A Recovery-Focused Response

At the heart of Amethyst House Healing’s (AHH) recovery model is a simple but powerful idea: meet people where they are—both physically and emotionally—and walk alongside them as they rebuild their lives. The BE THE CHANGE Program accomplishes this mission through a two-stage residential model that offers shelter, recovery support, and long-term stability for individuals who are unhoused and living with substance use disorders.

Kahana House: The First Step Toward Healing

Kahana House serves as the central hub and primary respite house of the BE THE CHANGE Program. Located in Kansas City, it offers 24/7 peer-supported housing and wraparound services free of charge to up to 21 residents at a time. The environment is clean, sober, and structured to support individuals in early recovery.

Residents of Kahana House are referred through AHH’s discharge services, coming from hospitals, detox centers, jails, and neighborhoods across the city—including many of the areas designated as COMBAT “Hot Spots” for high rates of violence and substance use. For many, this is the first safe and stable environment they’ve had in years.

Inside Kahana House, participants receive:

• Daily access to basic needs (food, hygiene, clothing)

• Recovery programming and life-skills training

• On-site counseling and peer mentoring

•  A computer lab for educational and vocational support

• Consistent transportation via a dedicated outreach van

The van and outreach staff extend services beyond the house itself—connecting with individuals on the streets, at service agencies, and in partner organizations’ facilities across the city. This proactive, “go to them” approach ensures no one is left behind simply because they cannot access a brick-and-mortar program.

Finnegan Place: Building Independence

For individuals who have stabilized at Kahana House and are ready for the next step, Finnegan Place offers semi-independent living in a sober residential apartment setting. Located in one of Kansas City’s high-need Hot Spot areas, Finnegan Place provides 18 units for residents working to solidify their recovery while developing employment history, credit, and life stability.

The site also includes a medical and dental clinic, operated in collaboration with the Health Outreach Foundation, ensuring continued access to essential care. Peer support continues to play a key role, and all residents participate in financial literacy courses, including managing a program fee as part of their real-world budgeting education.

Transportation to and from appointments, jobs, and services is included, and participants still have access to the full menu of AHH support. This ensures continuity of care while allowing for greater personal responsibility, community reintegration, and long-term stability.

Meeting A Complex & Urgent Need

Kansas City, like many urban centers, faces a critical intersection of homelessness, substance use disorder, and systemic gaps in care. National data and local experience show that individuals who are unhoused often suffer from multiple, co-occurring conditions—mental illness, trauma, legal issues, and addiction—yet face extreme barriers in accessing the services that could help them heal.

A 2019 report from the National League of Cities describes how substance use and homelessness often feed one another, leading people to cycle repeatedly through emergency rooms, jails, shelters, and the streets. Each encounter comes at a steep cost—to individuals and to public resources. The Kansas City Police Department estimated in 2009 that the cost of a single homeless-related call was $5,390.

The Cost Of Disconnection

Too often, services for unhoused individuals are fragmented. Detox programs discharge patients with no follow-up care. Treatment centers are full or come with long waitlists. Agencies operate in silos. As Wasserman (2013) observed, when the burden of navigating these systems falls on the individual—especially one with no phone, transportation, insurance, or support—the result is failure, frustration, and frequent relapse.

The BE THE CHANGE model eliminates that burden. By embedding its staff in the facilities of hospitals, jails, shelters, and treatment providers, AHH connects services into a seamless pipeline. Staff do not wait for referrals—they go where the need is. This coordination has proven to improve outcomes, reduce recidivism, and increase program completion.

24/7 Peer Support: Lived Experience as a Guide

One of the cornerstones of the BE THE CHANGE approach is peer support. Staff members include individuals who have experienced homelessness and addiction themselves and are now in long-term recovery. Their lived experience brings empathy, credibility, and relatability to the healing process.

Peer support is not just an added feature—it’s available around the clock, providing guidance, crisis intervention, and emotional support whenever it’s needed. This 24/7 model acknowledges the unpredictable nature of recovery and provides a steady, compassionate presence during even the most difficult moments.

Tailored, Wraparound Care

Each resident receives an individualized plan that may include:

• Substance use treatment coordination

• Mental and physical health care

• Legal support and case management

• Job readiness and resume building

• Financial education

• Emotional and grief counseling

Every service is provided free of charge during the Kahana House phase, recognizing that early recovery must be barrier-free. The shift to Finnegan Place introduces sustainable expectations and accountability as participants gain income, access public benefits, or begin employment.

Breaking The Cycle For Good

The consequences of untreated addiction and homelessness go far beyond the individual. Entire communities are impacted by the burden on hospitals, jails, public safety, and the foster care system. More importantly, the human cost—the loss of life, dignity, and potential—is incalculable.

The BE THE CHANGE Program offers a proven alternative: stability, support, and sustained recovery. By combining housing, peer connection, and wraparound care, AHH helps participants take real steps toward lasting change—not just for themselves, but for their families and neighborhoods.

Foundations For Transformation

Kahana House and Finnegan Place are not just places to sleep—they are foundations for transformation. In a city grappling with substance use and housing crises, BE THE CHANGE meets the moment with urgency, compassion, and community. The program proves that when people are given support, safety, and a pathway forward, they don’t just survive—they thrive.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.