Be Able Community

WE'RE OPEN today and celebrating Juneteenth at Be Able!

We’ll be grilling lunch at the community center and would love for you to join us before the evening festivities begin.

All are welcome... because holidays are for community!

"It's all about changing lives... but you have to have the willingness to change."

We’re so proud of Adam Rundell (left), one of our housing peer mentors, who was recently featured by KCLY Radio 100.9 FM sharing about Be Able’s Housing Program!

Adam brings an inside perspective to this work. As a peer mentor, he walks alongside men who are rebuilding their lives, encouraging them through challenges, helping them recognize progress, and reminding them that change is possible.

That’s what makes Adam such an important part of our housing program. He doesn’t just talk about second chances... He's an great example of the difference a second chance can make!

We’re grateful for Adam and the steady encouragement he offers every day.

Article link in the comments.

READY FOR WORK: These two Garys were all smiles this morning as they headed off to work at Goodwill Manhattan.

We're proud of the steps both men are taking to build stability and move forward in life. Employment creates opportunity and momentum.

We're also excited for the changes at Goodwill. Scott says the Manhattan store is the best it's ever been under the leadership of Jessica Johnson, and we're thankful for employers who are willing to invest in people and provide opportunities for gainful employment. And thank you, Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas!

Keep up the great work, Gary and Gary. We're in your corner!

We love our mural! Big thanks to Layne Stafford.

FILL UP AT U-STOP: On Tuesdays in June, U-Stop Shops - Kansas is donating 2 cents of every gallon purchased. Giving back is as easy as filling up! This is your last chance to participate. Thanks for your support!

Spread the word. Donate shoes beforehand.

Dropoff during work hours!

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the Konza United Way Community Investment Day.

Scott spent the afternoon sharing Be Able's vision for a new Workforce Readiness Program designed to help individuals not just find employment, but develop the skills and resilience needed to thrive in the workplace.

At Be Able, we're committed to pursuing innovative solutions that address the root causes of poverty... not just manage its symptoms.

We're grateful for the opportunity to partner with organizations like Konza United Way and for the many community leaders who took time away from their jobs to invest in the future of our community.

*** Update included with gofundme for funeral costs. Link in comments. We were saddened to learn of the passing of our friend, Ray.

An Army veteran, Ray was known by many at Be Able and made an impression wherever he went. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word... always respectful, always asking about others, and always looking for a way to make someone smile.

Ray had a distinct laugh, a sharp sense of style, and some of the bluest eyes you'll ever see. He was well-traveled, easy-going, and had a gift for making people feel seen and valued.

Most of all, Ray cared about people.

He will be missed by staff, volunteers, and the many friends he made along the way.

Rest easy, Ray.

TEAM MHK: We were excited to welcome our friends from the Flint Hills Volunteer Center to Be Able this morning to explore ways we can better partner together.

Partnerships matter. No single organization can meet every need in our community, which is why relationships and collaboration are so important.

A special welcome to Brent Sigman, who recently stepped into the role of Executive Director. Fun fact: Brent and our Volunteer Coordinator, Rachel, go way back and have even performed together locally years ago!

We're grateful to be part of a community where organizations work together to make Manhattan stronger.

MYTH MONDAY: “Be Able just manages homelessness.”
Reality: We work every day to end it.

It’s true that Be Able offers basic resources like food, showers, and clothing. Those matter. But those things are not the end goal.

The goal is empowerment and lasting solutions.

Every year, Be Able assists around 130 individuals with finding housing. Sometimes that happens through our own housing program, which can now house 24 men in a sober-living environment with clear expectations like sobriety, employment, recovery, and personal growth.

Other times, housing work looks different:

- helping someone find a job so they can afford rent
- assisting with housing applications and fees
- advocating to prevent someone from losing their housing
- connecting neighbors with landlords and other housing options before they end up on the street

We also make careful decisions about what truly helps in the long run.

For example, we rarely pay for motel stays. Unless a situation is truly dangerous or medically urgent, motels are often a very expensive band-aid for a major wound. In many cases, motel stays don’t solve homelessness... they simply extend it.

At Be Able, we want to do more than help someone survive the day.
We want to help them build a path forward.

Need help? Call us at 785-775-1205.