Randall and Tigger are now in a good place — literally and figuratively
- jburkhead2
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Randall has experienced a range of difficult living situations, including a tent, the bushes, a shed that was converted into a tiny home, and a camper without running water or electricity.
Now, he has his very own house — a place where he and his dog, Tigger, can truly call home; a place where they feel safe and secure.
“I don’t deserve it, but I love it,” Randall said.
Yet, his case manager at the Bert Nash Center, Hattie, said he absolutely deserves it.
“This is such a great place and such a great opportunity, and he deserves it,” Hattie said.
Randall and Tigger moved into their new home in East Lawrence in late March. The house, which was completed in February, resulted from a collaborative effort between the design firm Multistudio and students from Limestone Community School, who contributed ideas throughout the entire process, in partnership with the nonprofit group Tenants to Homeowners, using a grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The students were the driving force behind the project.
"A class discussion led to the students of Limestone deciding to spearhead the building of homes for people experiencing homelessness,” said Madeline Herrera, Co-Founder Limestone Community School.
“Tigger and I were homeless for over a year,” Randall said. “We were losing hope on ever being housed. Bert Nash accepted me into their permanent supportive housing program. I never thought I would be in a house ever again. I thought I would be living in a storage unit for the rest of my life. Now I have heat and electricity and running water and Tigger doesn’t have to protect me from rats anymore. The team at Bert Nash has really stuck by me and helped me connect with Tenants to Homeowners. They restored my faith in mankind. I had given up all hope that anyone would help me and now I feel like I have a whole community helping me. The teachers and kids at Limestone school are amazing and I appreciate everything they did for me designing my home and the housewarming gifts. I can’t thank the community enough. I would have never been able to do this without them.”
Multistudio worked closely with the students for several months to design and build model homes for individuals experiencing homelessness. Once the designs and models were completed, Limestone partnered with Tenants to Homeowners to facilitate the construction of homes based on the students' designs on some of their land.
“Working with the students was incredibly gratifying. When our team showed up each week, the kids welcomed us with open arms; their enthusiasm and optimism inspired us, and we always left the school feeling recharged and hopeful,” said Steve Vukelich, associate principal with Multistudio. “The students only see possibility, and seeing their dreams become reality by welcoming Randall to his new home gives us a deep sense of satisfaction. The project shows that anything is possible when you bring passionate people together around a common goal. And it's a heartfelt reminder that even the youngest voices can shape meaningful change.”
On March 26, Limestone students met Randall and Tigger at their new house and welcomed them with “Welcome home” signs. Randall and Tigger’s new home serves as a shining example of a collaboration involving a wide range of community partners, as well as the efforts of the Limestone students who championed the project from the beginning.
Limestone Community School Co-Founder Herrera said: “This project has been one of the most meaningful moments of my career. Being an educator, I had long been repeating the mantra that children are more capable than we give them credit for. This was an example of other people and organizations agreeing and coming together to not only solve this problem but also amplify the voices of children.”
The students had an extensive role in the design work and getting partners on board. They had to learn how to design in scale, learn the concept of area, received one-on-one training from Parsons New School of Design about materials, collaborated with experts on universal design for hours to make changes to their plans, spoke with experts across the country on building accessible and affordable housing, and importantly, spoke to people who were currently or previously unhoused.
Rebecca Buford, Executive Director of Tenants to Homeowners said: “As a not-for-profit housing development organization, we loved this project for several reasons. First, the children’s immediate desire to be a part of the solution and approach the problem of homelessness with compassion and understanding, was such an inspiring reminder. It motivated our staff, who can sometimes get disheartened when this complex problem so often brings out ugly adult reactions out of fear. It was a breath of fresh air and reminded us why we care about housing. Secondly, we wanted to shine a light on the fact that there are solutions and there are many people in the community wanting to help. The experience of homelessness is a community problem and must have a community solution. We were excited to help children understand that they are connected to their community and they can initiate change. Finally, we were grateful to see them investigate affordable housing design. We need architects and urban planners in the future who understand these challenges to address our national affordable housing crisis. We know these kids will take this experience with them and make positive change.”
After enduring homelessness, Randall found support from various teams at the Bert Nash Center, including supportive housing, case management, and the SOAR program, which helps clients access much-needed disability benefits.
“Randall worked diligently with the SOAR team over several months, meeting weekly to review and complete the necessary reports for his claim,” said SOAR case manager Taryn. “He consistently attended his scheduled appointments with the Bert Nash team and other community agencies. His unwavering dedication played a crucial role in the success of his claim; without his commitment and persistence, the outcome could have been different. He deserves a great deal of credit for showing up and engaging fully each step of the way.”
“SOAR is amazing,” Randall said. “Taryn has done a great job.”
Randall had been homeless for about 14 months when a friend told him he should go to the Bert Nash Center. That friend’s kind suggestion to seek help from the Bert Nash Center changed his life.
When Randall started coming to the Bert Nash Center, he was at a low point. He had gone through a string of heartbreaking setbacks. He lost his job of five years, his car was stolen, and he was evicted.
“It goes to show how quick things can change and someone is on the streets,” Hattie said.
During that time, Randall’s health was deteriorating and so was his mental health.
“Honestly, I was thinking about committing suicide,” he said. “I didn’t have anywhere to go. I just didn’t see a way for things to get better.
In his darkest moments, Randall had even arranged for Tigger to go to someone else, believing it would be better for both of them.
“I figured he would be better off with someone else, and I would be better off not existing,” Randall said.
When he came to the Bert Nash Center, Randall started working with a community support services case manager, Kinser, who helped him fill out housing applications, paving the way for him to eventually find a permanent home.
“I look back, I’m really grateful for Bert Nash. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
Kelly Martin, Bert Nash Permanent Supportive Housing program manager, said, “It is wonderful to watch this collaborative effort come together and to involve the next generation. We would not be able to do the work we are doing without the support we are getting from the Lawrence community, Douglas County, Tenants to Homeowners and Limestone School. It is only with the assistance of our community that we can reintegrate people and get them back on their feet. It warms my heart to see children being this compassionate to someone they didn’t know and to make Randall feel so welcome in his new home.”
Randall now works regularly with his supportive housing case manager Hattie. They meet at the same time every week.
“Hattie is the best,” Randall said. “If I need something done, I go straight to Hattie, because I know she will get it done.”
For Hattie, seeing someone like Randall secure a place to call home is the most rewarding aspect of her role.
“This is why you do this work,” she said. “To see somebody get housed and be in a good place.”
Thanks to the dedicated team of individuals who have supported him, Randall and Tigger are now in a good place — both literally and figuratively.
“I can’t believe I have this opportunity,” Randall said. “Never give up hope, have faith and God in your heart. You guys answered Tigger and my prayers.”
