Hi, my name is Bella Schultze, and I am reaching out to you on behalf of The WayStation, a shelter and resource center dedicated to providing essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness. WayStation meets people where they are and helps them rebuild their lives with dignity, compassion, and care. At WayStation, we believe that everyone deserves a second chance, no matter their circumstances.
Every day, we provide essential services such as:
- Food and a kitchen to ensure no one goes hungry
- Clothing, showers and hygiene supplies to restore comfort and confidence.
- Case management and advocacy, connecting clients to vital resources like mental health support, addiction recovery, and medical care.
- Help securing benefits, identification and vital documents, removing one of the biggest barriers to employment and housing.
- Job search support through access to employment resources, training, and connections to potential employers.
- Housing support with assistance navigating the complexities of securing affordable housing.
Our low-barrier shelter ensures that anyone in need can access our services without judgment or unnecessary barriers, making us a safe haven for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Why We Need Your Help:
Our ability to continue this vital work is under threat. A perfect storm brewed late last year when we found out we had to relocate WayStation. Since WayStation also shares a space with another transitional housing program that was not required to move, this means two rents, two utilities, more liability insurance and start-up costs for appliances, furnishings and small equipment that we need to have in both locations.
This hit just as our pilot funding was ending, which was already going to be a major challenge to replace.
Finding a location where WayStation is welcome has been very difficult, but has been made even more of a needle-in-a-haystack search because of two factors unique to Rogers, Ark. 1. A tornado hit the area last May and took out a large swath of some of the most affordable commercial real estate in the very corridor where we need to be. 2. The City of Rogers rezoned and has relegated our type of service to three zones, two of which are undesirable because they are not foot-traffic friendly: light industrial and highway commercial.
Since opening WayStation in Spring 2023, we have been in 2 buildings, and now will be in a third. It’s time consuming, exhausting and a poor use of resources to be moving around, but the most disheartening part is how many landlords even refuse to show us the property when they learn that we serve unhoused people.
As if this wasn’t enough damage to control, now federal funding is in jeopardy due to a recent executive order that could freeze up to one-third of our funding
This crisis couldn’t come at a worse time. With housing costs skyrocketing and affordable options becoming scarce, the demand for our services has never been greater. We are a lifeline for hundreds of people who would otherwise have nowhere to turn.
How Your Donation Will Help
Your support will allow us to:
- Secure a new location to keep our doors open.
- Sustain critical services like meals, clothing, and case management.
- Expand housing resources to meet growing demand.
- Invest in programs that empower clients to regain independence.
The WayStation is more than a shelter—it’s a community where lives are transformed, and hope is restored. With your help, we can continue to provide essential support to those who need it most.
Every donation, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. Thank you for standing with us during this urgent time.
Organizer
Bella Schultze
Organizer
Rogers, AR
The Micah 6:8 Initiative
Beneficiary