Honors Report Paper-6

THE UNHOUSED SITUATION IN SPRINGFIELD 1
A STUDY INTO THE UNHOUSED POPULATIONS OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
An Honors Thesis
Presented by
McKenna Ann Mason
Completion Date:
December 2023
Approved By: Dr David Derosset
_____________________________________________
Richard Schur, Honors Director
_____________________________________________
Name of Directing Faculty, Department
Drury University, 2023
© 2023, McKenna Mason
ABSTRACT
Title: A Study into the Unhoused Population of Springfield, Missouri
Author: McKenna Mason
Thesis/Project Type: Thesis
Throughout 3 years, I have worked alongside and for the unhoused population of
Springfield, Missouri. Through my work within The Connecting Grounds, I was given a
unique opportunity to view this often politically and socially criticized population through
an intrapersonal lens. This thesis looks at homelessness as a social issue, addressing the
issue on a national scale and addressing political catalysts for the persistence of
homelessness within America. While giving statistics and background information, I also
had to opportunity to discuss my experience and contradict many of the common
stereotypes that are portrayed about this population.

A Study into the Unhoused Population of Springfield, Missouri
Introduction
Located 3 hours south of Kansas City and 3 hours west of St Louis, Springfield Missouri
holds the title for the third largest city in Missouri, right behind the two beforementioned cities.
Known for its large healthcare industry and the multiple universities located within the city, the
“Birthplace of Route 66” is a thriving community nestled within the Ozarks. The city is often
considered the Gateway to the Ozarks and praised for its infrastructure and diversified industries
(About Springfield, Missouri). Despite all of Springfield’s wonderful qualities, there is a deeper
systemic issue within the city that is often overlooked; a large unhoused population.
Springfield’s poverty rate is over double the national average of 10.5%, falling at an
extreme 22.9%, making it higher than both Kansas City and St. Louis. For reference,
Springfield’s population falls at 170,067 as of 2022 (United States Census Bureau, 2023), while
St Louis nearly doubles this figure at 286, 578 (United States Census Bureau, 2023), and Kansas
City towers over both with a population of 509,319 (about half the population of Montana)
(World Population Review, 2023). Springfield even surpasses its own state, with Missouri’s
statewide poverty average falling at 12.9%. (Springfield MO Poverty, 2023).
Why has Springfield stood out as such a prominent figure in the unhoused discussion,
and what can be done about it? This paper will discuss the history of homelessness on a
systematic basis both in Springfield and the United States as a whole, examining local nonprofits
in Springfield dedicated to aiding the unhoused population, and investigate possible solutions for
the human rights issue.
United States Historical Lense

First coined in the 1870s, the term homelessness was originally used to categorize the
flood of workers who traveled across the United States in search of work. It was meant as an
attack of character, and religious groups feared it was a breakdown of the natural family
structure, a lack of a singular home (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine, 2018).
The United States' solution was to continue to create more jobs. Historically, Europe was
organized in a feudal system in which the monarchy's controlled all the land and organized it into
a rigid class system. In the newly established America, each landowner provided for their own,
giving rise to an unequal distribution of goods and land in exchange for a seemingly classless
society (Beardsley, 2023). As the country continued to become more industrialized during the
19th century, there was a shift from classic farm work and family station to these individuals
traveling across the country and into major cities for work. As the railroad system became
established, the easy ability to travel, coupled with thousands of young soldiers exiting the Civil
War, created a culture of freelance travelers who rejected traditional American family life
standards. As the Industry Revolution struck society, vagrants and those searching for work
began pouring into cities. As they began to settle within these cities, they no longer had the
luxury of providing for themselves, and instead driven by a need to acquiring money through
work and the corporate oversight of a business that worked for itself, not its workers (National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). Many were unable to find work or
housing, with housing units unable to keep up with the sudden massive increase of people and
were forced to wander the streets. This began a particularly brutal time in legislation against this
first beginnings of the lower class; Karl Marx referring to it as the era of “bloody legislation”.
While the original city response was fairly compassionate, shelters and churches alike opened
their doors, views began to shift into a more negative view (Kirk, 2020). Begging and sleeping
in public was criminalized, leading to police departments rounding up people in the evening and
locking them in jail overnight (Olivet et al., 2019). This new rise of a capitalist economy not only
allowed but encouraged the division of social classes. For the rich to profit, there must be a lower
class that produces. For the production to continue, the lower class must remain in the lower
class.
The Great Depression drastically increased the number of unhoused as the country's
economy plummeted and employment soared, deepening those social divides. FDR established
several New Deal Programs to help citizens begin to enter back into the work force and provide
for themselves. Unfortunately, due to the inability of African Americans in the country to access
these resources, this time period greatly pushed the beginning of America’s overrepresentation of
African Americans within the homeless population. Despite the passing of the Fair Housing Act
in 1968, this discrimination is still prominent today (Chen, 2022).
As the country shifted into the Second World War, the homeless population became
significantly older, typically over 50, and those disabled and unable to participate in this
economic work boom period. Many lived in Skid Rows, a dilapidated area of town frequented by
vagrants, and other low-income housing options (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine, 2018). However, these vagrants were considered housed under these conditions,
until the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) changed their definition to
include this population in 2009 with the HEARTH Act (Expanding Opportunities to House
Individuals and Families, 2013).
The 1980s is typically deemed the beginning of the modern era of homelessness. Around
this time the nation shifted to deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, meaning thousands of
mentally ill patients were suddenly being moved out of former asylums into the community with
little to no support. There was a high unemployment rate, an unsuitable supply of affordable
housing options, the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and large budget cuts to HUD and other
social service programs by the Reagan administration. As a movement of gentrification within
the inner cities began, property values skyrocketed and Skid Row areas and other low housing
options for the homeless were replaced by new apartments, fancy restaurants and other business
for profit. Rents began to increase, with wages remaining the same. Shelters that previously had
served younger, substance abusing, traveling men were now alarmingly becoming faced with
more women and children, entire families in need. (National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine, 2018).
This had a direct negative impact on the mentally ill community, which as mentioned was
already facing difficulties from deinstitutionalization throughout the country. The massive lack
of income that followed for many individuals, followed by the rising housing prices, the little
increase in wages, and the lack of resources available with the cuts made to HUD, left many
people out on the streets (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018).
Author Martha Burts estimated the unhoused population rose from between 250,000 and 350,000
to nearly double in size in 1987, falling between 500,000 and 600,000. With the dramatic rise,
many called for government programs and intervention. The Reagan Administration questioned
the need, and the National Institute of Mental Health began to compile a report studying the rate
of mental illness and substance abuse. However, influenced by the climate of the time and the
funding of the study, it painted an incomplete picture on the epidemic. There was very little
research produced that addressed relationships between homelessness and government structure
such as services, housing, and jobs. The report published by the organization was helpful in
learning about the state of mental health and substance abuse, the two factors it set out to study,
yet led to a reinforcement of stigmas towards the minority and continuing to isolate them from
the rest of the population. This created a view that the source of homelessness was individualized
and cultural, versus structural or policy related (Moser, 2015).
The Reagan Administration policies had a large part to play in what would become a
massive issue for the country. In a new era of deregulation and public spending cuts, Reagan cut
taxes for the rich, continued in expansion on corporate power, and decreased governmental
spending on antipoverty efforts, specifically when it came to housing. However, Congress
prevented him from dealing long-term blows to several welfare services.
Current US Landscape
Today, the extent of homelessness in the US is continuing to grow. More than half a
million citizens experience homelessness on an average night. The rate is continuing to rise.
From 2020 to 2022, we experienced only a .3% increase, a beginning in slow the increase. This
was a direct result of direct action from government agencies and organizations providing aid
prompted by the COVID pandemic, showing how large of an impact government intervention
can make. From 2020, homelessness in unsheltered areas was estimated to have an increase of
3.4%. The rate has increased for long-term homelessness, individuals, and people with
disabilities. It continues to decline among veterans, families with children, and youths under 25
(HUD, 2022).
Rent is increasing faster than it has since 1988, the country still struggling to recover from
the effects of the pandemic, with current incomes not rising to meet the demand (Lopez, 2022).
Most of the country is now considered “rent burdened,” meaning that more than 30% of an
average median income is needed to make rent. This figure is the latest is a rising trend, as
2020’s median rent allowance was 25.7%, and 2021 landed at 28.5%. This figure is nothing
compared to some metropolitan areas. New York’s rent-to-income percentage in 2022 was a
staggering 68.5%, Miami following at a 41.6% (Kodé, 2023).
(Mazzaza, 2019)
The current market has us facing another recession. Lists for shelters are doubling if not
tripling, encampments are popping up in several cities across the country. Local policy continues
to be an issue and a massive influence on organizational efforts to help, as zoning laws limit the
possibilities for housing in an area. For example, many zoning laws limit buildings to single
families and prevent the building of apartments of duplexes to hold multiple families (Lopez,
2022).
The largest issue? The simple lack of affordable housing. Historically speaking, the
coastal areas with denser populations have felt the harshest part of this struggle. Now, the crisis
is moving further inland. The New York Times specifically mentions Springfield, Missouri as
one of the large non-coastal cities experiencing a major housing shortage, at 14,000 units short.
The housing deficit has doubled since 2012, and currently the nation is short of an estimated 3.8
million housing units (Badger & Washington, 2022).

As with many social issues, homelessness within the United States is multi-faceted. We
are not simply examining policy or history, but the current social state and citizen’s attitudes
towards an entire minority population. Stereotypes and assumptions plague citizens' minds, alter
reality, and limit extensions of help. Even those who acknowledge systematic errors, stereotypes
of “people who are homeless, don’t want to work, are lazy” persist (Stauss, 2013).
A common stereotype: poor money management is responsible for a family's financial
situation. They spend all their money on “drugs, booze, entertainment.” A false assumption. The
US Bureau of Labor Statistics released their findings from investigating the spending patterns of
families receiving government aid. It was found that families that fell within the top 20th
percentile when it came to income establish twice as much of their budget towards alcohol than
the families in the lower 20 percent. In alignment with those findings, the results showed that
families receiving government assistance spend a much larger percentage of their budget on
housing, food, and other necessities and a much smaller percentage on entertainment, alcohol,
and tobacco (Desmond, 2023). Drug usage is fairly evenly distributed across all economic levels
of society (Degenhartdt et al, 2008). However, abuse of drugs can drastically impact an
individual of lower economic status, as they do not have the cushion of resources one of a higher
economic level would have at their disposal such as access to treatment, the financial cushion to
miss work for treatment, etc. (Straus, 2013).
Society and politics often criticize “poor choices” made by the lower class, while
simultaneously ignoring that American Society has created a system to make these choices their
only choices. In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association created an official new
psychopathology, named “Dependent Personality Disorder.” In 1996 Bill Clinton voiced his
intention to “end welfare as we know it” due to the “cycle of dependency that has existed for
millions and millions of our fellow citizens, exiling them from the world of work.” Donald
Trump’s administration endorsed work requirements for the nations more heavily used welfare
programs, claiming welfare brings a “decline in self-sufficiency.” Each are examples of
systematic stereotypes that have influenced policy since the beginning of the United States
(Desmond, 2023).
Many of the housed population seem to harbor a deep resentment towards the unhoused
in regard to their motivation and work effort. Many believe the lower class simply “rely on
welfare” or are “too lazy to work.” Statistically speaking, this is not the case. In 2020, according
to one study, only 3 percent of those considered “poor” in the US are disconnected from the
labor force (Desmond, 2023). In fact, those that do work and fall into the poverty category work
roughly the equivalent of 1.2 full time jobs. How does this work not bring families out of
poverty? Nearly one out of every five jobs pay below the rate required to maintain the worker
above the poverty rate (Waldron et al., 2004).
Many misconceptions surround America’s welfare system, the more fortunate class often
accusing the lower class of simply “living off the system.” In reality, the upper-class benefits
from the welfare system in a far greater capacity than the lower class. In 2020 the federal
government spent nearly four times as much on homeowner subsidies ($193 billion) as on direct
housing assistance ($53 billion). In fact, we have a chronic welfare avoidance issue. Only 20% of
families who qualify for government health insurance apply, only 25% of families who are
eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) put in an application. There is
estimated billions of unclaimed governmental aid passed over every year (Desmond, 2023).
So, in a country where we see the poverty rate, a number directly linked to homelessness
continue to grow, where are all these poverty-dedicated government funds going to? A lot of
them do not go to the population they are intended for. The Clinton Administration changed
welfare assistance from direct cash to families, to block grants granted to states. What did these
states do with this money? Many dedicated them to programs that had nothing to do with
reducing poverty. Oklahoma spent over $70 million of grant money on an organization providing
marriage counseling and workshops. Arizona used grant money to fund abstinence-only sex
education for its schools. Both states were possibly prompted by further poverty stereotypes of
single parents and the lower class having an irresponsible number of kids, a direct link of
assumptions leading policy and application of funds instead of data. Mississippi used funds
overseen by the state’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to purchase three different cars
for the leader of a nonprofit and her family, to hire an evangelical worship singer, as well as
gifting $1.1 million to former NFL athlete Brett Favre for speeches he never gave. $2.1 million
was dedicated to a ministry run by a former professional wrestler for speeches and wrestling
events (Desmond, 2023). We see a nation directly responsible for the misuse of its money,
despite research showing us that deeper investments into citizens directly results in lower
poverty rates (Desmond, 2023).
Springfield, Missouri Homelessness
Springfield, Missouri is no exception to these misconceptions and poor treatment of the
unhoused population. As mentioned before within the New York Times article, it is nationally
known for its large unhoused population and housing shortage. The Connecting Grounds, a local
nonprofit that conducts research studies and oversees a street census that is updated every two
weeks, estimates 3,042 individuals who fall under HUD’s definition of homelessness as of
October 2023. This definition encompasses a large group of people, including individuals, that
would normally not come to mind when one envisions an unhoused person. This includes those
living in shelters, couch hopping between friends' houses, those who live in hotels, etc. These
categories are in addition to individuals actively residing on the streets (The Connecting
Grounds, 2023). According to the Springfield Citizen, 8,230 households in Springfield are at risk
of homelessness due to the fact that they earn less than $30,440.04 annually, minimum income
required to divert less than 30% of a monthly income as federal recommended. That adds up to at
least 13,000 people constantly on the verge of homelessness (Burger, 2022).
Falling in line with common stereotypes and misconceptions, a large argument for why
Springfield has such a large homeless population is not the lack of city resources, but
misconception towards the migration of homeless into the city after the lose their home for
resources only available. However, according to surveys conducted by The Connecting Grounds,
most of the homeless population within the city has lived here their whole lives or moved to the
city as youth, growing up as a citizen of Springfield (The Connecting Grounds, 2021).
The city currently operates on the Housing First Model, a theory that states that the
unhoused must first acquire a permanent residence that does not put a limit on their stay before
taking care of other aspects of life such as mental and physical health, managing substance
abuse, securing stable income, etc.
Around Springfield, you will find multiple organizations that provide services to the
unhoused population, each looking at the issues of the community from a different angle and
approaching it in their own unique way. However, the city itself fails to directly invest its own
tax revenue or any of its $495 billion budget, to addressing the affordable housing issue or in
tangent its unhoused issue. Instead, HUD funding and Community Development Block grant
funding is redistributed to local nonprofits and organizations that apply for them. However, the
money is a headache, and is stipulated with near impossible oversight and checks (M. Horton,
personal connection, 2023, Sept 23).

Some consider Springfield’s efforts as pointedly negative. Despite being sued by the
American Civil Liberties Union and having multiple other attempts fail over similar laws, the
city passed an ordinance in January 2018 that banned excessive loitering on the medians around
Springfield (Zhu, 2018). While the citizens claim it is a pedestrian safety issue, many points to
its enforcement seeming to target panhandlers, which is another activity/stereotype often
associated with the homeless being “lazy.” Less than ¾ of them participate in panhandling (The
Connecting Grounds, 2021).
Through an interview with Adam Bodendieck, the Director of Homeless Services at
Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Affordable housing and legislation are not the only
service gaps to be missing within the city. Mental health facilities and access, the restraints of
strict housing requirements and the populations they exclude, a lack of supportive resources and
landlord engagement, transportation routes are all considered urgent service gaps within the
community by the several nonprofits in the area that advocate and commit resources to the
unhoused struggle (A. Bodendieck, personal communication, 2022, March 23). As mentioned
above, currently the majority of Springfield’s homeless aid falls to local organizations and
nonprofits that apply for federal grant money to conduct their work.
Nonprofit Influence and Roles
One Door, overseen by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, is a prominent figure
when it comes to the homelessness discussion within Springfield. It serves as the coordinated
entry system for The O'Reilly Center for Hope. Funded primarily through city and grant funds,
the organization aims to provide resources, referrals, and information to those currently at
immediate risk of experiencing homelessness. They have multiple community partners, including
Burrell Behavioral Health, Consumer Credit Counseling, Isabel’s House, and Legal Services of
Southern Missouri (One Door, 2022). Through personal experience with many that had
encountered the system, the praise for it was not particularly high, the nickname “Revolving
Door” frequently used.
The Kitchen is a nationally accredited nonprofit within Springfield founded by Lorraine
Biebel in 1983. Today, they oversee a list of programs that each approach the issue in a different
way. Affordable Housing Developments focuses on prevention through providing housing to
low-income renters. Community Housing assists with case management and housing for
families as well as individuals of every age range. Emergency shelter provides short term shelter
for those about to enter into permanent housing. Home at Last focuses specifically on Veterans
and their families. Rare Breed Youth focuses on the 13-24 age demographic, providing rapid
access to immediate basic needs and community services (The Kitchen, 2023).
Established in 2010, The Gathering Tree established themselves in Springfield to aid in
the unhoused crisis that their founders, David and Linda Brown, had seen during their time in the
city. Initially, the religious-rooted organization began their mission with the establishment of the
first Eden Village, a closed community of individual tiny houses for individuals to apply for
permanent housing. The goal is to not only provide housing but provide a neighborhood for one
to feel welcome and a part of a community. Applicants must have been homeless for over a year,
have one mental or physical disability, and have the ability to pay only $300 a month for their
rent. In Springfield they are currently looking into establishing their third Eden Village, and the
concept for more Eden Villages has been sent around the country and established in several
states (Communities Reaching the Homeless, 2023).

The Gathering Tree realized Eden Village can only serve a portion of the homeless
community, and in 2020 established the Revive 66 Campground along West Chestnut. Due to
zoning restrictions, the area is zoned specifically as a gated campground (nonprofits in
Springfield are allowed to run any service they wish, with the exception of a hotel due to city
ordinances) where anyone can spend $10 to stay (J VanDenBerg, personal connection, Sept 20,
2023). Volunteers are also welcome to donate for those who do not have the money to pay for
their admittance into the campground. They have exactly 52 small campers on the property
where people can stay, and their stay also includes use of a bath and shower house, a snack
shack, and a laundry trailer. It also claims the title of the first solar-powered RV park in the US
(Revive 66, 2023).
The Drew Lewis Foundation, founded in 2013, was established by former MSU professor
Amy Blansit in memory of her late husband Drew Lewis. The organization’s mission is to
“educate, empower, and support under-served families through personalized programs and
coaching to increase quality of life and build resilient communities.” The foundation focuses on
the after care of those who have the ability to establish housing for over six months. They offer
programs to educate about financial literacy, provide personal development coaches that offer
one-on-ones with families to ensure completion of the program and accountability. Dewis Lewis
is behind the founding of The Blue House Project, which focusing on giving back to the local
community and aids in reviving it by buying housing in the surrounds Grant Beach neighborhood
within North Springfield and completely renovating the home. After, they sell the homes to
families within their programs at below market value and a discounted interest rate (Drew Lewis
Foundation, 2023).
One of the more unique nonprofits to fill the Springfield service gaps, The Connecting
Grounds (TCG), focuses on providing aid to individuals during their time on the streets, focusing
more on keeping them alive and giving them the same respect as everyone else. The organization
identifies itself as a trauma informed, service-based religious nonprofit with a goal of helping
those in need. Primarily, this community in need is the unhoused of Springfield. Their mission
strongly operates on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and acknowledgement that the most basic of
human needs must be met before we can expect anything close to self-improvement from an
individual. Founded by Christie Love and Holly Madden in 2018, the church continues to fill
several service gaps around the community through a variety of programs and works to fulfill the
most basic, practical needs.
The Connecting Grounds church serves as a pillar for three main service routes in the
community. Family Connections is located on West Chestnut past West Bypass, next to The
Connecting Grounds’ church. It provides a place for family visits, with trained volunteers to
supervise. Outreach consists of driving around in extreme weather and providing services
directly to those on the streets. This can include cold water, cold towels, popsicles, in hot
weather, and hot hands, extra clothes, and blankets in cold weather. Their Outreach center
located on West Chestnut serves as a headquarters for their operation and resource center,
equipped with donations, supplies, a wound care clinic, and even a makeshift barber ship.
Volunteers and workers staff the building to provide services to anyone in need.
The Connecting Grounds also takes on the role of organizing multiple Crisis Cold
Weather Shelters in Springfield. A cold weather shelter is opened anytime the temperature drops
below 32 degrees for more than 4 consecutive hours between 7PM to 7AM (Springfield MO
Poverty, 2023). This upcoming winter, they plan to team up with One Door and align their
services together to engineer the best possible services to the community. While the service itself
is greatly needed and important, there are multiple issues that become apparent when dealing
with opening crisis weather shelters. There are only a certain number of beds available, and
many do not take couples or allow pets. A few shelters perform sobriety tests upon entry,
excluding a large portion of the unhoused. Out of the 306 churches in Springfield (Pokin, 2018)
only 8 of them open their doors in the winter for a cold weather shelter. Those on the sex
offender's registry are often not welcomed, which also excludes another demographic. And while
these crimes can point to dangerous predators, others are those who have served their
punishment and who committed the crime 10+ years ago.
Personal Experience with Local Efforts
The first person I met with was Christie Love, the before-mentioned CEO and Pastor of
the Connecting Grounds. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the start of a several year
relationships between The Connecting Grounds and myself, including not only volunteering but
a formal internship with the organization. Christie was immediately receptive to my questions
about the issues in Springfield. The Connecting Grounds already has extensive experience when
it comes to advocating for the needs of the homeless and bringing it to people's attention. For
example, in the summer of 2023, Christie was at the forefront of a social media movement to
bring attention to the inhumane treatment of multiple homeless camps around Springfield that
were burned down by the local sheriff’s department (Rehwald, 2023). This came about thanks to
the new enforcement of Missouri House Bill 1606, which prohibited the “use of state-owned
land for unauthorized sleeping, camping, or long-term shelters, (CCS SS SCS HCS HB 1606).
This essentially allows for the criminalization of homelessness across the state, and some
departments have taken it further than others in terms or discretion.
Throughout my internship, I was given the unique opportunity to participate in various
projects that allowed me to understand the unhoused community on a completely different level
and meet some incredible people. My role involved a hands-on work approach in the community
and providing resources, as well as a more educational aspect, which would help me attempt to
understand the trauma that is seen every day on the streets, learning about community services,
planning and staff meetings, learning about the causes and effects of poverty, etc. Labeling
Theory became very apparent in my work, in reference to the power of how individuals, society
or outside sources classify a group or individual can greatly impact their self-esteem and drive to
improve their lives. Derogatory terms such as “boogan” can lead to more negative effects than
simply impoliteness. To attempt to combat some of the negative terminology, TCG frequently
refers to the unhoused community as friends.
During a particularly interesting interview with one of our friends, I spent 30 minutes
discussing the effects that trauma involving our fathers had left on our lives. He was probably in
his early 30s, reflecting on the past decisions he had made that didn’t serve him well and he felt
he was currently paying for. The man had been convicted of illegal drug possession, and not had
a criminal record, which was now one of the issues preventing him from obtaining housing.
However, there is not a lot of forgiveness when it comes to a background check for housing.
There are currently members of the unhoused community in Springfield who are in their early
80s, and are unable to obtain housing from a felon acquired in their 20s (Skaliky, 2022). In 2021,
over 13,000 people left Missouri’s prison system, and those who do not have family to fall back
on only face a new barrier: acceptance of landlords for housing. The Prison Policy Initiative
released a study in 2018 that found felons are ten times more likely to remain homeless than
citizens with clean records (Merchant, 2022). Many of the people I did work with, in fact, did
have a criminal record, many of them solely thanks to trespassing tickets from attempting to live
on the streets. That is a part of the issue of HB 1606 as mentioned previously, the legislation now
allowing for easier prosecution for such small offenses. How could we possibly expect someone
to enter back into housing if we continuously support obstacles that prevent it?
Alongside the more theoretical work, I was given multiple daily projects in line with The
Connecting Ground’s mission of filling service gaps, no matter how small. I would monitor our
intake desk, utilizing our system and updating files constantly for every visitor of the center,
which in turn is data used in The Connecting Grounds Street Census. I would assist Dena, the
Director of the Outreach center, in monitoring the levels of our various supplies and giving each
visitor whatever, they needed. At the front, shower rotations were monitored, as The Connecting
Grounds received the three-stall shower truck purchased earlier in the summer with ARPA funds
from the city. A facility for those experiencing homelessness that allowed for showers was a long
overdue service for the community. Showers allow for a cleaner appearance, allowing for more
community accessibility by the unhoused and strips the disadvantage of being dirty at a job
interview away. Father Rey of Sacred Heart Church points to the basic need of hygiene and
healthcare, which showers provide. There were members of the community who had not
showered for several months before the shower truck was added to the list of TCG services.
(Trolio, 2023).
As a part of TCG staff, I was given to opportunity to sit in on case management for
various people, in which Rue, one of our directors or Christie herself would sit down with one of
our various friends. These meetings would often consist of evaluating the next steps they needed
to take to improve their quality of life while on the streets, which is often overlooked by
community efforts and aid in place of the larger goal of securing housing. Many had to do with
legal work, in which we would draft letters to lawyers or judges requesting representation or
extensions on legal cases. Those experiencing homelessness are significantly more likely to have
interactions with the criminal justice system due to legislation such as House Bill 1606, as
simply existing on state land can be worthy of a citation (Urban Institute, 2020). Many of these
individuals lack the resources or knowledge to navigate this system that is incredibly
complicated, even for an average citizen.
Often tasks would be focused not on improving homelessness across Springfield in the shape of
large projects, but several smaller ones to aid individuals in difficult situations that could result
in their loss of shelter. One specific example comes from an elderly brother and sister who were
currently residing at The Kitchen’s temporary housing. The siblings owned a pair of chihuahuas,
one of which suffered from severe anxiety, resulting in two recorded bites to staff. The siblings
were told they must rehome the male chihuahua, and the gentler female could only return once
she was given an Emotional Support Animal letter. Both siblings suffered from health issues, the
brother dealing with heart issues and the sister consistently on oxygen for respiratory issues.
While the emotional cost of losing one or possibly both of their pets was great, losing their
shelter was not an option.
I spent several hours calling around to local shelters to find a temporary foster placement
for the female dog and somewhere that would accept the male. After calling over 20 shelters
within a 300 mile radius, nothing was available. A local friend agreed to house the female, but
the males fate was still undecided. After managing to get ahold of their vet tags, we found the
male had been adopted from the Humane Society, which has a strict policy that any animal
adopted from there must be returned if the owner can no longer provide for the animal. I
transported both the dog and his human to the Humane Society and placed the dog back into
their care.
The emotional toll on the siblings was significant. Animals provide companionship and
love to their owners, regardless of their housing status, and giving up that bond is not an easy
task. Pets provide a sense of security and responsibility and have been found to motivate those
experiencing homelessness to seek medical care and reduce substance abuse. However, many
unhoused citizens are forced to choose between their pet and shelter everyday. A study
conducted in 2017 found 48% of unhoused were turned away from shelter due to their pet, and
22% actively avoided attempting to find a shelter for fear of their pet being taken. A 2021
Canadian study found that pets of unhoused citizens are often in good health and taken care of as
well as regular traditionally housed pets (ASPCA, 2023). Often mental coping mechanisms are
overlooked, at the expense of the person experiencing the trauma.
One of the largest roles I took on during TCG’s internship was monitoring and
overseeing the use of the water tanks constructed and erected in early 2023 by The Connecting
Grounds. Daily teams of 2 or 3 volunteers or staff would daily move to each of around twelve
water stations placed around Springfield and would refill the cooler with fresh water and ice, and
refill cups. Normally the operation would go fairly smoothly, and TCG would use the frequency
of refills to determine if a water station in low use should be moved to a more frequented area for
more benefit to the community. pH levels were check daily to ensure that the drinking water
remained at safe levels. A few times over the summer after a poor reading, Christie or I would
empty out the entire water tank, clean out the inside, and refill the cooler. The tanks remain
locked until time to refill. The decision to lock the tanks stemmed from WHEN) citizens
following a NIMBY attitude poisoned several bowls of soup before passing it out to the
unhoused community. Luckily, no one was seriously injured, and law enforcement was able to
identify to culprits and charge them with assault.
Springfield sees several “hubs” of unhoused populations, each primarily sticking to their
own sides of town; north, south, east, west, central. These populations typically do not interact
much or move out of their way to access resources, meaning addressing their needs would call
for a wider net of resources. To address this, TCG determined the need for several water stations
around Springfield to provide the need for safe drinking water to as many people as possible.
However, some cities have found a different service need, such as Seattle’s Urban Rest Stop
Programs. The city investigated and identified a large service gap for public restrooms in 1990,
and broke ground on the project in 1999. Today this project includes not only an open public
restroom with various hygiene products such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, but showers,
drinking water, and access to laundry, all with extended hours to serve its targeted community. In
providing a hygiene facility in which 60 percent of its users are preparing for work, the city not
only improved quality of life for the unhoused community but increased self-sufficiency for
families and individuals alike (Urban Rest Stop, 2015).

However, different communities must cater to different needs. While Seattle’s model of
an all-in-one rest stop might be beneficial for their community that is much larger than ours,
TCG determined that the unique service need in Springfield would be better suited divided to
address these separated geographical populations of people within the city. Seattle has a wide-
reaching transit system including busing, trains, and ferries that allows more people to access
more resources that might not be placed close to where they reside (Seattle, 2023). However,
Springfield’s transit system is shaky at best, providing a single public bus system that individuals
must pay to use. Many complain about the infrequent stops of the system, and advocate for
greater base level coverage across the city (Burger, 2023).
In light of the service needs of Springfield, TCG had been working on a storage solution
that would be located downtown that gave the unhoused access to free storage for their items,
addressing another common service issue like access to drinking water. The idea was to replicate
aspects of the various storage solutions happening in areas such as Denver, San Diego, and
Kansas City. In 2020, Denver erected 200 lockers within the city due as a solution to a class
action lawsuit against the city filed by several unhoused in reaction to the way city employees
handled their belongings during a street clean up in 2016. San Diego now has over 400 storage
bins dedicated to the unhoused to store their belongings in, the program erected after a lawsuit
was filed when the city illegally disposed of a group of unhoused persons’ items (Maloney,
2021).
Storage allows a peace of mind for an unhoused person that normally would be filled
with constant anxiety regarding the safety of their items. Important documents, seasonal
clothing, medication, anything is possible subject to thieves out on the street, other people
attempting to survive. With items such as sleeping bags stored away during the day, individuals
are allowed to pursue job interviews, use public transportation, enter businesses that would
otherwise not allow people with backpacks (Capps, 2014). While not a complete solution for
homelessness, it sticks true to The Connecting Grounds model of providing services to make
people's lives humane, no matter where they are living.
With this project, the first thing we were going to need to do was establish a location for
the storage center. The Connecting Grounds themselves had already begun to implement a
storage situation outside of their Outreach Center where people could store their personal
belongings for an exchange of volunteer hours. However, the Outreach Center is not large
enough or in a centralized enough location to logically provide help for the most amount of
people. Our best shot was locating a place near downtown, where a large portion of the
population is currently located.
The first official meeting for brainstorming the project took place at the National Alliance
on Mental Illness (NAMI) within Springfield with Stephanie Appleby, the Executive Director.
We attempted to hash out current restrictions on both organizations on presenting the need
without any current data, and how collecting that data would look. Discussion also focused on
current buildings that could provide a location downtown that were not too close to private or
public businesses that would object to the project. Again, NIMBY carries a strong hold across
the city. We settled on polling as large a group of unhoused as we could, to bring the data
forward to advocate for the need of the facility.
Over a few weekends, Christie and I traveled to various cold weather shelters to gather
responses from various unhoused citizens on behalf of TCG to begin building a base of data.
Research was also conducted at The Outreach Center, gathering more responses to determine if
the community felt a need for the project.

A testament to the slow work of politics even on a community level, six months later and
a meeting has yet to be held with the downtown association. True to the work of nonprofits,
larger fires eventually reveal themselves and require efforts to be reassigned from time to time.
However, this became an even more fruitful opportunity to learn not only about the community,
but about the inner workings of nonprofits, community outreach, services, and city politics.
Conclusions
As shown through my personal experience as well as the literature gathered,
Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue with no singular responsibility or solution. In order to
pursue one, we are required to view the issue exactly as that. Springfield lacks several services
that it would benefit from providing within the community, besides simply the storage that we
have been working on.
Affordable housing is an issue that should become the forefront of Springfield’s issues.
Springfield is currently 14,000 housing units short of its current population, and solutions are
difficult at best. A discussion of annexation of nearby areas of the city has been in the works and
met with opposition. Annexation, the bringing of local land inside city jurisdiction, can be a very
positive event. It can artificially lower sales tax, crime rates, and poverty rates for a city, and
give the city its much needed surface area. However, the result would be a spreading of resources
as well, specifically when it comes to local taxes and the funding of local resources districts such
as the fire departments (M. Horton, personal connection, 2023, Sept 23).
Further suggestion of solutions include more daytime spaces need to be organized for the
unhoused, as so many shelters are focused on evenings and nights. Access to training in life
skills, learning how to manage budgeting and homeownership as a continuation of services past
simply acquiring housing to ensure that housing remains. Flexible funds to cover starting
housing costs for families and individuals. A big portion is coming together and connecting on
these issues. More resources need to be allocated to better mental care services, physical health
services, public showers, bathrooms, and laundry access.
This paper fails to address homelessness on a racial level, investigating the different
systematic effects experienced by racial minorities. Further barriers surround these communities,
leading to an even more difficult time of exiting poverty stemming often from even deeper roots
from systematic setbacks and discrimination. An extension of this project would benefit from
examining these differences.
An attempt to change this lack of Springfield’s public fiscal effort appears to be
approaching an end. The state of Missouri voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022,
which local municipalities have the option to tax. August 8th, a three percent increase in
recreational marijuana prices was passed, estimated to generate $1.8 million for the city. The
funds have been elected to be divided among mental health resources, affordable housing,
substance abuse resources, and public safety. The city has yet to delegate what percentages of
this revenue will be dedicated to each area (M. Horton, personal connection, 2023, Sept 23).
Springfield’s five voiced priorities are public safety, legislative engagement, quality of
place, fiscal responsibility, and economic vitality. Currently, city council member Monica
Horton is attempting to add a sixth; Quality Housing and Shelters. She stated Springfield needs
“more skin in the game” when it comes to ensuring ALL Springfield citizens have a right to safe
and affordable housing (M. Horton, personal connection, 2023, Sept 23).
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THE UNHOUSED SITUATION IN SPRINGFIELD 1

A STUDY INTO THE UNHOUSED POPULATIONS OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

McKenna Ann Mason

Approved By: Dr David Derosset

Richard Schur, Honors Director

Name of Directing Faculty, Department

Drury University, 2023

© 2023, McKenna Mason

Title: A Study into the Unhoused Population of Springfield, Missouri

Author: McKenna Mason

Thesis/Project Type: Thesis

had to opportunity to discuss my experience and contradict many of the common

stereotypes that are portrayed about this population.

A Study into the Unhoused Population of Springfield, Missouri

statewide poverty average falling at 12.9%. (Springfield MO Poverty, 2023).

the human rights issue.

United States Historical Lense

structure, a lack of a singular home (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and

in 1968, this discrimination is still prominent today (Chen, 2022).

Individuals and Families, 2013).

social service programs by the Reagan administration. As a movement of gentrification within

Engineering, and Medicine, 2018).

and cultural, versus structural or policy related (Moser, 2015).

spending on antipoverty efforts, specifically when it came to housing. However, Congress

prevented him from dealing long-term blows to several welfare services.

staggering 68.5%, Miami following at a 41.6% (Kodé, 2023).

million housing units (Badger & Washington, 2022).

A common stereotype: poor money management is responsible for a family's financial

miss work for treatment, etc. (Straus, 2013).

programs, claiming welfare brings a “decline in self-sufficiency.” Each are examples of

above the poverty rate (Waldron et al., 2004).

poverty rates (Desmond, 2023).

Springfield, Missouri Homelessness

Springfield, Missouri is no exception to these misconceptions and poor treatment of the

least 13,000 people constantly on the verge of homelessness (Burger, 2022).

city as youth, growing up as a citizen of Springfield (The Connecting Grounds, 2021).

abuse, securing stable income, etc.

personal connection, 2023, Sept 23).

its enforcement seeming to target panhandlers, which is another activity/stereotype often

Connecting Grounds, 2021).

Through an interview with Adam Bodendieck, the Director of Homeless Services at

Nonprofit Influence and Roles

Door” frequently used.

The Kitchen is a nationally accredited nonprofit within Springfield founded by Lorraine

way. Affordable Housing Developments focuses on prevention through providing housing to

Established in 2010, The Gathering Tree established themselves in Springfield to aid in

states (Communities Reaching the Homeless, 2023).

zoning restrictions, the area is zoned specifically as a gated campground (nonprofits in

(Revive 66, 2023).

most basic, practical needs.

punishment and who committed the crime 10+ years ago.

Personal Experience with Local Efforts

departments have taken it further than others in terms or discretion.

Throughout my internship, I was given the unique opportunity to participate in various

refers to the unhoused community as friends.

complicated, even for an average citizen.

shelter was not an option.

overlooked, at the expense of the person experiencing the trauma.

identify to culprits and charge them with assault.

families and individuals alike (Urban Rest Stop, 2015).

greater base level coverage across the city (Burger, 2023).

people's lives humane, no matter where they are living.

population is currently located.