Local nonprofit founders pitch The Open Nesta flexible day-and-night respite and family support center for people experiencing homelessness
Loading...
Summary
Founders said the Open Nest (operating with Gideon Christ Community Church as fiscal sponsor) will offer overnight respite without a return requirement, family-focused case management, food access, mental health supports, and skills training to bridge gaps left by existing shelters.
Two founders speaking as "the Openness Incorporated" presented a proposal to City Council during public input for a new homelessness-focused nonprofit they called the Open Nest. Founder Tayla Stinson (with co-founder Princess Hardy) described the organization as an engagement and respite center that will provide emergency shelter, family-centered case management, and support services such as food access, health services, mental wellness support, and skills training.
Stinson said the organization intends to operate a flexible, low-barrier respite model: "We will provide daily overnight respite care, giving people a safe place to rest tonight without requiring them to return tomorrow if they choose not to." She said the model is intended to serve people who are not able or ready to use traditional shelter models and to connect them with services when they are ready.
Partnerships and next steps: Stinson said the group has partnered with Gideon Christ Community Church as a fiscal sponsor and that the church has provided space and existing winter meal service infrastructure they hope to use year-round. She asked the council and staff for follow-up meetings and offered to invite council members to tour their facility.
No formal council action was recorded at the meeting; the founders left the council a one-page handout and asked staff for follow-up on potential collaboration.
