From Runway To Runway: Fashion That Funds Fresh Starts

We share how Fresh Start provides a safe, home-like space for women experiencing homelessness, from trauma-informed care to case management and community connections. We also preview Project Funway, a November fashion event that raises funds for housing, builds awareness, and invites sponsors of all sizes to get involved.

• strengths-based support and trauma-informed safety
• housing up to 24 women with 24/7 staff
• case management and referrals to local services
• domestic violence resources and crisis line guidance
• Project Funway as a fundraising and community showcase
• sponsor tiers, small business support, silent auction
• student designers using repurposed materials
• funding pressures across the service ecosystem
• essentials wish list and winter gear needs
• adopt a resident, Sunday suppers, tours, and talks

freshstarthome.org
Follow Fresh Start on Facebook
“November 7, 6:30 p.m., Project Funway. Sponsor, donate, or get involved today.”

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:14

Thank you for joining us on the episode of Stay Modern with Murray. Today is going to be an awesome day for our show. We have Fresh Start joining us. We have Monica, our executive director, and Lakrisha, the development coordinator. I know I'm so stoked. And along with D Wayne, the Master of Ceremony. All right. We are going to be talking today about Fresh Start and all they do here in the Lincoln community, as well as an event that's up and coming here in November. Monica, let's kick it off. Tell me a little bit about Fresh Start.

SPEAKER_03: 0:46

Sure. Well, Fresh Start is a residential program for women experiencing homelessness. We are, we're kind of like a shelter because it's communal living, but it's really more of a home that they can live in for up to a year-ish. We're a little bit loose on that time frame, especially post-COVID and economy. Sometimes it takes a little longer to get back on their feet. But that's the goal is that they are able to move out and into their own homes in a year or less. And so we have that facility. It's staffed 24 hours a day. Like I said, it's as much of a home environment as we can make it. And then we have a case management program that we offer. We bring people in sometimes for groups and just do different things. And then a lot of what we do is to connect the residents to other services in the community that they might need. And that is both to get their immediate needs met and so that they have built at least that kind of system level of support for when they leave so that they know where to continue to go if they need food one time or if they're looking for mental health or physical health care needs, that they know where to go for those things and they already have that connection. So that's a lot of what we do. The women that come to us, like I said, it's women experiencing homelessness and it's homelessness for any reason. Right. So we see women that come to us from job loss, from substance abuse treatment, from incarceration. They come to us with mental health, physical health issues. Maybe it's not job loss, but they're not earning enough. They are only able to get part-time hours and they don't have enough. And then they got sick, so and they didn't have sick time, so now they don't have a check at all. So it doesn't take a lot of factors to to kind of get people in the situation where they need help from agencies like Fresh Start.

SPEAKER_01: 2:29

So that's kind of what a little bit about what we do and who we serve. That's great. And talking more about that, I know there's a lot of community involvement in in our town here in Lincoln and a lot of work with police departments and other services that are provided. Tell me a little bit about that with October being domestic violence month. I know that some of your women that come to the come to you that need assistance and help have been in those situations. And how do you help them with that?

SPEAKER_03: 2:51

Yeah. So again, it's any reason of homelessness. So that certainly includes domestic violence. And I personally think that that's very underreported with the women that we serve at Fresh Start. Statistically, with what they report, it's it's less than half, but I think that it's it's more than that that have experienced that kind of trauma. Sure. And I say that because sadly, a lot of the women we serve, that's just what they know of a relationship, or that's just what they learned. It looks like maybe growing up, if they didn't grow up in the best environment. So there's also so many other kinds of trauma that they come to us with. So with domestic violence and the other trauma, a lot of what we're doing is really providing not just a space of physical safety with the locks on the doors and the security cameras for outside and things like that, but a space of emotional safety where they know that they can get there, they can feel safe, they can take a minute, take a breath. That's a lot of times what we're trying to do is just take a minute, take a breath. You don't have to be in crisis mode all the time. Like you can you have some time here, you are safe here, you know. So that's kind of what we start with with everybody, but it's certainly needed for the ones that come to us with either domestic violence, sexual assault, or other kinds of trauma. And sometimes we don't know that they had that until they were leaving and they share that they felt safe. Sure. That makes sense. So that's good to know. Sometimes people move in and they say, I haven't had been able to have a good night's sleep in a long time because they were always kind of on alert. Yeah, that makes sense. And that's that's domestic violence or incarceration or treatment, but we we hear that sometimes that I finally I finally got some sleep.

SPEAKER_01: 4:25

Right. Yeah, that's much needed. And yeah, yeah, when you come out of that chaos or that situation, sometimes it's not. And I would feel that it's important too that women who are in that area or arena of that life style, they're gonna be in there with another woman in the same boat. And I think that's important that to support each other, support women, support yourselves and build each other up so that you can grow and that's what your program is all about.

SPEAKER_03: 4:48

Yeah, the building up, especially. We we talk a lot about building them up. And yes, we want to know about their barriers and what what they need to improve in order to improve their situation, but you know, they've heard about that a lot. Right, right. From a lot of people in their life, whether or not it was true about all the negative things about themselves. So we really focus a lot on the strengths and we focus a lot on showing respect and kind of really helping them see their own strengths, helping them feel that dignity that they should feel as a person, that inherent value and dignity that they have. And sometimes that takes longer to get them to believe than other times. So we we really do focus on really explaining everything well. They know what to expect from us and really highlighting what they're doing well from small things to get, you know, that they're doing day-to-day to getting that new job. We really do try and focus on helping them see how great they are. Yeah. Who doesn't need a cheerleader? You always need a cheerleader. Who doesn't need a cheerleader? I love that.

SPEAKER_01: 5:54

I love that. And speaking of being a cheerleader, if anyone's in a situation like that, is it best to, you know, obviously encourage everybody listening today to go on Facebook and like Fresh Start? How would anybody reach out if one they were needing some assistance?

SPEAKER_03: 6:08

Well, our website is a great place to start. Great. We have some frequently asked questions on there that they can answer or they can get some answers to as well. Okay. We do have a Facebook page. Okay. And so they can go to that too. And they can also just always call and ask some questions. You know, when we're considered a shelter, a lot of people you say the word shelter and different things come to people's minds. I'm sure. I'm sure. So, and sometimes it's kind of scary, chaotic things that come to people's minds. So it's, you know, if they want to call, if they want to ask some questions so we can explain what our home looks like, we're happy to do that. Right. And then because you did mention domestic violence, if somebody is experiencing that, then we would encourage them to call Voices of Hope. Oh, yeah. Has the hotline for our communities. Wonderful. We want to make sure that that's the 24-hour crisis line. People can call and be anonymous and talk to an advocate about that specifically. Because we don't have any emergency services for the case. Okay. Okay, that's good to know. Great. Okay. Want to make sure that that resource is out there. There's also friendship home in our community. Voice of Hope has that 24-hour crisis line. So that's often a good, a good one to start with. And with that, it's kind of like we said about Fresh Start believe, you know, if if you are in that situation, you're not alone, and there are people that want to help you and support you. And if you know people in that situation, the number one thing is to believe them and just wait until they're ready for the help, I guess. That makes total sense.

SPEAKER_01: 7:32

Yeah. Otherwise, fresh starthome.org. Great. That's wonderful. That that's important because I feel like sometimes, you know, it's embarrassing. You don't feel like you you can't ask for help. And being a woman myself, I don't like to ask anybody for help. I'm independent. I just do what I want to do. But when it comes to situations like that where you're you don't know who to ask for help or you're embarrassed, just to be able to pick up a phone and call and not not worry and have somebody that's going to be caring and help push you and get you with the necessary information and provide for you is very valuable. And and that's one reason we invited you guys on. That's what here at Mary Custom Homes we're trying to do is get out in the community and get involvement. And speaking of involvement, one of the big reasons for having y'all on is because you have an amazing event coming up here, Project Funway. And D Wayne can kick us off on all that information.

SPEAKER_02: 8:22

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_04: 8:26

I was not expecting the air hornets. I love that. So November 7th, 6 30 p.m., it's gonna be a party. And in everything that we were just talking about, that's building confidence, that's showcasing community support, that's that's letting people see what they need to see as a support system for them and then helping build them up, that's everything this event is about. So when we talk about those necessities that people need to have a fresh start or to continue their journey of building uh stability for their families in their communities, this is the kind of event that people should really have their eyes on. So a lot of the things that that people uh goodness, I lost my I lost my ears. Sorry. It's like, oh no, did I cut off? But a lot of the things that people think about when they show up to something like this is okay, well, how much money am I going to have to give today?

SPEAKER_01: 9:19

Right, right, exactly.

SPEAKER_04: 9:20

It is so much more than just how much money am I giving, it's how much support am I giving to my community. And I think a reframe like that would be helpful for a lot of people in a lot of different places because you're not only able to see the community members that you're gonna be affecting, it's also a giant fashion show.

SPEAKER_01: 9:37

Oh, yes, find me up.

SPEAKER_04: 9:39

It is a massive fashion show. So it is not just something where you sit down and there's gonna be a panel of speakers, and you know, you're gonna just hear people talk over and over about how much good work they've done and why they love supporting so much. You're gonna hear from the people who are directly affected, and you're going to see an incredible amount of support from community members who say, you know what, we care too, and we also have been in a spot where we needed a little support. Here's our turn to support you.

SPEAKER_01: 10:07

That is amazing. I love that. And I know that UBT is one of your presenting sponsors. Yes. And just to name another one, Ashley with uh T Square Movers, they're a sponsor as well. And I I know you're still gaining sponsors and needing more sponsors. Tell me a little bit about that, Lakrisha. About what sponsorships you know, do you still need? Like, how can we get the community involved? Let's let's roll out this product runway and make this a great show.

SPEAKER_00: 10:28

So we're never going to say we don't need any more sponsors. I love it! Uh yes. Ever, ever. Everyone can be a sponsor. Everyone can be a sponsor and you can be a sponsor. So we do like to take Oprah's words, and if you can help wherever you can help um as far as sponsoring, then it's always a great thing with the Fresh Start or with Project with Fresh Starts Project Funway. We have, you said UBT. We have Emeritus, great, journal star.

SPEAKER_01: 10:57

Awesome, yes.

SPEAKER_00: 10:58

A lot of small businesses too, where sometimes they don't think that they can fit in in things like this. Sure. But it's so important to get those small businesses, whatever they can do, whether it's a silent auction basket or if it's a a volunteer.

SPEAKER_01: 11:14

Great. Great. If somebody, if one of these businesses gets online and and wants a sponsor, just like you said, doesn't have enough to sponsor or is a smaller business here in town and they want to donate a basket or just maybe donate a gift card or some items to y'all, how would they go about that?

SPEAKER_00: 11:30

So they would contact me.

SPEAKER_04: 11:32

Hey, yes. There we go.

SPEAKER_00: 11:34

So they can reach me through Fresh Start website, fresh start. Fresh starthome.org. Okay. Or they can get on Facebook and I'm I'm always on there returning messages.

SPEAKER_01: 11:46

Great. That's great. That's awesome. I think it's a, you know, obviously a great show. As you mentioned before, Dwayne's done this for third year, third year you're doing this now?

SPEAKER_04: 11:53

Year number three.

SPEAKER_01: 11:54

Oh my gosh, look at this. Year three. I hope we're here in like year 13 and year 30, and we have just branched the whole community into this runway show. One question Who is doing the runway?

SPEAKER_00: 12:05

Like who who are the women? Oh my goodness. So this is super exciting. So we partner with UNL's TMFD students, and they are phenomenal. So they have to take repurposed material and build a one-of-a-kind outfit. Get out of here. So we've seen like plastic bottles put together into an outfit. I think we I think one time I thought it was like clip on nails, but it was like a beetle or something.

SPEAKER_04: 12:33

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00: 12:34

I mean, it's they like are very creative. Yes. Oh my goodness. But to see the before and after pictures, you're like, how did that happen?

SPEAKER_01: 12:42

Oh, awesome. This sounds wonderful.

SPEAKER_00: 12:45

Yeah, but we also partner with local designers, community members, you know. Sure. Anyone who wants to get involved, it's a it's a great, it's for a great cause. Yeah, it seems like it's you know, they're transforming these outfits in just like we're transforming lives at Fresh Stars.

SPEAKER_01: 12:59

So that is perfectly well said and exactly what the community needs. You guys are transforming, you're building, you're bonding. Even just sitting here today, I could tell you you're so passionate, and you both have mentioned about five other local nonprofits here in town. You know, that in some some nonprofits get a lot of state and federal funding and you know, or 503 C. You know, you can you branch in a little bit just about that?

SPEAKER_03: 13:24

Sure. For fresh start, Project Funway is right now it's our only and it's our largest fundraiser for the year. And so that is the revenue for us, and it's also the awareness and how we get other supporters throughout the year and how we also educate people about homelessness in our community. And then some of our other funding does come from like state and local governments. Thankfully, right now we don't have a lot of direct federal funding. Sure. So we're we've been okay with not experiencing a lot of these funds being on hold or the funds being cut. We do have some of our funding does come from like matches to federal funding or things like that. So it certainly is going to impact Fresh Start, just like it's impacting all of our service partners. The other way that it's really going to impact what we do beyond our own budget is that it impacts the services that our participants, that our residents can access from other agencies, because they've had to decrease the services that they offer because of funding, not knowing where their funding is. So, you know, I said at the beginning that we hope that they're able to move out into their own apartment in a year or less. Sure. That's an example of how I said it takes longer right now. Right. So if they can't access as many of the other services that need they need the trauma services, the healthcare services, then they need more time at Fresh Start. And so that in turn means that our wait list gets longer and we can serve fewer people. So that we still want to serve them to the best of our ability, which is why we make those extensions past the year. Right. But it doesn't like it it if if it affects one of us, it affects all of us, right? So so when it's affecting our other service providers, then it affects what we do and what we can offer to them at Fresh Start, too.

SPEAKER_01: 15:06

So that's great. Yeah. Um, I was seeing online too. I know that you have a location over in Havelock and I think two others, and you're about to have another fourth one? Is that correct? No. So third or where are we at? Where how many where where do I go? Where do these people go? Where are all these women going to?

SPEAKER_03: 15:22

Well, we do have a graphic on on the website because we have we've been in three different locations so far, but we only have one right now. Okay. So we were founded back in 1991, and our first our first building was actually like a garage apartment of one of our founders. Oh wow. And then we were right by Lincoln High. Okay. And we were there until 2007. And in 2007, we moved over to Havelock and renovated an old church. Right. Kind of brought that it was. I've been in there, I've seen it. It's so cool. It is a very nice place. It was a repair shop. So we kind of brought it back closer to its original purpose of serving community, I guess. Right. Yeah, it was a small engine repair shop. Right. And so that's our only location right now. And we went from having where we could serve 16 women in-house at a time to 24. Wonderful. And the other thing that the move did was the last building was a converted duplex that then had 16 people in it. So like they couldn't all even eat at the same time because there wasn't space. They had to eat and shifts and things like that. And they could invite guests over, just like our residents can have people come and visit them at Fresh Start, because like I said, it's their home. But there wasn't space in the last building. So this new building, if you'd like to come and take a tour, reach out to Lacretia or I. Because you'll see how we have a lot more living space for them when there's 24 women to be able to spread out for the women that have kids that are going to come and visit them, for their other guests to come and visit them, that there's more space both for them as residents to spread out and for them to have guests. And then we have this really amazing dining room table that seats 24 people. Oh, I love that. One of the goals when they moved to the new building was to quite literally have a seat at the table for everyone. So it's a really long table that everyone can can fit at. And so that's really exciting. So that also speaks to the environment that we have at Fresh Start. So we just have that one location. We do have a property we were able to purchase kind of unexpectedly. So we're making plans for what we'll do there, for what will be the best use of it for the for our residents and our participants. So we're really excited about looking to that for the future.

SPEAKER_01: 17:32

Well, I'm guessing after this, I think, and I feel you're gonna have a lot of ideas and opportunities for that. Let's hope so. Yes. Well, based off of that, what what's a wish list? What can we do? What can what what can we do? You you have the mic, you have we got this podcast, we are rolling. What could, you know, maybe your top three or five things that they need, that you need, the women need, that if if this project fun weight, if it dresses aren't good, where do we go?

SPEAKER_00: 18:00

So we can always use donations of essential items for women. Laundry soap is a really big one, toilet paper and paper towels. I mean, everyday things that we use, yeah, we house 24 women. I mean, we spend$350 a week on groceries, which no one still knows how that happens.

SPEAKER_01: 18:20

Yeah, I'm like, what? 24 women that's can you send whoever shops over to my house, please? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 18:26

So I mean, just shampoo, toothpaste, sure, things like that. Right, okay, perfect.

SPEAKER_01: 18:32

Yeah, and then with winter coming, I mean, coats, like what you know, do you guys take a little bit like of used items or is everything new?

SPEAKER_00: 18:38

So we take used and gently, we take gently used and new items. But yes, with winter coming, you know, chapsticks and mittens and gloves and whole box for you.

SPEAKER_01: 18:48

And yeah, I know I'm like sitting there because I'm like, how many delivering soon?

SPEAKER_00: 18:52

Yeah, so I mean, there's a lot of different ways to get involved that are on the website. And with Christmas coming up, we have an adopt a resident program.

SPEAKER_01: 19:00

Oh hello, yes. Yes. Okay. Do you put trees anywhere or where there's we go all out? I love it. Okay, great.

SPEAKER_00: 19:07

Um, but we do have a staff member allergic to glitter, so she can't come in my own place.

SPEAKER_01: 19:11

Oh man.

SPEAKER_04: 19:12

Yo, that's the worst. Allergic to glitter.

SPEAKER_00: 19:16

Yes, I mean that's my favorite color. So my land.

SPEAKER_04: 19:20

Finding that out has to be terrible because glitter does not come off. No, sucking it. Oh no.

SPEAKER_00: 19:26

Oh gosh. I mean, the adopt a resident program. And then, you know, like if people want to come in, we have Sunday night suppers where they can sign up every Sunday night a group where a church comes in. Really? Or during the holidays, you know, if you want to bake a cookie tray and my list is gonna be so full.

SPEAKER_01: 19:43

I'm gonna maybe book till December 31st. Golly. See, this is why we do this. I would have never known that.

SPEAKER_03: 19:50

Yeah, we're also hoping the holidays, this is something somebody could sponsor, is if your church or company has like a van, we want to take the residents to go and see the Christmas lights.

SPEAKER_01: 20:03

We already know this. I got you guys. We have a Murray limo, ladies and gentlemen. All right. That's awesome. We have a Murray limo, and we can totally get this totally put together because we'd love to go Christmas lights. Check that off the 100%. Oh, yeah. Wait, it's right out back. We gotta get a picture in this. Why do y'all have a limo?

SPEAKER_03: 20:26

Oh, yeah, it's great. I feel like there might be something there for Project Funway, too. But our residents first. Like if we can get them to see Christmas lights and have that moment of journey with them. I love it. I love all this. Load them up with some hot cocoa and then then send them to see Christmas lights.

SPEAKER_01: 20:42

I love it. I love it. I love it. This has been this has been just, you know, it fills my heart. It really does. It fills my heart. It's dear to my heart, you know, from my past history of things and people and my life and what you're doing in the community. And and everybody appreciates it. And I know it's not something everybody likes to talk about. It's not something you go have a coffee with because it's, you know, it's it's a hard, it's a hard talk. So I appreciate sharing all of that and what you guys do and what you're we're continuing to do because women need that and we all need it. We do.

SPEAKER_03: 21:11

And that that's the other thing I was gonna say about how to help is that part of our mission is is education and advocacy about homelessness and its related factors. So other ways that people can help are things things like this. Does your business do a podcast? Do your does your business or or church group or service group, do you do lunch and learns? Or do you have speakers come in? We would love to come and talk about a fresh start and about why we're here and homelessness in Lincoln. And so there's different opportunities like that to ask for a speaker, have us come out, and then like we'd be happy to go for coffee with you. We'd be happy. Awesome. I mean, the shelter coffee quality varies. That's a donation. That's something that you can also make. There we go. Look at this. This coffee and creamer. We go through a lot of coffee. Okay, wonderful. But just like we said earlier, we're also happy to have if you have, if you as an individual or group, want to come over and see the shelter and see what we do and chat with Lacretia, our development director, or chat with me as the executive director, or or any of the staff, we'd we'd love to show you our home and help break down some of that lack of knowledge about what we do and help break down some of the stereotypes that people have gotten ingrained in their heads just from movies or whatever about what homelessness looks like or substance abuse.

SPEAKER_01: 22:29

And I think it's what the difference is between you all and be brave and and voices of hope and all that. You know, everybody has their fit in in the in the community and helping. And obviously, Dwayne joining in and an MCN and coming today. Appreciate your time. Of course. I mean, it's been amazing. Like I am so looking forward to Project Funway Friday, November 7th. It's been wonderful having you ladies. Awesome. Really a pleasure, pleasure. Dwayne, always gratitude 100%. Anything else?

SPEAKER_04: 22:58

Oh, how do you get a hold of me? Yeah. I'm on I'm on everywhere.

SPEAKER_01: 23:02

Everywhere.

SPEAKER_00: 23:09

I want to be like him when I do it. I'm on everywhere.

SPEAKER_01: 23:12

Guys, this is what this is our field trip. We're gonna go to freshman and we're gonna go find D Wayne. Maybe this is like finding limo. Yes. In the limo. Yeah, I waldo in the limo.

SPEAKER_04: 23:23

But I'm on I'm on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok. Um, what what are the other ones? I said Instagram or all of the things, it's at I T S D E W A Y N E. It's D Wayne.

SPEAKER_01: 23:34

Love it, love it. Well, yeah, I know everybody's time is of essence these days. Everybody's busy. I appreciate all your time out to come in to Mary Custom Homes, Ruffany Inspections. Join our podcast. Thank you for having us. So welcome.