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Crisis Intervention

Uniting Services
Rebuilding Lives

A coordination model that turns good intentions
into functioning crisis housing -- one house at a time.

North Alabama, One Night

the gap is real

621 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in North Alabama
245 of those were unsheltered -- no tent, no car, nothing

Shelters are full. Waitlists are long. The organizations trying to help are overwhelmed, underfunded, and disconnected from each other.

The Cost of Inaction

doing nothing is expensive

$31,065 average annual cost per chronically homeless individual in public services
61% reduction in ER visits after permanent housing placement

Local churches spend tens of thousands annually on hotel stays for families in crisis because there is nowhere else to send them.

The Root Cause

the problem is not a lack of people who want to help

It is a lack of coordination, structure, and a plan for how to turn good intentions into functioning programs.

What One House Is

a coordination layer

We help people and organizations stand up self-sustaining crisis housing operations by connecting them with partners, a plan, and tools.

we connect

Partners who have one piece of the puzzle with those who have the rest

we equip

Agreements, financial models, staffing guidance, and operational playbooks

we step back

We do not run houses, manage intake, or deliver care. Partners do.

Core Principles

how the network grows

one house at a time

The network grows house by house. Each new operation is a single house with a clear mission.

pick a lane

Every house selects one housing type and one population to serve. No trying to be everything to everyone.

self-sustaining

Houses are designed to cover their own costs once operational. Donations seed new houses, not prop up old ones.

The Housing Continuum

a bridge to stability, not a permanent home

Crisis housing is temporary, structured shelter. Each stage serves a different point in recovery. An operator selects one stage and one population to serve.

emergency shelter
1 -- 7 days
recovery center
30 -- 180 days
bridge housing
6 -- 18 months
launch pad
1 -- 2 years
Graduation: Sustainable independent living
Stages 1 & 2

stabilize first

Stage 1

emergency shelter

1 -- 7 days

Immediate safety and basic needs. Dormitory-style housing with maximum beds. Case manager visits for intake assessment and connection to next-stage options.

Stage 2

recovery center

30 -- 180 days

Clinical stabilization -- addressing addiction, untreated mental health conditions, medical needs. Assigned case manager with weekly check-ins and regular access to clinical services.

Stages 3 & 4

build and launch

Stage 3

bridge housing

6 -- 18 months

Building life skills and financial footing. Private studio or affordable unit. Monthly check-ins focused on employment, budgeting, and community connection.

Stage 4

launch pad

1 -- 2 years

Practicing full autonomy with a safety net. Support shifts from direct oversight to on-call availability. Participant may begin mentoring others.

The Partner Network

every house needs four things

Someone to fund it, someone to run it, a place to put it, and specialists to handle what the operator cannot. Most people who want to help only have one or two of these. Our job is to find the rest.

sponsors

The fuel

operators

The engine

facilities

The foundation

service providers

The safety net

Partner Roles

what each partner does

Fund and Direct

sponsors — the fuel

Secure donations or redirect existing funds. Choose the housing stage and population. Refer applicants as a trusted community touchpoint.

Run the House

operators — the engine

Assess applicants, develop care plans, track progress. Manage finances and staffing to keep the house running and self-sustaining.

Provide the Space

facilities — the foundation

Own and maintain the property. Offer lease terms that make crisis housing viable for a nonprofit operator.

Extend the Reach

service providers — the safety net

Licensed specialists for health, education, workforce development, peer support. They handle what the operator cannot.

The Opportunity

redirect what you already spend

$5k

per month on hotel stays

Temporary. No structure.
No path forward.

4

recovery beds sponsored

Structured. Staffed.
A real path to stability.

The same dollars your church already spends can fund structured, staffed recovery housing through a trained operator -- with measurable outcomes.

How a House Gets Built

five steps to open doors

1

raise your hand

A church, nonprofit, or community member comes to One House with a desire to help.

2

pick a lane

Choose one housing stage and one population. Decide whether to sponsor, operate, or both.

3

assemble

We match whatever is missing. Sponsors find operators. Operators find facilities.

4

stand it up

We deliver the playbook: agreements, financial model, staffing guidance, startup grant.

5

open doors

The operator runs the house. Service providers plug in. The sponsor sees their impact.

What One House Provides

the tools to make it work

matchmaking

Connecting sponsors, operators, facilities, and service providers

the playbook

Agreements, policies, financial models, staffing guidance

coaching

Help partners pick a lane and choose a role that fits

software

Intake, tracking, transitions, and outcome reporting across the network

startup grants

Seed funding to expand or prevent collapse during critical periods

the network

Every house joins a distributed network that grows one house at a time

The Financial Model

every house pays for itself

Houses are designed to cover their own costs once operational. This changes the math for donors.

Program
Dues
Voucher
Reimburse
Sponsor
Subsidy
One House
Grants

A contribution to One House does not maintain an existing program. It seeds a new one. Each house that reaches self-sustainability creates permanent capacity in the network.

Leadership

the team behind this

Bo Matthews
Board Chairman

Bo Matthews

9-year NFL veteran. Background in low-income housing development.

Canyon Browning
Executive Director

Canyon Browning

Real estate investor, software executive, private equity background.

Kenesha Fudge
Chief Community Officer

Kenesha Fudge

Two doctorates with a specialty in mental health.

Chris Richtsmeier
Chief Development Officer

Chris Richtsmeier

Owns and operates approximately 75 units of affordable housing.

The One House Project

ready to raise your hand?

You do not need all the answers. You just need the willingness to start. We will help you find the rest.

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