A tribute to Life Steps Campus
- Kim Summerall-Wright
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
Life Steps Campus is proud to host Americorps NCCC Teams who were assigned to Casper Housing Authority's Urban Thistle Farm. On July 23, 2025, a former Team Member gave this tribute to LSC, Casper and Wyoming. Many thanks to our partners in the fight against poverty and homelessness.
How amazing would it be to have something like this in Virginia?
During my time with AmeriCorps, I had the chance to visit the Life Steps Campus in Casper, Wyoming—a large brick facility transformed into transitional housing for homeless families and women coming out of institutional settings. It was once the Casper Children’s Home, and now it's a deeply supportive space with shared kitchens, living areas, and real community.
I’ve always thought: What a powerful model for other communities. It’s not just a place to stay—it’s a path forward.
What I feel is still missing—everywhere—is support for the unspoken epidemic of older men, veterans, and other individuals in crisis. In Casper, there’s also the Wyoming Rescue Mission—a religiously affiliated shelter nearby. There were many heartbreaking stories connected to that place, but also a lot of compassion. Even though there were pictures of Jesus and other Christian symbols throughout, they accepted mostly anyone (violent behavior a factor, for example), which was incredibly kind and deeply needed. They serve so many, including people struggling with addiction or life on the streets. That kind of compassion and openness really stuck with me.
Out in the Midwest, people didn’t just talk about faith—they lived it. Even in facilities with crosses on the walls and pictures of Jesus, everyone was welcomed, no questions asked. No judgment, no exclusivity—just help.
Food and shelter—for some, that’s all it took to keep them out of jail for petty crimes like theft.
That halfway-style support, the kind that offers stability without judgment, was not just helpful… it was essential.
Furthermore, they offered Healthcare for the Homeless, which is now available through the Follow My Health (Veradigm) app—a resource I thought was incredibly powerful and ahead of its time when I learned of it over ten years ago.
This is also the same state that once launched intense anti-meth campaigns due to how widespread the drug had become. It was raw and real. Every state and region faces its own substance abuse crisis—and we need solutions that meet people where they are.
We need more places like this. In Virginia's Eastern Shore, and elsewhere.
I sometimes find myself asking: Why did I have to go all the way to Wyoming to see this kind of care in action?
Out there, compassion was practical, consistent, and extended to everyone—regardless of circumstance. Even in faith-based settings, there was a sense of grace and acceptance that felt rare.
By contrast, in parts of the East Coast—especially in some of the more tough environments—I’ve often encountered a mindset that stops at “God helps those who help themselves.” That approach can leave many behind, even if it's not openly admitted as being a common philosophical framework and justification for "looking the other way".
Seeing a model of support that doesn’t wait for people to be "ready" before offering help—that was powerful. And necessary.
