An Interview with the Lawrence Homeless Response Team
Kelby Sanders, ST-LAC
Outreach Clinician/Counselor
Tonya Allen
Community Based Care Coordinator
Jeff Munoz
Community Based Care Coordinator
Lawrence, KS – November is National Homelessness Awareness Month, and November 18-26 is National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. Mirror wanted to highlight a newer division of our full continuum of care, the Homeless Response team. The Homeless Response team is led by Misty Bosch-Hastings, the Director of the Homeless Solutions Division for the City of Lawrence, Kansas. Mirror joined the Homeless Response Team (HRT) in 2024.
In October, the HRT was recognized as the winner of the “Health Equity Innovation Award”, a recognition from the Kansas Health Impact Conference. So far, the HRT has reduced unsheltered homelessness by 66%, expanded access to overdose prevention, and closed critical gaps for those least likely to receive care.
This week, we spoke with Kelby Sanders, Tonya Allen, and Jeff Munoz, a group of Mirror employees who are part of the HRT, to learn more about their behind-the-scenes efforts.
Question 1: When did you join the Homeless Response Team?
Kelby Sanders: “I joined HRT in September of 2024.”
Tonya Allen: “February 2025.”
Jeff Munoz: “September of 2024.”
Question 2: What made you join the team?
Kelby Sanders: “I have a passion for individuals facing homelessness and substance use disorders. This stems from my own personal struggles having been unhoused for a few years and struggling with substance use disorders in the past. It is a way for me to give back to others... And I love the opportunity to be able to spend my days in the woods, by the creeks, and reaching people that would otherwise slip through the cracks.”
Tonya Allen: “I saw an opportunity to give back to the community.”
Jeff Munoz: “did some outreach a few times in Topeka. I really gravitated towards connecting with people, understanding their stories, and offering support. I seen a position open up in Lawrence for the Homeless Response Team so I applied and got a position.”
Question 3: What surprised you when you first started?
Kelby Sanders: “The amount of individuals that were actually staying in the unhoused communities on the outskirts of Lawrence, and how little they were able to receive support.”
Tonya Allen: “The functional "dysfunctional" community that they create among themselves.”
Jeff Munoz: “What surprised me most when I first started was being on a team that was lead by people with similar experiences as I have. How they are able to be compassionate, experienced, and provide the most professional level of care to help people.”
Question 4: Does anything surprise you now?
Kelby Sanders: “The number of gaps that still remain in the system when it comes to supporting these individuals.”
Tonya Allen: “I try to not let anything surprise me because that means I could be hurt in a altercation.”
Jeff Munoz: “ Yes. I love how collaborative this community is. It’s a beautiful thing to see how organizations and agencies come together to help our people out. Also, being able to identify now where gaps are in services and how to address them.”
Question 5: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Kelby Sanders: “The experiences I have had with this team have been enriching both for myself and the community I serve. I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to serve our neighbors in such a unique and necessary way!”
Tonya Allen: “It only works because we actually go to them and don’t expect them to come to us.”
Jeff Munoz: “I would like to share that this line of work is super rewarding. I’ve learned a lot of skills, and a lot about who I am. I am grateful to have the support of our organization and supervisors to guide us and allow us to do what we do. I’m grateful for our team. I have so much respect for them. And, I’m grateful for Misty! Without her, none of this would be possible.”