The birth of Stop-Gap Housing began in the post 2025-04-30 "Flat Bush Morning" by Emma (born 1861).
Shortly afterwards, Tom Jenkins became inspired after talking to Melissa Gaines, the woman Emma had met: 2025-04-30 “Seed Of An Idea” for Tom (born 1982).
From there, a lot of things happened, including another visit from Ailana Geven.
2025-05-01 THURSDAY THOUGHTS by Emma Knox—Hey y’all. I’m on the Q train, just headin’ toward the theater after Math class.
I’ve been thinkin’ this morning about Melissa Gaines, the woman I met last week near the bus stop. She and her son Elijah moved into one of the dorm units upstairs, and I checked in with her this mornin’. She said she slept better than she has in months.
She didn’t have much time to talk ‘cause she had to get Elijah to school, then get to her job as a Kindergarten teacher. I still shake my head that folks with good jobs can’t afford proper housing!
Well, I also talked to Mr. Jenkins… Tom… about maybe startin’ something more official to help people like her. Folks who are workin’ hard but still fall through the cracks. He said it was a good idea—and if you know Tom Jenkins, you know when he says that, he means to do somethin’ about it.
Anyway, I’ve got a quick lunch break now, then Theater work the rest of the day. Hope your Thursday’s been kind so far.
—Emma
2025-05-01 WINDING DOWN by Emma Knox—Evenin’, y’all 🌙 It’s been a full day—Math class this mornin’, then a quick bite and a full shift at the theater. I’m tired, but the good kind. The kind that says you did what you needed to.
Melissa and Elijah are settled in good tonight, and I keep thinkin’ how somethin’ as simple as a place to sleep can feel like a whole restart. I’m glad she found her way to us.
Tomorrow I’m off from school, so I’m thinkin’ of makin’ breakfast for everybody in the apartments—Hannah, Merritt, Kent, Ailana, Addison… whoever’s around. Pancakes, maybe. Or French toast if I’m feelin’ fancy.
For now, I’m just standin’ here, watchin’ the lights blink on across the city and lettin’ myself be still.
Hope you’ve got a quiet moment too.
—Emma 💗
2025-05-02 FRIDAY MORNING by Emma Knox—Hey y’all. 😊 I got up early this morning and made a big breakfast for everyone in the apartments—French toast, pancakes, syrup, butter… the works! Now folks are starting to wander in from their units to grab a plate. It's my favorite kind of morning—warm, casual, and filled with good smells and better people.
Melissa and Elijah were the first to eat. They sat at the table for just a few minutes before hurrying off to their schools. I was glad to see them looking more rested than before. It’s amazing what even one safe night of sleep can do for somebody’s soul.
I’ve also got laundry going for me, Hannah, Merritt, and Kent. One washer, four piles, and enough detergent to make it happen. 😄
Tonight’s a work night for me—I’ve got a shift at the theater, so I’ll rest a little this afternoon and then head over. Hope y’all are easing into this Friday the same way—slow, grateful, and with plenty of syrup.
—Emma
2025-05-02 LAUNDRY DONE by Emma Knox—Hey y’all. Just finishing up the last load of laundry before I head over to the theater. Between me, Hannah, Merritt, Kent, and even a few things from Melissa and Elijah, this basket had everything but the kitchen sink! I’ve got socks sorted, jeans stacked, and yes—boxers folded. It’s a good thing I don’t mind laundry.
Far as it goes, compared to 1880, doing laundry in 2025 ain’t even working! Just the folding, I guess!
Mornings like this remind me that serving others doesn’t always have to be dramatic. Sometimes, it’s just helping your friends stay caught up in the middle of a busy week.
Tonight’s a performance night, so I’ll be backstage from call time ‘til curtain down. But right now? Just glad for this quiet moment, the smell of clean cotton, and the sunshine through the window.
Hope your Friday’s rollin’ along smoothly.
—Emma 💙
2025-05-16 FRIDAY STRINGS by Emma Knox—Evenin’, ever’body. Just winding down with a little music tonight. Still can’t believe that thrift store guitar turned out to be something special. Merritt helped me get an amp and get it set up, and now I’m just learnin’ my way around the frets.
An’ I wanna add that having an engineer for a boyfriend sure pays off in regard to learning math. ‘Tween him as a tutor and all the memories from the other Emma’s I’m confident about my final exam!
Now, I want to say something important.
Melissa Gaines—the woman I met near the bus stop a couple weeks back—and her son Elijah are still stayin’ in one of the dorm units here. She’s been real gracious and she’s said thank you so many times I can’t count them all. She's the kind of person who holds her head high even after all she’s been through. I admire her more than she probably knows.
Tom Jenkins told me this afternoon that he’s been thinkin’ about how to do more—how to make a real difference for folks like Melissa. People who are doing everything right and still find themselves outta options. He’s working on a plan now—says it won’t solve the whole problem, but it’s a start.
Hannah Madison tol’ me earlier and said she’s gonna call Ailana Geven tonight, see if she might want to come learn more about it. Knowing Ailana, she’ll be on the next flight if she thinks she can help.
Anyway, I’m gonna keep practicing a bit before me and Merritt cuddle up an’ watch TV. Hope your Friday’s ending soft.
—Emma
2025-05-17 NEW HORIZONS by Hannah Madison Knox First off, something only remotely related to the main idea. I think Kent really loves me because not only did he take the sidewalk pictures, he HELD MY PURSE for the close up! Girls, you KNOW what that means!
Stopping for coffee after a GREAT meeting! To the point…
Backstory: From @emma.knox.1861 page—she met Melissa Gaines, a school teacher who couldn’t afford housing and was living in her car. @ailana.geven was here a few weeks ago and did a whole series on the problem.
Emma brought Melissa to the apartments and set her up in one of the dorm rooms with her son. Then… Tom Jenkins got an idea.
In a nutshell, why not set up a program to help working homeless people with shelter?
Wheels turned. Calls were made. Permits were acquired. Connections were made. Favors called in. Here’s what’s going to happen.
Thus, Stop-Gap Homes (working title) was born.
Shay Ryder’s agency, Habitat Housing, an existing non-profit with a good reputation, is officially in charge and running the program. Tom has been placed on its board of directors, and he’s actually running the program.
Tom is using his real estate experience to locate properties that can be remodeled similarly to how he redid the attic storage area for the theater to make the dorms.
Will Robertson (my boss and partner at NYC SysCo) is taking on the design and engineering aspect of it all. And… Merritt and I are project managing everything (with Will being the official engineer on the job.)
Habitat Housing already has a slate of general contractors who will do the actual remodeling and construction. However, Kent (my Kent!) will be the site coordinator for all of the jobs. His company will also be doing the electrical.
Habitat Housing is going to hire a LCSW to oversee identifying residents. A good estimate is that there are over 90,000 working homeless people in NYC. Stop-Gap will be for working homeless with families.
In future posts, I’ll give more details, but one more thing now.
Money? Shay is VERY persuasive. Enter her dad, David Ryder, international shipping mogul. Period.
Out of space, so… See you later.
2025-05-17 GOODNIGHT by Ailana Geven—So… back in the hotel to say goodnight. Today was relaxing, and the non-plan for tomorrow will be similar, but add in church in the morning.
And all that good vibe is just enough to give me a little smile. On the other hand…
Hannah Madison called me this afternoon with a heavy heart and a statistic I haven’t been able to shake. According to recent reports, over 350,000 people in New York City are currently experiencing homelessness—and shockingly, nearly 90,000 of them are working full-time.
She had just come from a meeting with local advocates, and the sheer weight of that number struck both of us. “Employment isn’t the problem,” she said quietly, “it’s the cost of simply existing.”
She’s right. Housing has become so unaffordable that even full-time wages aren’t enough to guarantee a roof over your head. It’s not just unjust—it’s unsustainable.
But at least one person is doing a little. I’ll talk more about it later, but the man who runs the theater where @emma.knox.1861 works and the building all of them live in, Tom Jenkins, has an idea. It’s not huge. But it's a lot more than nothing.
And… if many people do a bit of not-nothing, it will add up!
May you find ways to do things that create safe, better lives for others.
Goodnight.
2025-05-18 GOOD MORNING by Ailana Geven—Well, another day dawns and another bed has been robbed of its blanket. I’m running late and just (literally) grabbed the first thing I could to cover up for this post!
So, quick sketch of the day…
Finish dressing, meet everyone for breakfast, go to church.
After church, quick lunch and wile away the day on the beach.
Dinner and… not sure…
Now… for tomorrow… So, after talking to @hannah.madison.2002 about the project they are launching, Jason and I decided we’d fly up there and get some first-hand intel.
Jason will be taking notes and snapping photos for an article that Josh will get out to some of his content brokers. We hope that will help raise awareness.
With over 90,000 employed homeless people, Hannah said they are not being unrealistic. They can get things going and make homes for a dozen, maybe two, families. But…
They are demonstrating what can be done. I’m sure I rant on and on about this in the week to come.
Meanwhile… ”Savannah’s Charm” sets sail again. Destination—New Orleans, Louisiana.
Jason and I will rendezvous with them next Saturday.
So, that’s the plan for the week. Now, time to get on with the plan for today!
See you soon!
2025-05-18 NEXT UP, LUNCH by Ailana Geven—Church has let out and we are rallying to get ready for lunch. The sermon was really inspirational.
This morning’s sermon was short but weighty—Amos’s ancient rebuke still stings: “They trample the poor into the dust.” The prophet called out a society that treated the vulnerable as disposable.
The pastor then took us to Matthew 25, where Jesus says, “Whatever you did for the least of these…you did for me.” He reminded us that injustice isn’t just policy—it’s personal. And every time we ignore someone in need, we’re ignoring Christ himself.
It was a sobering reminder as we prepare to meet with Hannah and Emma this week in New York, where real people with full-time jobs are still sleeping in cars. If we believe what Jesus said, we can’t look away.
And… I, at least, won’t!
2025-05-18 BIG CHANGES for Merritt (born 1960)—Merritt Gray and Kent Marlone stood by the window of the common room looking into the street. Their thoughts were divided between the moment they were in and their futures.
“So Aliana Geven is coming back for another look at the homeless crisis,” Kent said as he turned his eyes from the street.
“Emma says she’s en route. With her guy, Jason, this time.”
Kent nodded. “I helped Hannah set up two of the dorms for them after church today.”
Merritt glanced toward the dorms, then looked back outside. “Well, it’s going to be nice working with you on Tom’s project… if we ever get past all the permits…”
Kent laughed. “Yeah, if we ever get through the red tape. Permits… budgets…”
“At least money’s no problem, after Shay got her mom fired up,” Merrit replied.
Kent smiled. “She’s a shaker and mover… but she’s tossed a little wrench in the plan?”
Just then Hannah and Emma walked out of their apartment, and Hannah said, “Wrench in the plan?”
Kent looked over. “I was just about to tell Merritt her idea about a general contractor…”
Hannah smiled. “I support her idea!”
“What idea?” Merritt said. “Hannah and I will be working with him… her… closely.”
Kent looked at his roommate. “If Carol Ryder has her way, you’ll be living with him.”
Kent went on to explain that Shay’s mom was fussing about the delays caused by the auditors that oversaw the non-profit who insisted on a detailed bidding process to make sure funds weren’t wasted. She went on to say she had a mind to call the code office and make sure they’d not stand in the way of things.
Shay had said the general contractor handled all that.
Carol had frowned. “That’s another thing! Why muddy the waters with some general contractor off some list when that fine young man, Kent Marlon, is more than capable of managing things?”
“The long and short of things,” Kent said, “is she insisted I drop everything for a few months and get my license.”
“She’s footing the bill,” Hannah added. “As if the Traveling Friends, LLC money wouldn’t be enough…”
2025-05-19 GOOD MORNING by Ailana Geven—Good morning friends! Today, I’m saying goodbye to the Courtyard Clearwater Beach, and heading north—sort of a reprise visit to the homeless crisis faced by NYC.
Not too long ago, I spent a week learning about the housing crisis in NYC. Recent estimates put the number of homeless at 350,000—more than 90,000 who are employed full-time.
This problem is not unique to NYC. An estimate for LA puts the number at nearly 15,000.
But since I know people in NYC, that’s where I’m heading this time.
Jason and I are flying up there to meet with @hannah.madison.2004 and @emma.knox.1861 in Brooklyn—two young women I deeply admire—to learn about plans for a new project called “Stop-Gap Homes.”
It’s the brainchild of Tom Jenkins, Emma, and a kindergarten teacher Emma met who was living in her car: Melissa Gaines. The idea is modeled from compact, efficient dorm units Tom built connected to one of his apartment properties.
The idea is to build more than just transitional houses. Rather, they plan to build hope.
The NYC housing crisis isn’t theoretical. It has names, faces, and stories. Some of the hardest-working people in this city are sleeping in their cars. Others are couch-surfing with their kids. And somehow, our systems still look the other way.
Not them.
Emma’s early advocacy lit the match. Hannah (along with Merritt Gray) is project-managing with fierce integrity. Kent Marlon will be the “boots on the ground” site coordinator when construction begins. They are pooling all their skills and abilities.
I’m visiting because I believe—deeply—that dignity begins with a door that locks and a bed that’s your own.
They have plans… partnerships, and a whole lot of people who still believe that love can look like lumber, plumbing, and a little human decency.
We’re not solving it all. But we’re standing up and taking one small step forward. And for the dozen or so families who move off the streets? It will be one giant leap toward dignity
2025-05-19 ENGLISH EXAM TODAY by Emma Knox—Good morning ever’body! Well, today’s my English exam, so I thought I’d write this post for practice like it’s a proper essay. So, here goes.
If the claim that people deserve safe, reliable housing is accepted, then the current crisis in many major cities must be addressed. Yet, creating transitional housing of any sort faces several daunting hurdles.For any effort to be long-term and sustainable calls for some recognized, respected managing organization. Such an organization will be governed by a board and subject to audits and regulations. These factors exist to ensure the agency's future, but complying with such governance slows down any efforts to create desperately needed housing.When the agency has its bids in hand and has arranged funding, actually commencing the project faces hurdles created by the government (rightfully) as a means to protect its citizens and keep them safe. Permits just to begin construction or renovation must be acquired. Each step of the project requires more permits and inspections dotted throughout the building process. While their intent is good, they stand between an idea to provide housing and its opening.Once available, a process to select those to utilize the facility must be in place and followed. Getting people into transitional housing is not the problem. Establishing a process to move them through on to their own permanent homes is a far-from-trivial hurdle. Counseling, partnerships, and connections need to exist, or the concept of “transitional” will be lost.While creating transitional housing is needed, the process is far from simple. People with a heart to make change, however, need to step up and start the race, clearing hurdle after hurdle until reaching the goal.
—Emma
2025-05-20 GOOD MORNING by Ailana Geven—Greetings friends! I came to NYC to share information about the rising crisis of homelessness, even among people with good, full-time jobs. But, there’s another message I’ll touch on today!
Jason and I arrived last night and got settled in. Talking with Merritt, Emma, Hannah, and Kent, we had a lot of fun. And learned a lot, too.
Hannah hit a lot of the points in a post on the 17th. It started with awareness.
Doesn’t it always?
Emma met a widowed kindergarten teacher who had some egregious medical bills who ended up living in her car with her son. Emma stepped in. Tom Jenkins got involved. Ideas emerged. People got involved. A plan was laid.
Now, I’m here in NYC hoping to help see the plan hatch into something.
My part? I guess on this one, I’m the cheerleader. Or resident rant spewer!
Maybe my many, many words on the matter will create awareness. Maybe it will raise an eyebrow. Maybe someone who reads this says, “Well, that’s interesting… And maybe I can…”
Maybe this series will get people thinking. And when people think, sometimes actions follow!
But, today, there’s a second message—one not about homelessness, but about human dignity. It’s not a new message from me, but it’s a new opportunity for me to… you know… work up a nice rant!
Okay, I’ll try to be nice and keep it interesting. And, you’ll have to check back later to find out what I’m up to this time!
See you then!
2025-05-20 THIS SHOULD WORK by Hannah Maddison—Merritt and I just finished our sketch-up of what will eventually become a blueprint for the temporary housing units to be built for the Stop-Gap Housing program.
The idea is to get homeless families with employed parents out of the shelters and out of their cars. A roof. Beds. Bathrooms. Temporarily THEIRS like a college dorm BELONGS to you when you live there.
New York code § 27-2075 requires each occupant have 80 sq ft of living space. Instead of trying to appeal for an exception, we’re designing around that.
The heart of the concept is a large, common area with a full kitchen, several eating areas, laundry facilities, and sitting areas with TVs.
Arranged around the common area are the actual housing units.There are two versions of our design.
From PostIt note to AutoCad… Merritt scratched out a concept with Kent and showed up yesterday ready for us to get things moving. Will signed off, and now we need to get very detailed.
But…
One is for parent(s) and up to 2 kids. The other is for up to 4 kids
You’ll enter the 2 kid version from the common area into a small living room (around 8 X 10).
To one side is the kids room (at least 16 X 10). Bunks… desks…
To the other side is the parent room (at least 16 X 8). Bed. Desk. Small corner sofa…
Between the bedrooms is a bath, a ½ bath (both accessible from each bedroom), and the closets.
Like the 2 kid version, you’ll enter the 4 kid version from the common area into a small living room (around 8 X 12).
To one side is the kids room (at least 16 X 20). Bunks… desks…
To the other side is the parent room (at least 16 X 10). Bed. Desk. Small corner sofa…
Between the bedrooms are 2 full baths (both accessible from each bedroom), and the closets.
It minimally meets code. But, it will be dry. Safe. Consistent. And theirs.
2025-05-20 GOODNIGHT by Ailana Geven—I’m back from dinner—nothing special; just fast food—and I caught up with Emma Knox after she got done with school and work.
Emma explained how she met Melissa Gaines near her bus stop. Melissa was living in her car with her son, Elijah. Yet, Melissa was employed full time as a kindergarten teacher. Medical bills had exhausted her resources and late rent led to eviction.
Housing couldn’t be found, despite her need and a good job. She’s not alone with the problem. It’s a crisis hitting something like 90,000 fully employed people in NYC. And it happens in many large cities to different degrees.
Emma’s concern and Tom’s ability to step up and do something made a difference for Melissa. But… the story didn’t end there.
Conversations between Tom, Emma, and Melissa led to an idea.
Stop-Gap Housing will come together as, at the least, a solution for a few people. Tom feels like two-dozen efficient, dorm-like residences are ambitious, but for the families it would serve, it would be a huge blessing.
But Stop-Gap Housing has a chance to raise awareness. People who hear about this might scoff at Tom’s approach. They might think of a better solution.
Good.
I hope they do.
And I hope they carry through to see their ideas come to life!
But here, now, in this place, the group of friends are pulling together to clamber their way through bureaucracies, permits, licenses, and all the red tape needed to see that a small number of people have a safe, dry, bed to call their own.
As the week goes forward, I hope to share more of the details about what’s planned. But tonight, Emma and I are relishing what’s been done so far.
May you see things through the eyes of hope and innovation, bringing little changes to those around you in need.
Goodnight.
2025-05-21 SOMETHING LIKE THIS by Ailana Gven—Homelessness is multi-faceted, a crisis facing even fully employed people. But, there are ideas afloat that might help, at least for a few families.
Yesterday, @hannan.madison.2002 described the floor plan of temporary housing units Stop-Gap Homes will try to develop.
Today Jason and I are with Tom Jenkins and Kent Marlon looking at a space in which a set of such units might be built.
NYC faces a housing crisis. Traditional solutions and rising prices have left something like 350,000 people homeless on any given day. It is estimated that over 90,000 of the people are employed full time.
When existing solutions fail, it’s time for innovation. The vision for Stop-Gap Homes grew out of Tom’s idea to turn unused attic storage into living spaces, his American Heritage Apartments. As an afterthought, he added 8 dorm-like units for temporary occupancy.
Today, we’re standing in a space that Tom hopes to develop into 4 Stop-Gap Homes units. It would get 4 families—up to 8 adults and 12 children—out of shelters or out of their cars.
There’s a lot that has to happen to see this come to fruition. But, there are great people at work, and things are moving quickly.
My hope for visiting NYC this time is to pique some curiosity, spur up some interest, and stimulate some other ideas, other things that could be done to help other people in need.
I’d be pleased if someone reading this said, “Wow! That’s a dumb idea! Here’s a better one!” Then if they followed through, it would be great!
So here’s to new ideas, new thoughts, and… new SOLUTIONS.
I’ll be back later for a goodnight.
See you then!
2025-05-21 COFFEE BEFORE by Ailana Geven—I had a great afternoon with Tom and Kent looking at potential locations to build housing units for the Stop-Gap Housing idea. I learned a lot! Now, I’m with Emma and Hannah having coffee and learning even more.
Emma told me she’s surprised how deeply she’s involved in the project. She’s working closely with Tom on ideas for the buildings and with Shay on how to use Habitat Housing’s involvement to see that the right people get into them.
Hannah then said, “You’re the heart in this project. Merritt and I are the numbers. Shay and Tom are the business and permits, and regulations. You’re the heart.”
Emma seemed pleased by that, then went on to say she’d been talking to Addison about furniture. “She talked like it was a play and putting props out on the stage.”
The furniture will be functional, comfortable, and durable—essentially mission or craftsman style designs. The parents’ room will have a bed, chest of drawers, small corner sofa, and desk for computer work. The kids' rooms will have bunks with built-in drawers and desks. There will be some open floor space where little kids can play. Both rooms have closets.
All in all, it will be adequate, but small. But… bigger than a car. And safer.
Melissa Gaines made a really salient comment: “Even a little borrowed space leaves me with the sense that this is MY home. For now. Not forever, but it’s MY home—mine and Elijah’s”
So, as the plan unfolds, a few dozen families will benefit. They’ll find themselves given a safe roof over their heads and beds to call theirs, and they will be offered nice helpings of privacy and dignity.
Well, we stopped for coffee, but there’s another little thing in the works. Check back later to see what!
2025-05-21 GOODNIGHT by Ailana Geven—For over a year, I’ve been wishing people goodnight. This time, I’m trying to create a good night for some people who are homeless.
Jason and I took a Lyft to a discount store, and bought… stuff. We packed 50 lunch bags with pre-packaged nutrition bars, M&Ms, bottles of water, pre-moistened wipes, pre-packaged peanut butter and crackers… You get the idea…
We’re waiting on Kent, Hannah, Tia Thomas, Eric Marsten (he’s Kent’s friend and one of Shay Ryder’s bodyguards), Liza McDuffy (one of Shay’s roommates) and Caleb Hastings (Liza’s boyfriend).
We’re going to visit the camps of some people living under bridges and on loading docks and give them the bags.
It’s a little thing. But, as I’ve heard others say, little things add up. A few people will have a little better night tonight.
I hope you do too.
Goodnight.
2025-05-22 GOOD MORNING by Ailana Geven—I have no excuse to be saying good morning from the bathroom. Yes, I was out late giving snack bags to people that are homeless, but… I also have nothing to do until lunch.
I should delete this picture, get dressed and start over, but… really, I’m feeling sort of lazy—taking the easy path. Whatever…
We gave away 50 bags of snacks last night. It wasn’t hard. We hit a few popular camps where people without homes take shelter. We could have given away 100 without even trying hard.
We’ll go back. Emma said she’d see that the church where she volunteers in their homeless ministry continued as time and resources allowed.
So… there’s that…
Yesterday, I also got a phone call from an old friend. Izzy Duffy.
I haven’t seen her since last summer when we did some sports modeling together. We go back to when I first started my modeling career for A-cup swimwear and fashions in 2016. She was a C / D cup model for some of the same shoots. We worked together on and off for a few years, then kept in touch.
My move into digital content creation took us separate ways. We’re going to catch up over lunch!
I’ll check in, for sure, so…
See you then!
2025-05-22 GOODNIGHT by Ailana Geven—I stand her at the window as I have many times. Tonight, I feel somewhat somber, and I want to share what I learned about people who are chronically homeless from Izzy.
Izzy asked me what I knew about chronically homeless people. I knew some, but she knew more—she’s got a Master’s in psychology and has been doing her homework.
Here’s the sketch she gave me:
Chronic homelessness usually isn’t just about money—it’s about layers.
Layers of trauma, mental illness, cognitive disabilities, addiction, domestic violence, or a lifetime of being let down. People get released from jail or rehab with no ID, no job, no housing, no one to call. Some lose everything after a medical emergency or injury—hospital bills pile up, and suddenly they can’t work or pay rent.
Others grew up in foster care and aged out at 18 with no family and no stability. Veterans return home with PTSD and land in a world that doesn't know what to do with them. Survivors of abuse flee unsafe homes only to find the shelters are full. And then there are those who simply fall through the cracks—quietly, slowly, invisibly.
You can’t fix that with one night in a shelter. These are deep wounds. And the answers aren’t simple—but they have to start with dignity.
It’s not just about getting a job. It’s about rebuilding a whole life. That takes time, trust, and real support.
While Stop-Gap Housing will be addressing the crisis of people with jobs and families living on the streets, someone… anyone else needs to carry on the work with individuals like Izzy described.
We’ve got work to do.
May you never forget that behind every statistic is a name, a face, and a story still unfolding.
Goodnight.
2025-05-23 GOODNIGHT by Ailana Geven—My plan for tonight got changed. For the good… I’m actually mind-boggled.
Last night, we gave out snag bags to 50 people living on the streets. The plan for tonight was to give out blankets, clean socks, clean underwear…
Clay and Sasha Everett called from the South Shore Harbor Marina in New Orleans to say they were happy with what they’ve been reading. Clay went on to say he was Apple-Paying me a pile of money to go buy things for the people living on the streets.
Chapter shift—Shay’s mother (one of those people who inject themselves into things… often for the greater good outcome) found out about our pool party and Melissa taking a day off from her job as a kindergarten teacher.
Carol informed Shay to inform Melissa that her return to school on Tuesday (after the holiday) would include a parade of zoo animals. (She already called the principal, the school district, Mayor… and who knows who else.)
Carol went on to say that she had purchased a van for Stop-Gap Homes, and that it was waiting to be utilized, parked in a garage near Tom Jenkins’s apartments.
So… blankets and a van to transport them in. Jason, Merritt, and Kent are handling the heavy stuff while Emma, Hannah, and I handle giving things away.
People with wealth create a tension I’ve not yet worked out. On one side is “I’ve worked hard for what I have and should be free to enjoy it.” On the other is “I have way more than I need and I should help others.”
Both are true—and that’s where the ache sits. Enjoying wealth isn’t wrong. But ignoring need is. The ethical challenge is not how much you give away, but whether you carry others in your thinking. If your choices—vacations, homes, investments—exist in a world where others are invisible, you’ve already answered the wrong question. Ethics begins not in sacrifice, but in seeing.
May you enjoy what you’ve earned without shame, but never without awareness. May your comfort never numb you to another’s need.
Goodnight.
2025-05-25 BUILD A BRIDGE by Ailana Geven—Hey Buddy… wanna buy a bridge? I’ll make you a great deal! I promise this post actually has a point.
Also, I promise I’ll lighten things up after this one! I just have one more thought on Stop-Gap Housing, then we’ll have some fun!
So, allegory anyone?
There were some people. They lived in the land of Over There, but wanted to live Over Here. But there was this huge barrier (call it the Great River Of Homelessness), and they couldn’t get past it.
Not until there was a bridge. Not until something came to be that spanned the barrier and let them move from Over There to Over Here.
If you have ever noticed, living ON a bridge is uncommon, if it ever happens at all. People use bridges to get from Over There to Over Here (or vice-versa). Bridges are temporary tools to move from one place to another.
The homeless crisis stands between many people who are Here and want to be There. Many people will benefit from something like what Stop-Gap Housing is offering; a temporary tool to move off the streets and into a real home of their own.
What the world needs in general? More or better bridges!
Okay… there’s more sight-seeing to do. I should go do it, and then there’s the comedy club later tonight!
See you then!
2025-05-28 IT’S A START for Melissa Gaines—Melissa Gaines turned from the window in the dorm-style apartment at Tom Jenkins’s American Heritage complex. Outside, Brooklyn had grown quiet, the streetlamps flickering to life. Inside, beyond an open door connected by a shared bathroom, her third-grade son Elijah had finally fallen asleep in his bed.
His. Bed.
Two small words—but they meant the world tonight.
Not long ago, that word had meant the backseat of a car parked on quiet side streets or under the fluorescent glare of a 24-hour grocery lot. After her husband Darius—a frontline ER nurse—died of COVID early in 2020, Melissa had poured every ounce of herself into staying afloat. But when Elijah’s seizures started, when the medical bills stacked up and the unpaid leave dragged on, normal life collapsed.
She didn’t broadcast it; didn’t tell her mother in Florida, who was already battling early-stage dementia. Didn’t reach out to her estranged father in Pennsylvania—his “help” always came with conditions.
She made it work. Kept Elijah clean. Got him to school. Made up stories about camping adventures and car picnics to keep his world from crumbling.
But tonight, she sat still, a mug cooling on the nightstand, in a room with heat, A/C, light, and safety. Not luxury. Not permanence. But shelter. And Safety.
Since a chance meeting at a bus stop in Flatbush, Melissa’s life had taken a drastic turn. Emma Knox ( @emma.knox.1861 ) stepped up. Made some connections. Gotten things going.
Tom’s kind benevolence had turned into a collective movement of a lot of people, a program called Stop-Gap Housing.
Headed up by a respected non-profit, Humanity Housing, and championed by Carol Ryder, wife of David Ryder—THE David Ryder, international shipping mogul—Stop-Gap Housing promised great things.
And, if Tom and Emma get their way, Melissa will be front and center on the decision making.
As Emma had said, “Don’t make much sense to ignore the ideas of someone who’s had to live through it.”
2025-05-28 WEDNESDAY FINDS & FUTURE PLANS by Emma Knox—Hey y’all. Well, I’m at this thrift shop I like, an’ I found these jeans. The girl workin’ here says they’re a great deal on account of them being a fancy name brand.
She said she’d o’ bought them herself ‘cept they weren’t her size. I’ve never heard of the brand—but that ain’t much of a surprise! Addison’ll tell me if it’s good, I s’pose.
Well, that’s not what I really wanted to talk about. I wanted to say how good things are goin’ with Stop-Gap Housing.
Y’all remember Melissa Gaines, the kindergarten teacher I met near the bus stop. Her story got Tom Jenkins thinkin’—and he’s got this rare gift of not just thinkin’ but doin’.
So now there’s a whole team workin’ on it:
—Tom’s directing the project, naturally.
—Hannah Madison and Merritt Gray are managing it through NYC SysCo.
—Kent Marlon’s handling the site coordination and electrical.
—Will Robertson’s providin’ oversight from SysCo, and there’s a guy named David Stewart who’s mentoring Merritt and Hannah along the way.
—Shay Ryder from Habitat Housing is lendin’ nonprofit support, and her mama Carol is helpin’ with quiet funding and political pushin’ in the background.
We’re not tryin’ to solve everything at once. But if we can help a few people like Melissa get safe, clean shelter while they work and save—well, that’s somethin’. A soft landing spot makes a world o’ difference.
So, yeah… thrift shop jeans and housing dreams. That’s my Wednesday!
—Emma 💙
2025-05-30 FRIDAY PLANS by Emma Knox—Mornin’, y’all! It’s my day off, but I’m sitting here at the table trying to sound professional in some Stop-Gap Housing emails. Using all my best college grammar and double-checking with autocorrect so I don’t send anything embarrassing. Merritt says I write better when I’m just bein’ myself, but I figure I ought to at least spell things right.
Later today I’m cookin’ dinner for ever’one that lives here in the ‘partments—Merritt, Hannah, Kent, Addison, Jacob, Melissa, Elijah, David, and Anika. Just some big pans of meatloaf, pluss mashed potatoes, gravy, and canned vegetables from the pantry. Nothin’ fancy, but it’ll be warm, filling, and shared—and that’s what counts.
I like days like this. They remind me that doing good in the world doesn’t always look like big speeches or perfect spreadsheets. Sometimes it looks like clicking “send,” stirring gravy, an’ making space for folks to sit down together.
Thanks for reading my story!
—Emma
2025-06-06 PENDING FINAL APPROVAL by Hannah Maddison—Just waiting on Merritt. We’ve got a meeting in a few minutes with Will Robertson and David Stewart to go over the final draft of the blueprints for the Stop-Gap Housing temporary living units.
We’ve already got pre-approval from building inspectors and all the other lovely layers of bureaucracy, so once this draft gets the final green light, we’re ready to pull permits and break ground.
Tom officially acquired the space he showed @ailana.geven back on May 21, and that’ll be our first build site.
Kent has started studying for his General Contractor license (I’m proud of him), but for this first build, he’ll be working alongside one of the contractors already vetted through Habitat Housing. It’s a solid match.
Here we go.
2025-06-06 READY FOR WORK by Emma Knox—As you see, I’m in the brown robe, so you pro’ly know I’m in the dressing room gettin’ ready to go to the stage. Now that school’s out for a while, I got back to a normal schedule.
The American Heritage Theater, you know, has all these different stages where we act out scenes from different parts of American history. I’m on the Life In The Delta, 1875 stage nearly ever’ day I work.
There’s other stages, too. Such as a Pilgrim village, a Gold Rush Camp, and a 1853 California Gold Rush scene. A lot of folks say the theater is more like a museum where visitors go from stage to stage an’ learn about things from the scenes.
Well, anyway, the theater’s closed Thursday and Sunday, so I’m off those days. I do the matinee shows on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. I do the night show on Tuesday an’ Friday, so it’s time for me to get into costume (which is like getting dressed for any regular day ‘fore I time shifted from 1880 to 2024!)
Well, now that we are getting Stop-Gap Housing going, Tom says sometimes he’s gonna want me to talk to people ‘bout how I see things for homeless people.
So, I guess I’ll just have to be flexible and be ready in case something comes up.
That’s about all for today. Thanks for reading my story!
—Emma
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