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In September 2014, The One opened its women’s home called Kathryn’s House. The name is in honor of a homeless woman named Kathryn who was shot in the back in November 2014. The One, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Arkansas that is all about loving, supporting and being a friend to people that live outside. The organization is made up of people willing to give of themselves and their time on a volunteer basis.
Kara Myers is a volunteer. Kara met Aaron Reddin, executive director of The One, at an emergency warming center in the winter of 2013. She volunteered nights and weekends for over a year with some friends that lived outside and knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to loving and helping the unsheltered. Kara had heard about the new women’s house and that Aaron needed someone to oversee the house. She quit her full-time job in May 2014 and became a full-time volunteer at Kathryn’s House. She is these ladies’ greatest advocate. Kara goes with them to the Social Security office, the grocery store and doctor’s appointments. She is their confidant and friend.
Kara shared that there are rarely enough shelter beds for women in Little Rock and if there is a bed available, a woman may not have an ID or the money to get into a shelter. For that reason, Kathryn’s House doesn’t require an ID or money or a set criteria to come to the house. Kathryn’s House is their home, and the ladies come and go as they please.
Kara wants to dispel the myth that homeless people are lazy. Many of the ladies at Kathryn’s House have jobs that they go to during the day. Living at Kathryn’s House gives them an opportunity to make positive steps toward independence. Sadly though, addictions or mental illness lead some of them back to the streets.
Success Story at Kathryn’s House
One current resident has completely turned her life around in the last three months. Before moving into Kathryn’s House, death was her likely outcome due to friends and choices. She was aware of Kathryn’s House, but wasn’t ready to change her life. Since moving into Kathryn’s House, she is sober and works 60 hours a week along with taking GED classes. Kara is currently working to find her a dependable vehicle. Kara says, “She by far has made the biggest turn around in life I have witnessed in my time working with homeless people.”
How You Can Help
Kathryn’s House can have up to five ladies and their children at any one time. They go through a lot of groceries and gas. If you would like to donate grocery or gas cards or volunteer your time, please email womenshouse@theoneinc.org.
The One, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Kathryn’s House, The Van, The Russ Bus, Mission Machine, The Field, The River Giver) help their unsheltered neighbors and friends in Little Rock/North Little Rock, Russellville, Searcy and Batesville.
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