Moncia Zinke, Executive Director of Fresh Start spoke to us about how Fresh Start helps homeless women to make their lives better by recognizing and utilizing their strengths to overcome barriers.
Mission Statement – Fresh Start is a transitional shelter that empowers homeless women to change their lives by recognizing and utilizing those women’s strengths so to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.
Fresh Start was started in 1991 and is currently located in the Havelock area in what was once a church located on 64th & Havelock Avenue. For over the past 32 years, they have given a “fresh start” to over 1,800 women who were striving to live a better live. Fresh Start is a transitional shelter and goals program where residents identify and actively work on goals while living in our home.
Moncia told us that they are given a drug test before entering the program and if they fail Fresh Start tries to find them a place to go where they can get help from their drug addiction before they can enter the Fresh Start Program. Many do not come back, hopefully, they do get the help they need.
Fresh Start’s Core Values are:
Respect for each affiliated individual and for the organization itself
Accountability to the residents, the public, and those who support Fresh Start and
residents' accountability to their goals
Individuality of all people affiliated with the organization is embraced
Stability of the organization and for our clients’ living situations
Empowering all
Accountability to the residents, the public, and those who support Fresh Start and
residents' accountability to their goals
Individuality of all people affiliated with the organization is embraced
Stability of the organization and for our clients’ living situations
Empowering all
The four most common causes of homelessness, as reported by the women we serve, are: Substance abuse, Domestic violence, Mental health, and Economics. Fresh Start provides all they need, allowing them to focus on those goals. Staff is available 24/7 to offer support, guidance, and accountability as they move along their path to economic stability. In addition to support from the case managers and referrals to needed services, Fresh Start provides safe housing, food, clothing, laundry facilities, telephone and computers.
The facility has a capacity of 24 women at a time. There are 12 bedrooms and rest of the facility is communal space that residents share. Fresh Tart strives to have an environment that is a balance of a transitional facility and a place that feels like “home.” Friends and family can visit and even stay for supper. Community support is available for those who complete their shelter program. This includes monthly home visits, quarterly food baskets, telephone support and more which they can receive this for an additional two years.
There is a critical need for Fresh Start because the Lincoln Homeless Coalition conducts a “Point in Time” count each year which includes a count of people who are homeless on a particular day, who received services from a participating program and who provide information about their status. The PIT count from January 2023 reflected over 400 people experiencing homelessness in Lincoln on just that one night alone. Fresh Start is an important part of the safety net for Nebraska women. Yes, Fresh Start has a wait list, and you can expect at least a 3-month wait before an opening.
What’s Unique about Fresh Start – Fresh Start collaborates with many other agencies who also provide shelter, housing or other services. Fresh Start differs from these other programs in these ways:
Target Population: Women must be at least 19 and are without children in their custody. This population was chosen because this group usually has a longer wait for services. However, 58% of the residents in 2022 were mothers.
Length of stay: Women may reside in our transitional program for up to 12 months versus the shorter stay of an emergency shelter.
Eligibility: Longer term programs typically are designed to address a primary cause of homelessness, such as substance abuse, domestic violence, financial issues, physical and mental health. Fresh Start serves women who are homeless for any reason. Most times it is a combination of several; other times it is mostly economic.
Fees for Service: At Fresh Start, there are no program fees if a woman has no income. If a resident does have an income, program fees are a percentage of her net wages. Residents with an income also participate in a savings account called their “Self-Sufficiency Funds (SSF).” Monies in their SSF are returned to them when they leave the shelter, or sooner.
The Daisy – Fresh Start has a thrift shop located in their building which is operated by volunteers. Clothing donations are first made available to Fresh Start residents, then items not selected are sorted by volunteers for the shop. The Daisy offers high quality, gently used women’s clothing, accessories and small home décor items. All proceeds support Fresh Start services. Shop Hours are: Thursdays 4-6 pm; Fridays & Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm.
To quote one of the Alumna – “I feel my coming here has helped me to be a better woman, mom, and citizen.”