgomery County / South East Kansas areas recognized in the early 2,000s that there is a homeless problem not only in big cities, but also in rural areas. The local community has been hugely supportive of HSH’s effort to reduce homelessness not just on an overnight, but on a more permanent basis. The business community, Churches, Service Organizations, Community Chest, City and County offices, Momentum organization and Four County Mental Health have been major supporters of HSH’s efforts.
Organization
HSH Homeless Ministry, Inc is a Kansas Corporation with a 501c3 status. It is governed by a Board and a Board of Directors, all from the community and from different walks of life. The Board meets monthly, has a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Officers. The Director responds to the Board and the Board of Directors. HSH has Board and Board of Directors approved Bylaws, various committees for governance, conflicts of interest, appropriation of funds, etc. Its financial statements are audited annually.
Funding
All funding is through grants, individual and corporate contributions. Physical donations include clothes, furnishings, food and real estate/houses. The organization has no commercial income. Improvements of the facilities is accomplished through separate, targeted fundraisers. Newspaper publicity, TV interviews and presentations to the community as well as rummage and other publicity and sales events are being used extensively.
Current Focus
Currently, HSH is working and operating our “Indy Resource Center” and Freedom House has been repaired and is now in use.
Outlook
Homelessness, like poverty will never go completely away. HSH is dedicated to continue its mission to address homelessness at the local level by focusing on “one person at a time”. The success so far is very encouraging. Community support is steady as people realize a positive impact on City life. Employment is often a challenge, but many employers have made special allowance for recovering homeless people’s special needs. A major challenge is to find affordable low rent housing for our graduating clients. HSH is working with city and County officials and others to address this issue.
