Kevin Hawkins sat down at one of the long conference room tables in the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope. He had a couple of minutes to spare before he had to drive a fellow shelter guest to Lawrence for a court appearance.

He started working part time at the shelter a couple of months ago, doing odd jobs like driving guests where they need to go or helping with a mindfulness workshop in the evening.

He’s hoping to have his own place in the coming months. For the past two years, he’s been living at the Community of Hope.