Collaborative Solutions Podcast

Episode 41: Signs from Sam- The Story Behind Cardinal Housing with Hannah Bolton

In this powerful episode of Collaborative Solutions, we sit down with Hannah Bolton, founder of the Cardinal Housing Network—a recovery housing program born from heartbreak and transformed into healing. After losing her brother Sam to addiction, Hannah channeled her grief into purpose, creating a safe, supportive space for women in early recovery right in the heart of Lawrence.
 
Joined by Misty Bosch-Hastings and James Chisholm, we explore the gaps in our local recovery system, the importance of community-based solutions, and what it takes to turn personal tragedy into collective hope. Hannah’s story is a moving reminder that change doesn’t start with systems—it starts with people.

Episode 40: Bridging the Badge and the Broken - Sergeant Klamm’s Outreach Revolution

In this moving episode of Collaborative Solutions, Sergeant Joshua Klamm emerges as a quiet force of transformation—proving that true public safety is rooted in compassion, connection, and dignity. A Topeka police officer who defies every stereotype, Klamm’s work in homeless outreach redefines what it means to serve and protect. With a heart-first approach, he meets unsheltered individuals not with handcuffs, but with humanity—offering options, building trust, and honoring the dignity of each person he encounters. From launching a groundbreaking city ID program to helping lead complex camp transitions with empathy and steadiness, his impact stretches far beyond jurisdictional lines. In Lawrence, he’s helping to train the next generation of outreach responders, bringing his signature balance of accountability and love. As Misty Bosch-Hastings puts it, "He was the first officer I ever saw treated like a friend in camp—and the first who made me believe that healing and law enforcement could coexist."

Episode 39: Hope Dealer - Ray Rath’s Journey from the Streets to Saving Lives

In this moving episode of Collaborative Solutions, host Barry Feaker and Director of Homeless Solutions Misty Bosch-Hastings sit down with Ray Rath — a certified peer support specialist with Mirror, Inc., and a man whose journey from heroin addiction and homelessness to national advocacy is nothing short of extraordinary.
 
Ray opens up about his past: from sleeping in a tent in Florida, battling opioid addiction, and losing everything, to being pulled back from the brink by another unhoused person — his “Cutthroat” friend who believed in him when no one else did. Ray’s story doesn’t end there. He shares how he stumbled into the field of recovery work, found purpose in service, and became a nationally recognized voice for harm reduction — featured by The New York Times and CNN for his leadership in training first responders to save lives using Narcan.
 
Misty and Barry dive deep into Lawrence’s evolving policy on serving out-of-area individuals experiencing homelessness, the city's groundbreaking multidisciplinary outreach team, and how peer-led, person-first engagement is saving lives — sometimes before someone even knows they’re ready to be helped.
Ray reminds us all of a truth too easily forgotten: those people are our people. Everyone matters.
 
Recovering heroin user reacts to Trump administration’s consideration of cuts to overdose prevention program | CNN

Episode 38: Walking Beside, Not Ahead - Peer Power in Lawrence's Homeless Response

In this powerful episode of Collaborative Solutions, hosts Barry Feaker and Misty Bosch-Hastings spotlight two remarkable members of the Homeless Response Team in Lawrence, Kansas—Kristi Schutter of RADAC and Bryan Daugharthy of Mirror, Inc. Kristi shares her deeply personal journey from addiction to recovery and how it now fuels her passion as a recovery coach walking alongside individuals with compassion and persistence. Bryan brings both lived experience and practical tools to the table as a peer support specialist, tackling real-world barriers like ID recovery and financial literacy from a stump in the woods if necessary. Together, they paint a vivid picture of what it means to show up, build trust, and walk at someone’s pace toward stability. Their stories reflect the heart of the Homeless Response Team: a multidisciplinary effort driven by empathy, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that no one is beyond help.

Episode 37: Trust is the Work

On this episode of Collaborative Solutions, Barry Faeker chats with Misty Bosch-Hastings, James Chisholm, and Brett Hartford, the heart behind the Homeless Resource Center. From NYC outreach to Lawrence leadership, Brett shares how trust, consistency, and a whole lot of hustle are helping transform lives—one haircut, one conversation, one day at a time.

Episode 36: We are LCS - Community Solutions for Ending Homelessness

In this episode of Collaborative Solutions, we highlight the impactful work at the Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS). Executive Director James Chiselom joins us alongside key team members Mercedes Rowland, Karen Sibilio, and Megan Luttrell, who share their personal passion for serving the community and supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. 
 
Together, they discuss recent expansions in shelter capacity, innovative program developments, and a strategic 90-day initiative designed to educate and engage the community. The team emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and community participation under the campaign "We Are LCS," inviting listeners to become active participants in addressing and ultimately ending chronic homelessness in Lawrence-Douglas County.

Episode 35: Stone Soup for Systems Change - Building Regional Solutions to Homelessness with Josiah Haken

In this powerful episode of Collaborative Solutions, we welcome Josiah Haken to talk about how his organization addresses homelessness — not just locally, but regionally in New York & New Jersey. Josiah shares stories, insights, and real solutions that show what’s possible when communities step out of their silos and lead with humility, trust, and collaboration.
 
They remind us that solving homelessness isn’t about everyone doing the same thing—it’s about everyone bringing what they do have to the table. Like the story of Stone Soup, it’s about combining strengths, building a net—not just a patchwork—and lifting up every neighbor, whether housed or unhoused.
 
The message is clear: true change happens when we stop competing and start connecting. When we ask, "How can I make your job easier?" instead of "How do I get ahead?" This episode is a celebration of the idea that we are always better together—and that compassion, strategy, and community can bend even the hardest challenges toward justice.

Episode 34: Regional Solutions to Homelessness - Insights from Renee Cavazos on Houston’s Success

In this episode of Collaborative Solutions, hosts Barry Feaker, Misty Bosch-Hastings, and Brett Hartford welcome and Renee Cavazos, Vice President of Homeless Response Systems in Houston, Texas. Renee shares how Houston has successfully reduced homelessness by 63% since 2011 through a coordinated entry system and regional collaboration with neighboring counties. The conversation explores how Lawrence and other Kansas communities can learn from Houston’s model, highlighting the importance of outreach, data-driven strategies, and strong partnerships to create long-term solutions for homelessness.

Episode 33: Could a Regional Approach Help End Homelessness Locally? Weighing the Possibilities

In this episode of Collaborative Solutions, hosts Barry Feaker, Misty Bosch-Hastings, James Chiselom, and Brett Hartford explore Lawrence/Douglas County’s approach to prioritizing services for Douglas County residents, the challenges of homelessness policies, and the reality of individuals being dropped off from other areas. The discussion also considers whether a regional approach could be a viable strategy, examining how collaboration between communities, agencies, and housing resources might lead to more sustainable outcomes. The guests reflect on lessons learned, the importance of strategic partnerships, and the potential for broader systemic solutions. The episode underscores the urgency of action, the necessity of relationship-building, and the belief that homelessness in Kansas can be solved with the right systems in place.

Episode 32: Finding Solutions in the Streets: The Transformative Work of Lawrence’s Homeless Response Team

Barry Feaker and Misty Bosch-Hastings welcome Homeless Response Team members Dustin Moore from Artists Helping the Homeless and Steven Carter with the City of Lawrence to discuss the ongoing efforts to support unsheltered individuals, particularly during extreme winter weather. They dive into the impact of warming centers, emergency shelter expansion, and the unprecedented 66% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in Lawrence over the past year. The conversation highlights trust-building, individualized support, and collaboration across multiple agencies to remove barriers and help people transition into housing and stability.