Inside the House (Ep. 3): Tara Prahl, Brown County Homeless & Housing Coalition and Ecumenical Partnership for Housing

 

We’re excited to continue the Inside the House podcast, a series where we share the stories, insights, and heart behind family homelessness and Freedom House Ministries. In Episode 3, host Steve Schauer sits down with Tara Prahl, Director of Social Services at Ecumenical Partnership for Housing and Chair of the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition, to explore the realities of family homelessness and the systemic forces driving Brown County’s housing crisis. Tara shares her insight from two vantage points — the frontline work of EPH and the county-wide view from the Coalition — on why affordability is about more than rent, how partnerships between agencies move families toward stability, and what it will take to build more of the right kind of housing for our community. Whether you’re a longtime supporter, considering volunteering, or simply want to understand what’s really behind our community’s housing crisis, this episode offers an honest, systems-level look at what it takes to move the needle.

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A Freedom House Ministries podcast production. Imagine feeling lonely, depressed, and not knowing what tomorrow brings — coupled with searching for a stable home, a reliable vehicle, getting your child to school, or finding child care. On this episode of Inside the House, we talk with Tara Prahl, Director of Social Services at Ecumenical Partnership for Housing and Chair of the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition, about partnerships in the community, how we’re helping families experiencing homelessness, and the broad systemic changes coming to Brown County.

Steve: If you had to name one or two systemic changes that would be meaningful to move the needle in Brown County for family homelessness, what would they be?

Tara: First, we need to make housing a lot more affordable — and not just for those who are deeply in need or have really low income, but for those across the entire spectrum of housing needs. Housing is affordable when it’s 30% of your income or less, and that’s true everywhere: home ownership, rentals, subsidized and deeply affordable housing. Infrastructure matters a lot too. Another systemic change needs to be making sure there’s accessibility — workforce, transportation, child care — in any area where folks may be living, because without that, things can fall apart. It’s harder to get to work if you don’t have a way to get there. So infrastructure matters a lot.

Steve: You touched on 30%. Can you dive into that and explain for our viewers what that means — 30% of your income going toward rent and other pieces, in relation to the poverty line?

Tara: Affordability is defined as 30% of your housing expenses. Sometimes there’s a misconception that it just means your rent or mortgage — the actual housing cost. But it’s everything included: utilities, any fees you might pay for parking, for trash, all the things we see now. Everything should be 30% or less of your gross income. You can break that down monthly or annually, however you want to do the math, but it should never be more than that if you want to keep affording the rest of your needs. And the latest data shows that far too many people in our community — city limits of Green Bay, Brown County as a whole — are paying over that 30%.

Steve: Right, that’s significant.

Tara: It is. And for those who need housing — we don’t have enough housing, or we don’t have enough of the right housing for those who are deeply impacted by it. Even within our organization, in our eviction prevention program, we’ll see people paying upwards of 65% to 80% of their income.

Steve: Wow.

Tara: Because there’s nothing else there to work with. So you jump into whatever you can afford, and you end up in whatever you can get — not really what you can afford, but what you can get — and then realistically you end up paying way more, and now you’re asking hard questions about what you don’t pay.

Steve: Tough question for you — do you think in our community wages need to increase, or housing costs need to decrease, to get people out of paying 40, 50, 60% of their income toward rent?

Tara: They have to meet in the middle. The biggest housing challenge we have in Green Bay is that there’s not enough of the right kind of housing for all the people who need it, if that makes sense. So it’s not necessarily just “raise the wages and that fixes the challenge,” because there are also folks who are aging out of the workforce, folks experiencing a disability, or some other life interruption — raising wages isn’t going to make an impact for them, because at the end of the day they still need enough income in the home, and they’re not going to be able to do that if they’re not even able to be employed. So for a variety of reasons, I think it has to meet in the middle, and affordability really depends not just on the median income, but on what all of the median incomes look like at each level.

Steve: So, Tara is the Director of Social Services at Ecumenical Partnership for Housing. Tara, can you explain what EPH is, the services you provide, and who you help?

Tara: We’re a faith-based nonprofit. We started over 30 years ago with four partnership churches — they had a unit they were using for a family in need. They weren’t sure if that’s what they were going to continue with, but thankfully they did. Now we have 41 units and 21 partner churches that support families experiencing homelessness in Brown County. We do that through three core programs. One is transitional housing — a time-limited program, typically about 12 months. We have long-term supportive housing, which is the next step — an actual rental, with cost dependent on income. And we have our eviction prevention program, working with those who are currently in a housing program, or in their own housing and renting, but facing eviction or a notice, or who’ve identified that they can’t pay right now and need support. Across all of our programming, we provide case management and financial coaching at a pretty intensive level, to move the families we’re working with toward stability, wherever they’re at.

Steve: In your role overseeing all three of those programs, is there one that’s risen up as having the most need, or the most families in a certain bucket?

Tara: We’ve seen a pretty significant increase in the numbers we’ve served in eviction prevention this year — people coming to us who are in their own space and telling us they can’t make it work. Again, it comes back to housing affordability, like we just talked about. But truthfully, this is the most need we’ve seen across all of our programs. We have a waiting list we had to close because we have so many families on it, and the wait time is very long. In the two and a half years I’ve been here, this is the longest I’ve seen it, and the longest the wait time has been.

Steve: So if a family calls, seeking help, and hears about a two-and-a-half-year wait list, how do you go about keeping the faith and the hope alive that something better is going to come, hopefully sooner than two and a half years?

Tara: Let me clarify — I’ve been at the organization for about two and a half years. Our wait time started at zero to three months, then three to six, and now we’re looking at six to twelve months. And the hard part is, families are still in need twelve months later. Many people I call are still in need, still searching, still reaching out to me. So we maintain that connection — we give them hope in the meantime the best we can, and try to get them connected to other resources that might be out there, at least to hold them over. People, in general, are pretty resilient, and self-resolution does occur. It’s just not an ideal situation to get them to that next step.

Steve: I want to talk about EPH and Freedom House — the relationship we have together, both helping families experiencing homelessness. What’s that like on your end, being able to call each other, being in tandem with what’s going on in the community? How important is that kind of relationship?

Tara: It’s incredibly important for all of our organizations. That’s where big changes are made — that’s where partnerships are created, to really move together in the same direction, because if we’re not moving in the same direction, it’s the opposite, and nothing gets done. Freedom House is one of our primary referral agencies for families coming in for transitional and long-term supportive housing. We connect on all kinds of things — even bringing over extra veggies from the EPH garden. It’s about supporting each other. We all have gifts, we all have blessings we’re able to provide to each other, and when we can bring them together and collaborate, that’s truly where a lot of the change happens.

Steve: Can you expand on that a bit more? EPH and Freedom House are very close, but there are other organizations involved that may not be shelters — I’m thinking food security, laundry, transportation. There are so many other pieces of homelessness. Talk about that web of services, and how we’re all interconnected and making sure we’re on the same page to help families when that call is made.

Tara: We know the housing system isn’t solely responsible for solving all of the challenges — it comes from a variety of places: our health care systems, workforce systems, the whole range of stakeholders this impacts. If we have families or individuals in our community who aren’t able to stabilize, that affects whether they’re going to make it to their job, whether it’s going to impact the education system, whether the kids are going to make it. So having people at the table you can call when someone needs a resource, or just a little extra support, and having that inherent trust that what they’re doing is good — that makes a really big impact. I think about all the partnerships we have — some of our closest are with Brown County Housing Authority, Catholic Charities, and of course our faith communities — 21 partner churches supporting what we do because they believe this matters. And at the core of what we do every day, we have to believe this matters. That’s what moves the needle for EPH and puts us in a different space, because everybody is there for the right reasons — they’re there for each other. That’s why we do the work: because we’re all here to take care of each other. EPH is core to my heart, but I think it’s the same mentality in any coalition or collaboration — we all have to be here together, and that looks like a variety of hands in the pot.

Steve: You mentioned financial literacy earlier, and how intensive it is at EPH. Can you talk about the other dynamics — transportation, kids going to school, employment — all the other pieces? It’s not one piece of the puzzle that’s going to fix everything.

Tara: Correct — there are so many other pieces that have to fall in line or be discussed. That’s part of why case management matters so much: to help pull all of those pieces together. Transportation is a huge barrier — if a car breaks down and somebody works across town and the bus system isn’t ideal, that’s going to be a really big hit. Are they going to be able to make it to that job, or are they going to have to look for a different position? Making sure child care is affordable and available matters too. That’s part of what I mean by infrastructure — having housing in the right spot for those who need additional supports with transportation, child care, and mental health is vitally important, along with having access to it.

Our case managers work as if there’s no job too big and no job too small. They’re there for some really hard situations, and some really great ones. I’ve watched them sit side by side with a family during a birth, because they didn’t have another connection. They’ve gone to bat and written letters of recommendation for families to move into Habitat homes — we have two this year.

Steve: That’s amazing.

Tara: It is — and that’s another partnership, and really what we want to build on: how do we pull all these resources together to support families in the best way we can? That’s why I say intensive case management, and how we wrap around a family — that’s where the “feels” come out, right? In love, and in making sure they’re seen and felt and heard again, and that they’re just as important in our community as anybody else. Because sometimes, by the time people get to this point, they don’t feel that way anymore, and that’s unfair — nobody should feel that way. So our agency, our staff, our partner churches build intentional programming and intentional supports, and then connect families to others out there. Safe Families is another fantastic partner — that’s what they’re all about, building relationships and connections so they can love up on the family and help them recognize: we’re all doing this together. The world is hard sometimes, but we’re all doing this together.

Steve: I want to take what you just said and shift it into a personal question. Why do you do this? Why do you want to help families?

Tara: I think you just wanted to make me cry.

Steve: No, I didn’t.

Tara: Truthfully, because I’ve seen people go through really hard situations — we’ve all had really hard situations — and at the end of the day, feeling like you have nobody is what can make or break where you move forward. I truly feel like when we’re all going in the same direction, taking care of each other, and giving each other our different skills, talents, and blessings, that’s where we end up making an impact. My bleeding-heart social work answer: if people ask me what I wish for in the world, it’s world peace, because people deserve to feel like they matter. That’s why I do it. I didn’t necessarily think, coming out of college, “I’m going to work with people experiencing homelessness” — that really wasn’t my initial path. I kind of fell into it, and at first didn’t even fully realize I was in it. From there, it’s hard to move away, because you look at the families and individuals we’re working with, and you can tell they don’t feel like they matter anymore. That’s not fair. If I can show at least one person that they matter, and help build a team that emanates that same love, that’s why I show up for work every day.

Steve: It’s one of those things where it’s like, I don’t have to do this job — I get to do this job. That’s an important point to make. Freedom House is a faith-based nonprofit, as is EPH. Can you speak to EPH’s church partnerships, which I think are a little unique in the community? I don’t know of another nonprofit with that depth of faith commitment driving its mission forward. Talk about some of those partnerships — the phone calls you get to make when you say, “Hey, we need help,” and it’s just there.

Tara: It is. It’s amazing. Most of my previous experience was in government grants — chasing them every single day, many of them. Moving into EPH was such a different space to be in, recognizing that we don’t have to fight this hard through those dollars. There are people out there who care and want to be part of the solution — that’s every single one of our partner churches, every single one of our volunteers. If there’s a call for something that’s needed, they’re there. It could be something as small as making a meal for a family, or it could be a giant project — completely refurbishing an entire unit for the next family. And beyond that, the philanthropy they’re not just able, but willing, to provide — it’s a really special dynamic. When you sit in board meetings, or sit with those for whom this matters so much, you recognize we’re all here, as we say, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. That’s the core belief our partner churches have, and that our team has, and that’s what’s unique.

Steve: I appreciate the conversation so far — this is a good chance to take a quick break and go to one question with Freedom House success coach Ashley Burke.

Ashley, today’s question is about child care. Sometimes people in the community might say “just get a job.” Can you touch on child care in relation to employment, and some of the challenges of trying to match those together?

Ashley: Sure. It’s really hard for parents to go to work, especially if they’re picking up an entry-level job — those are typically the ones you can get sooner than others, and entry-level often means shift work. Sometimes you don’t have the flexibility that you or I might have, so it’s really crucial that they work the hours they’re scheduled for. Sometimes child care needs to happen at night and there’s no facility open, or they’re able to get child care but then have trouble finding an affordable one, or a center that can take their child within the next 30 days — some lists are a couple of months out, especially for infants. So it’s finding child care that’s available, and sometimes even finding someone to help on weekends when parents have to work weekends too. So, not as easy as just getting a job.

Steve: Correct. Thank you for sharing, Ashley.

Tara, for those in the community — there are a lot of misconceptions, a stereotype and stigma surrounding homelessness. Can you touch on the difference between different parts of homelessness — family homelessness, individuals, men, women, kids? Is there a difference, and how do you go about breaking down some of those misconceptions?

Tara: There’s an absolute difference. I’ve been fortunate to work across that full spectrum — individuals experiencing homelessness, those experiencing it because of domestic violence, families — it’s a variety of populations. Those experiencing individual homelessness — it’s sad, because what I’ve seen is they don’t feel they have anybody else to work for anymore. Their barriers are really deep, and getting them to a place of recognizing they matter looks different. It’s very intense, and it’s a perpetual mindset shift of reminding them this isn’t where we need to be — but it’s also about reducing harm and stabilizing, so there’s dignity. Because our unhoused individuals — that is not dignity, that’s not where anybody belongs. I don’t care what happened in their life, I don’t. Let’s figure out how to get you to a space where you have dignity, where you’re comfortable, and where no matter what happens from here, you can feel supported — and that requires intense supports.

Family homelessness is a little more unique, because yes, there are others in the household relying on them, or they’re relying on each other — they have their own internal support network. But there can be unique challenges too, because now you have extra things to help work through, like child care, schooling, behavior, and child development, and making sure parenting is on par — because really what we’re trying to do in family homelessness is break barriers and break generational poverty. That’s its own space, because now you’re not just working with one individual, you’re working with an entire family unit to strengthen it. And I’d include domestic violence as a unique population too, because many of those people didn’t expect to be in that space.

Most of the time, homelessness is the result of many circumstances — not just one. It’s not this quick “you can just get a job” or “you can just do that.” That’s not really how it works. You have to build upon all sorts of different pieces, and each of those pieces needs to shift and change, and that’s hard. External things can feel — I don’t want to say easier — but getting a job can feel a little easier than dealing with unhealed trauma that needs a lot of attention. Because of that unhealed trauma, life sends you in different directions you didn’t anticipate, and there are unintentional consequences, and now you’re so far down the line. That’s a huge component. One thing I keep coming back to is reminding people how much they matter — that starts to build a little fire inside them, so they can recognize they’re more than what they’ve been told, or what they tell themselves.

Steve: I want to ask a question, but I have a feeling I know what you’re going to answer. In my role, out in the community, giving presentations — how do people end up in the situation they’re in? There isn’t one direct path, one lane, one decision that leads people into homelessness. To me, there are times I’m still humbled by the sequence of life events that get someone into a situation here at Freedom House, or at EPH, or other shelters in the community. How do you go about explaining that to someone in the community who maybe doesn’t understand homelessness — that it isn’t one path, that it’s a car breakdown leading to the next thing, to the next thing, a financial decision, a bad relationship, whatever it might be?

Tara: You already hit on it — it’s a series of unfortunate circumstances. It’s the car that breaks down, or the child who couldn’t go to school for two weeks because they got sick, and now mom has to stay home. It’s the affordability of what they’re already dealing with, and the questions they’re already asking themselves: what am I paying for right now — am I able to put food on the table, or a roof over our heads? It could be illness, an unexpected death in the family — maybe the breadwinner — divorce, or unfortunately some of the other things we see, like abuse. It’s a lot of things that typically aren’t within our control.

I think many people feel like there are these easy solutions, and it’s not that simple. Interestingly, we just had board development day yesterday, and we did an exercise around what it’s like when somebody comes to us facing eviction and has to make choices — we talked about attorneys, realtors, teachers — and the conversation was, “This just doesn’t feel possible, this feels impossible.” And that’s how our families are showing up, because it can feel impossible. But if we can pull it apart one piece at a time, and help them recognize progress, even little by little, that’s when it starts to move the needle. It’s always hard to hear how people experiencing homelessness are perceived, because it’s often very inaccurate, and it’s unfair — I don’t need to make a judgment on how somebody else lives their life.

I like to point out that everybody has things they’d like to change. If you talk to someone with a little more privilege, a little more ability to move forward in a different way, they’ll often say, “I want to exercise more, I want to eat better.” And I’ll say, “Okay, so that means every single day you’re waking up early, getting enough sleep, exercising every day, and eating better every day — no cheat days.” That’s what our families have to experience. They don’t get cheat days. Change doesn’t give you that space — whether you’re overcoming a mental health struggle, substance use, or just trying to figure out how to get to work when your child is sick — there’s no pass. So change is really hard. For people who haven’t experienced that at a deeper level, it can be hard to relate, because most of us aren’t doing those things perfectly every day. But for some, they have to, because otherwise there’s judgment, and consequences they didn’t ask for.

Steve: I love how you just explained that — that was really good. Let’s shift, for our viewers — we have the unique opportunity today to also be talking with Tara in her role as Chair of the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition. What is the Coalition? What’s its mission, and what is it trying to accomplish?

Tara: It’s a collaborative group of agencies — intended to be a network of agencies working together to move housing stability in a positive direction. We believe housing is supposed to be affordable and stable for all. It’s a handful of organizations that come together regularly, with different committees within it, and different partnerships that build and form as a result. It’s intended to be a network for those who want to make an impact in this specific arena to come together.

Steve: I’ll pause there, because my next question might get you there anyway. This one’s a bit harder to explain for the community: individuals and families experiencing homelessness often receive rental assistance — a voucher. Recently, the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist was put on pause. Can you explain that, and how it puts pressure on the system and on people trying to get back on their feet?

Tara: Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based vouchers — really any subsidized housing — are an asset and a value to the community. They help bring housing costs, which can be way too unattainable for those with low income, down to something affordable based on what they’re earning. As we’ve seen the shift, with them not being available, it’s impacting things pretty significantly. Housing lists are taking longer. People are staying in other housing programs longer. Specifically for EPH, people are staying in our long-term and transitional programs much longer than they once did, because there’s not always an exit path. It’s great when families move into a place they can pay for on their own, but that’s not always realistic. We need CNAs to take care of our parents, and we need people to take care of our kids — and those aren’t very high-wage jobs, when you think about what it takes to earn to afford some of our average $1,500 apartments and only spend 30% on housing. That’s a lot of money, and it’s definitely not most of the roles that need to get done.

We’ve watched the shift from once being a zero-to-three-month wait, to now a year, and it’s currently closed for an uncertain amount of time. Our families and individuals are feeling it. Brown County Housing Authority works tirelessly to do whatever they can, but they’re at the mercy of the federal government. So it’s impacting housing across our community — even EPH. I think that’s a challenge with each presidential administration change: how vouchers and that trickle-down effect shift with the decisions being made. We’re feeling it right now. Don’t quote me, but at one point I calculated that an $18-an-hour job would equate to about a $900-a-month apartment, to stay below that 30% number we talked about.

Steve: Can you touch on the frontline staff we need in our community — CNAs, baristas, cashiers, stockers, service industry, hospitality, janitorial — those types of roles. We need people in those positions. What are the challenges they’re facing, feeling like society doesn’t understand, when they’re working two and three jobs but still can’t afford a $1,500 apartment, even while doing everything they can?

Tara: It’s about instilling a lot of hope that there is a way to move forward. We look at job coaching — are there other opportunities out there? We also look at education — could bringing in some education get you to a different space, a different-paying job? Everybody’s willing to have the conversation; it’s the ability and capacity to do it. And by capacity, I mean: can a single mom realistically go to school full-time, work two jobs, and be a mom? That’s a big job in and of itself. So those conversations are typically about making sure you’re in the best position you can be, and mapping out a plan that works for you — because what works for me, or for somebody else, may not work for everyone. We have to meet everybody where they’re at. And to do that, we have to have enough housing that’s affordable for everybody — not just enough buildings, but the right type of housing.

Steve: You’ve mentioned that a couple of times now — can you explain what you mean by the right type of housing?

Tara: Housing is a continuum — everywhere from emergency shelter to affordable housing, supportive housing, affordable home ownership, and senior housing, and everything in between. For a community to truly thrive, there has to be enough of each type for everybody, and we’re not there — or we probably wouldn’t be facing what we’re facing. I’d venture to say it’s not just our community, either — it’s statewide. That’s what coalitions strive for: do we have enough of the right housing to meet everybody’s needs? Because we can have enough shelters, but if there’s nowhere for people to go afterward, that’s not creating a solution.

Steve: Can you talk about your unique position — Director of Social Services at EPH, working the frontline service to help families, up to Chair of the Coalition, taking those experiences up to that 30,000-foot level, strategically trying to solve things systemically? How are you able to take that information upward into the decisions that get made?

Tara: I think it’s education — helping the variety of stakeholders who maybe don’t understand some of the challenges being truly experienced. And it’s recognizing this isn’t just “let’s navigate our supportive services and make housing affordable” — it’s not that simple a solution. It needs to go beyond that, into making permitting more affordable for developers, having appropriate zoning in place, looking at innovation and creative solutions to move the needle in a different way than just building buildings — because building buildings alone isn’t going to get us there. It has to be in the right spot, with the right homes, at the right affordability level. It takes a lot more than anything simple or easy, and a lot of people at the table. We’ve seen with EPH, we have a really large network of people supporting us, so we have a variety of stakeholders who recognize we have a lot of people out there willing to help and assist — but let’s make sure we also have the right people at the table.

Steve: If you can share — what is the Coalition working on right now as strategic priorities, looking ahead the next three to five years?

Tara: We don’t have that quite sorted out yet — we just completed round two of our strategic planning, with one more round left. There’s a lot of focus on making sure the Coalition has organizational excellence and fiscal sustainability, because everything is a cost to some degree. But also making sure we’re being a hub for collaboration — really looking at what space we’re occupying, and how we can maximize that. I don’t want to give too much away — no spoiler alerts before the executive summary comes out in a month or so.

Steve: Can you touch on the Point-in-Time Count, which happens in January and July every year — the most recent one was in July. How does the Coalition, or the community in general, use that data to make decisions? For our viewers, during the PIT count, a slew of volunteers — I think upwards of a hundred — go out into the community throughout the night to count and communicate with people living on the street. The latest count in July, at least from what I’ve heard, was higher again than previous years. How do you go about using that data to make decisions?

Tara: It was actually slightly lower.

Steve: Okay, I was wrong — I’ve got to listen better.

Tara: Not by much — I wish it were a lot more. But the data can be broken down and dissected in a lot of different ways. Just by demographic alone, we can see how many people are experiencing chronic homelessness versus family homelessness, and from there, look at what projects are needed, and what’s most needed to support those households. That said, that’s only looking at people who are unhoused and facing significant barriers — it’s not looking at the variety of folks in our community who need housing at an affordable level. It’s also about looking at what services we’re going to be able to implement, to best support those who really deeply need it.

Steve: How would you describe the current state of homelessness in Brown County?

Tara: It’s something that very much needs attention at a significant level. I’m really grateful for the community and how much it rises up, but I hate that it takes the visibility we sometimes see in our community to do that — and I think that’s what raises questions, and opinions, sometimes not favorable ones. But I have to remain hopeful that we’re moving forward in a positive direction, and I think we see that in the different projects and endeavors being discussed, and in agencies moving forward with them, and in the collaborative nature of it. We all just have to move in the same direction, without too many opposing priorities.

Steve: Is there a specific example, recently or in your career, that was very hopeful, or a lot of optimism you could share?

Tara: There are agencies right now talking about land trusts — multiple agencies working with municipalities, figuring out how to put land trusts in place. That’s an innovative solution to affordability in our community, and it’s pretty cool to watch play out. Veterans First just opened their village, too, which is specific and unique to a population that needs that kind of housing. So there are things happening that I think are pretty cool. Sometimes things just take time — even with the strategic planning we talked about, that’s not going to be a two-year turnaround. It’s probably three years before we really start to get things moving, and five years before we see some bigger changes, looking back. It’s not going to feel sudden and fast, and that’s one thing we always have to keep in mind — change isn’t quick. People like to see things happen immediately, but good things take time.

Steve: You mentioned land trusts — can you explain that for our viewers?

Tara: I’m going to pass on that one — probably not as well as I could, and I don’t want to misrepresent it. If you’re curious about land trusts, go to NeighborWorks — they’re involved in it. It’s a new and innovative way to approach home ownership, and to help piece that puzzle together for families or individuals looking to purchase a home. Noel has a really good understanding of it — he’s explained it to me on multiple occasions — and what I do know is that it keeps housing at an affordable rate for a long period of time. So rather than a home purchased for $150,000 suddenly jumping to $175,000 two years later, it keeps that rate down. That’s the very basic premise — if you want more, go to Noel.

Steve: Maybe he’ll be our next guest at some point.

Tara: That’s a great idea.

Steve: You’ve touched on community involvement in a number of ways throughout this conversation. If somebody wants more knowledge and information, wants to volunteer, maybe donate items or money — what are the ways they can connect and get involved, either with EPH, or community-wide?

Tara: Everybody’s welcome at the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition, if they just want a seat at the table to hear what’s happening — it’s a lot of information for somebody coming for the first time, but also, come have a cup of coffee with someone. I’m okay if somebody wants to reach out and learn more, and I’m sure others are too. If there’s an agency that’s speaking to your heart, just get connected — reach out to their volunteer coordinator, or whoever you need to reach. There’s a lot of opportunity — it’s just a matter of picking up the phone.

Steve: One unique thing we do on this podcast — our last guest was Kaylee Hintz, therapist from N.E.W. Community Clinic, who left a question for our next guest, which is you. Her question was: “How can Freedom House implement and include mental health awareness here at our organization for the families we serve?”

Tara: It’s talking about it, and recognizing how much it impacts us each day. It has to start — if we start the conversation and talk about it, which by the way, I know you do, and implement specific programming, which you also do — that’s really what gets you there in the first place. Sometimes people are just too afraid to start, and I know thankfully you’re not. Continuing with that, and making sure systems are trauma-informed — that’s probably the best place to go. Seeking out that trauma-informed piece, and really paying attention to what has impacted a person at their core.

Steve: What’s your question for the next guest? It can be anything — and I’ll tell you, as of recording this episode, I don’t even know who the next guest is.

Tara: I don’t know who it is either, so I can’t gauge it. What is one big dream they have for our community over the next three to five years? We can even span it out further.

Steve: I like that — broad enough, but specific. Dream big.

Tara: Dream big.

Steve: Tara, as we wrap up, can you share EPH’s website, and maybe an email or phone number for anyone interested in learning more?

Tara: Yes — our website is epggb.org, short and simple. If you want to contact me directly, my work cell is 920-655-5354.

Steve: Awesome. I appreciate your time today, talking about EPH, the Coalition, and the community at large. You have a lot of knowledge to share, and we thank you for your time.

Tara: Thank you. Thank you for having me and letting me share.

Steve: And thanks for tuning in to this episode of Inside the House.