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Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Join Austin and Charlie with their guest Michele Steeb, as they discuss the Housing First model and her transitional housing non-profit in Sacramento.
Michele has spent her career in causes for the public good. She managed several successful political campaigns, served on lead fundraising team for a US Senate campaign, founded two successful technology focused companies and served for four years as Vice President of Political Affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, Michele joined the board of a struggling emergency homeless shelter and transitioned to its Chief Executive Officer transforming it into a comprehensive program serving 270 women and children helping them overcome the root causes of their homelessness. She launched three social enterprises all of which serve as hands-on “real-world” employment training, grew funding increasing the operating budget seven fold to $7.5 M from a diversified funding base that included earned income, public and private funding, the formation of a foundation, plus a 5-year, $8 M contract to serve women transitioning from prison. She led the efforts to secure $4+M public and private capital funding to acquire over 50,000 square feet of operating capacity, enabling Saint John’s to become a first-ever “homeowner”. In 2012, Governor Brown appointed Michele to serve on the California’s Prison Industry Authority board. She also served on the Policy Board to End Homelessness and on the steering committee that helped launch Sacramento Steps Forward. Michele is a noted public speaker, has authored and co-authored numerous editorials on homelessness and has received numerous awards and honors for her work in helping people realize their full, God-given potential. In 2019, Michele’s family made the decision to relocate to Lucas, Texas. Michele stepped down as CEO of Saint John’s. Her extensive on-the-ground experience led her to author, "Answers Behind the RED DOOR: Battling the Homeless Epidemic." In 2020, Michele joined Texas Public Policy Foundation to develop and lead their initiative to transform United States' and Texas' homelessness policy. In 2023, she joined the International Women's Forum as a Visiting Fellow.
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Join Austin, Charlie, and Wendy as Charlie sheds light on the homelessness situation in Dallas, Texas. Charlie talks about his history and what brought him to Metro and how God has led him to where he is now.
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Join Austin and Charlie with their guest, Kyle Batterberry as they discuss the Christian viewpoint on homelessness and how God has called them each to this path in life.
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
Wendy Sheriff, former homeless liaison for Garland Police Department and co-host of the Homeless in America, shares her story and the troubles that homeless individuals face in Garland, Texas.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Be encouraged today through Dan Stoltzfus’ story. He shares his experience and addresses many issues in and around the homeless issues in Baltimore. For more info about the Helping Up Mission, check out their website at https://helpingupmission.org/ HUM Addiction hotline: Call 410-929-6999
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
Join Austin, Charlie, and Wendy as they discuss stories and misconceptions of homeless individuals. They delve into the topics of alcohol, drugs, and mental illnesses, as well as the stresses of living on the streets.
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
In this episode, CEO and Founder Austin Bonds shares his history with working in homeless outreach as well as his passion for this work. Charlie Leavitt is hosting with co-host Wendy Sheriff.
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Join our hosts Austin and Charlie as they talk about addiction and how it leads to homelessness with Metro Relief's DFW Outreach Director Paul Ponthieux. In this episode, Paul gives his personal testimony of recovery and how that relates to his mission at Metro Relief.
Austin Bonds
Austin is determined to help our friends without homes from moving them into his own home to helping found organizations in Dallas, Texas and Columbus, Ohio that currently serve the homeless. He has 16 years of Street Outreach experience leading outreaches to the homeless in multiple Cities and States. His passion and dream is to help find ‘home’ for each person experiencing homelessness and to find best practices when it comes to helping other Street outreaches across the Country. Austin enjoys learning how to be a Father to his 4 kids and a husband to Darcy, traveling and helping others find their passions.
Charlie Leavitt
Charlie Leavitt, the Executive Director for Metro Relief Dallas has a passion for serving. Charlie has been working at Metro Relief for 2 years and before that led a Transitional living Nonprofit. Before that he volunteered for various homeless ministries and Prison Fellowships. One of his favorite times has been when he led a men’s group he called Waking the Dead. Charlie has a desire to see others’ lives changed through the gospel and by providing practical services that assist friends to actually get off the streets and back into society. The two scriptures that motivate him are John 11:44 ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go’ and the Good Samaritan Story in Luke 10:33 ‘but a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and he saw him, he took pity on him.’ Charlie is married to Janet for over 30 years and has 2 grown children.
Wendy Sheriff
Wendy Sheriff, serving on the Homeless Liaison Taskforce for the City of Garland she continues to hone in on her practice of helping the homeless. Born in England as the last of 12 children she came to America at 19 and enlisted in the Army. After serving 9 years for her Country of adoption she started with the Garland Police Department. Her passions are easy to see if you just spend a few minutes with her. The City of Garland, Texas. Helping people living outside. Hard work. Selfless. Help where you can when you can. She teaches, inspires, and practically helps!