In 2025, more than 700 people experienced homelessness across Southeast Kansas. Building Health, Inc. (BHI) helped many of them secure temporary shelter during times of urgent need through its Bridging the Housing Gap program.
BHI launched the program in 2024 with grant support from the Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund, administered through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas. Renewed funding in 2025 has allowed the BHI to reach even more people in need.
The program serves elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals experiencing homelessness in Crawford County, particularly during the critical window between when someone seeks services and when they obtain stable housing—a gap that can span up to a year. Few funding sources exist to meet these needs.
“Stable housing is directly tied to improved health outcomes,” said Kelly Pulliam, BHI Homeless Programs Manager. “When people are housed, they can better care for themselves and focus on their well-being.”
The Knights of Columbus grant provides BHI with flexible funding to keep vulnerable community members safe during extreme weather, cover transportation costs, and provide short-term housing support that helps them exit homelessness more quickly. In some cases, this includes hotel stays for medically fragile individuals or people who are just days away from moving into permanent housing.
In Crawford County, the need for this support is significant, especially during inclement weather. While the region currently lacks a permanent overnight shelter, the Pittsburg Emergency Warming Center opens when the weather sustains temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit—a collaborative effort between community volunteers, the City of Pittsburg, BHI, and area churches. This past winter, Bridging the Housing Gap funds provided food, cleaning supplies, and other essentials for nearly 50 people who sought refuge from the extreme cold.
“Exposure to extreme weather can lead to illness, frostbite, and even hospitalization,” said Pulliam. “We’re grateful to give people who wouldn’t have anywhere else to go the critical support they need.”
The program’s impact extends far beyond the people it serves. “By ensuring people have access to safe shelter, we reduce strain on emergency rooms, law enforcement, and first responders,” Pulliam said. “We are deeply grateful to the Knights of Columbus and the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas for making this work possible.”
Those experiencing homelessness are encouraged to contact Kelly Pulliam at 620-240-5661 for assistance and connections to community resources.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas administers individual charitable funds created by donors committed to giving back to their communities. Grants from these funds support people throughout Southeast Kansas and beyond. Visit SoutheastKansas.org or call 620-231-8897 for more information.