Advertise on podcast: Restorers: A Water Street Podcast

 “Do people want to live on the street?”  It’s a question we hear often—and one that deserves a more honest answer. In this episode, Jack Crowley and Ron Gibson react to what our guests actually say about life on the streets, the myths we believe, and what compassion really requires of us. 

"Poverty is a deep, deep problem and should have deep, deep solutions to it." Tune in as Princeton Sociologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond and Water Street's President Jack Crowley discuss poverty, homelessness and root issues, and what gives them hope.

Nationally, there were over 34,000 unaccompanied youth that were counted as homeless during the national count last year.  That means we're seeing 18, 19, 20 year-olds living on the streets, living in abandoned buildings, living in cars, living in places not fit for human habitation. Tune in to the Restorers Podcast as Lisa Greener, Executive Director of Community Basics, and Jack Crowley, Water Street Mission President, discuss the issue and talks about a local project, "Manor Youth House", designed to help youth experiencing homelessness in Lancaster, PA.

The growing scarcity of affordable housing is a pressing issue in Lancaster County. Low vacancy rates along with rental rates jumping significantly in the last couple of years, we know solutions to the affordable housing crisis are not going to come easy and we're not going to build our way out of it overnight.  Tune in as Shelby Nauman, CEO of Tenfold, and Jack Crowley, Water Street Mission's President, discuss how we can think in new ways when it comes to advocating and even creating affordable housing at all levels. 

 "211 is like the 911 for health & human services, and above and beyond, over half of our calls are housing related right now," Kate Zimmerman says. "And if you're in this critical place with your housing needs, there are other things that are going wrong as well."  Tune in as we hear from Kate Zimmerman, President and CEO of United Way of Lancaster County, and Jack Crowley, President, Water Street Mission, discuss the affordable housing crisis in Lancaster.  

 As a father, I can tell you, "I longed to be restored to my son," John says.  After his son got caught up in the opioid epidemic and nearly lost his life, John Roberts started R3 Recovery House in Lancaster to offer sober living spaces where individuals can recover from addiction and be restored while discovering their God-given abilities.   Tune in to our latest episode as we hear from John Roberts, R3 Recovery House, and Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission, discuss the state of drug addiction and recovery in Lancaster, PA. 

If you were to ask someone what it was like to experience homelessness, you probably wouldn't expect a positive response. But when we sat down with some of our guests in the residential program at Water Street, that's exactly what we heard.  Tune in to our latest episode as we hear from guests at Water Street, President Jack Crowley and Director of Guest Education, Teresa Martin. 

Stepping through the doors of Water Street's shelter for the first time, what does that feel like? In this episode of the Restorers Podcast,  we'll hear about the experiences and challenges of coming to a shelter and what building trust looks like.  Tune in as we hear from guests of Water Street Mission, Director of Life Coach Ministry Lillie Otte, and President Jack Crowley. 

As the largest service provider to men and women experiencing homelessness in Lancaster, we often hear the question, "what do I do when I meet someone experiencing homelessness?" Do I give money, food, or other supplies?  And how does one know what to say in these situations? In this episode, we hear thoughts and reflections from guests of Water Street, Life Coach Supervisor John Rushemeza, and Water Street Mission President Jack Crowley.

What is it like to live on the streets, particularly in a small city like Lancaster, PA? In this episode, we'll hear firsthand accounts from guests of Water Street Mission, who know what it's like to live in this "whole other world." We examine their challenges and take a look at what advantages, if any, exist for them.  And then we ask, what does it all mean for us, their neighbors? 

Without people you trust, life can lead you down some challenging roads. Today's episode centers on the story of a former Water Street guest who found himself exactly where he didn't want to be, in large part because of the people around him. But it also looks at how the right kind of relationships made all the difference - adding up to one incredible testimony. 

Work is often touted as the solution to homelessness, but is that really the case? Today we're going to hear the story of a guest who fell into a negative cyclical pattern, linked strongly to his work life. We'll examine what role that played in leading him into homelessness, and then hear how a transformed view of self can lead to a more healed individual overall. 

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt stuck? Where you didn't know how to get out? In our latest episode, we explore one woman's story of feeling trapped and ending up without a home. But we also share how she made it out of that spider's web.  

For our final episode of season 1, we decided to change up our routine, and address some of your frequently asked questions! This episode once again features Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission in Lancaster, PA, alongside Ron Gilbert, a Senior Life Coach at Water Street, answering the questions we get most often. 

Many have preconceived notions of what chapel or spiritual care looks like at missions across the country. Some think we’re holding food and shelter ransom in return for going to classes or chapel or delivering harsh sermons where pastors are coming down on people who are already struggling with overwhelming guilt and anxiety.   At the end of the day, the reality is quite different.  We are opening up space for hope, healing, and exploration of what a transformation relationship with Christ may look like.  In this episode, we hear from Jason Storbakken, Chapel Director for the Bowery Mission in NYC, and Water Street’s own Director of Spiritual Care, Jeff McLain, as they discuss the ins and outs of how they help those coming off the streets find their way to God and in turn find who they were really mean to be.