Q&A with Pride Haven’s residential program manager, Scout DeSimio

Scout DeSimio | November 2023

Tell us a little bit about the history of Pride Haven.

Today, Pride Haven is an overnight shelter that houses LGBTQ+ young adults in Kansas City. Pride Haven began in 2020 as a day shelter for LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing houselessness, but the history of the space spans decades before. In the 1980s, the house served as the Good Samaritan Project to support the queer community in the midst of the AIDS crisis. The house also served as the beginnings of our current nonprofit, SAVE, Inc., as a space called SAVE Home. SAVE is an acronym for Serving AIDS Victims Endowment. SAVE Home offered those dying of AIDS a place to pass with dignity at the hands of caring community members. There is a fountain outside dedicated to a trans woman patient named Teresa who died of AIDS. Staff sees her as a loving spirit who likes to play jokes on us occasionally. 

What are you most proud to have accomplished with Pride Haven?

What sets Pride Haven apart is that we practice restorative justice in our community. We do not reject clients from the shelter here because of mental health status, behavioral issues, or substance use. Instead, we facilitate uncomfortable conversations about behaviors that hurt people. The restorative justice process facilitates an accountability protocol to discuss what was going on for clients in moments of distress, addressing their needs, how our actions affect others and the community as a whole. This gives us the opportunity to meet clients where they are at, offer education as needed, and welcome folks back into our space so that we can honor our intent as a shelter: to provide housing to the most vulnerable. We are proud to offer our houseless community members a holistic understanding that at the end of the day, they are humans with human reactions. We make space for that here. 

What are your plans for the future of the organization?

We’re trying to end homelessness in Kansas City. The organization as a whole processes vouchers, provides emergency assistance for rent and utilities, and invests in building affordable, quality housing. 

How can AWP Conference attendees best support Pride Haven?

Please support our clients by sending items from our Amazon Wish List. 

What are you most looking forward to at #AWP24?

We are looking forward to seeing how #WritersServe and get involved at the local level here in Kansas City. Welcome to the City of Fountains!