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OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative, 117 E Water Street, Paoli, IN (2026)

10/09/2026

Today was about more than meetings. It was about people, possibilities, and the future of a community we all care deeply about.

Throughout the day, we brought together familiar faces and many new ones for conversations surrounding the OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative. Each meeting brought meaningful discussions, fresh perspectives, and a shared desire to move beyond talking about our challenges and begin taking action to change them.

But I will say, our final meeting of the day weighed a little heavier on my heart.

As the conversation turned toward our children and the importance of building a stronger foundation for their future, I was reminded once again why this work matters so much. The decisions we make and the actions we take today will help determine the opportunities our children and grandchildren have tomorrow.

Our vision is bigger than simply building homes. It’s about creating opportunities for our aging population to remain safely housed, helping families find affordable housing, and ensuring hardworking individuals and families earning average incomes have a path toward homeownership.

But a home is only one piece of the puzzle. Education, meaningful employment, financial literacy, credit improvement, and access to resources all play a role in helping individuals and families build stability and begin a new chapter.

What stood out to me today wasn’t just the familiar faces. It was the new faces sitting beside them. People who may have never worked together before, discovering how their strengths can help create something bigger with many staying for multiple meetings.

On November 12, we will take our next important step by coming together to begin forming teams around our key areas of focus, identifying priorities, and developing actionable plans that move this vision forward.

I know the road ahead will require difficult conversations, commitment, patience, and people willing to roll up their sleeves. But after today, I am more convinced than ever that what I say is true and that is there truly is no place like Orange County and the people who live here.

We cannot change yesterday, but together we have an opportunity to change what tomorrow looks like for someone else.

The real work is just beginning. And I am grateful for every person willing to be part of it.

10/02/2026

The OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative is about more than housing. It is about creating pathways to stability through housing, employment, financial security, stronger connections, and a better quality of life for Orange County families.

On October 8, we will open the doors at Lost River Market & Deli, 26 Liberty Street in Paoli, to listen, learn, and hear directly from our community.

*Faith-based leaders are invited from 11:15–12:15
*Community members from across Orange County from 12:45–1:45
*Non-Profits and community organizations from 2:00–3:00

If you have not received an invitation, please know you are welcome to join us.

This project has already strengthened longtime partnerships and created many new ones. A special thank-you to Angela Walls with Hoosier Uplands, who has long worked tirelessly to help families find housing, to Bobbie Abel with Upland Regional Land Bank, who helped move donated property into the hands of Orange County Habitat for Humanity for a future home in 2027, and to so many others who are picking up the phone to ask questions and support.

A home is often where stability begins—and from that foundation, so many other possibilities can grow.

As we move forward with these meetings we will share our findings and next steps as everything we do “TOGETHER “ we are doing for our community.

08/31/2026

Moving From Conversation to Action: The Next Step for Orange County

We are excited to announce an important next step in our work surrounding housing, economic stability, and the long-term health and well-being of Orange County.

We have officially engaged Dr. Nathan A. Schaumleffel and Driven Strategic LLC to help guide this next phase of the work—bringing experience in community development, nonprofit leadership, public administration, strategic planning, and community engagement to the table.

Dr. Schaumleffel who is based in Terre Haute Indiana, is the Proprietor and Senior Consultant of Driven Strategic LLC, a consulting firm specializing in nonprofit and public organizations, youth and human services, parks and recreation, foundations, and community engagement. He also serves as a Consulting Partner to the Indiana Youth Institute and a Technical Assistance Provider to MENTOR Indiana.

In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Schaumleffel serves as an Associate Professor at Indiana State University, where his work includes nonprofit leadership, public administration, and community engagement. He holds a Ph.D. focused on Youth and Community Development, Nonprofit Leadership, and Public Administration, along with extensive experience working with organizations and communities to move complex ideas from conversation toward action.

That experience matters because the challenges before our community are complex.

As Christian Blome, President of Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation, recently shared, philanthropy cannot solve these challenges alone—and neither can government, developers, healthcare, or the nonprofit sector. But together, we can convene, invest, remove barriers, challenge assumptions, and create the conditions where new solutions become possible.

That is exactly what this next phase is designed to do.

October 8: Bringing Orange County to the Table

Our first major step with Driven Strategic LLC will take place October 8, with a full day of meetings involving key partners who have walked beside of us thus far from throughout Orange County.

Dr. Schaumleffel will facilitate conversations with representatives from our faith-based community, workforce and employers, healthcare, nonprofits, and other community partners. Rather than beginning with a predetermined answer, we want to begin by listening—understanding what each sector is seeing, where the barriers exist, what resources we already have, and where opportunities for collaboration may be waiting.

Our work will have a particular focus on families seeking greater stability and our growing aging population. We want to better understand what it will take for younger families to build a future here while also creating opportunities for older adults to remain safely, independently, and connected to the community they have helped build.

Housing is an important piece, but this work reaches much further. Housing, workforce, healthcare, transportation, financial stability, aging in place, and access to opportunity are interconnected—and all ultimately influence the health of a community.

We don’t expect one organization, one meeting, or one idea to solve these challenges. We do believe Orange County has the people, partnerships, and willingness to think differently about what is possible.

We are incredibly grateful to Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation for investing in this work and believing alongside us that meaningful change begins when communities are willing to bring people together, ask difficult questions, and explore new solutions.

October 8 will be another important step—not toward someone else’s plan for Orange County, but toward a plan built with Orange County.

And we are excited to get to work.

Priscilla Woodrum
Executive Director Team OC

08/20/2026

TOGETHER is when change happens! Exciting times for Orange County.🥰

08/18/2026

OC Bridge to Stability — The Path Is Becoming Clearer

Today, after yet another conversation I found myself reflecting on just how far we have already come with the OC Bridge to Stability Housing Initiative—and we haven’t even reached the starting line of the work that lies ahead.

For many weeks, we have been searching for the right consulting group to walk beside us—one that can help us navigate difficult conversations, listen through surveys and community meetings, bring the right people to the table, and ultimately help us build the strongest plan possible not only for Orange County, but one that could inspire possibilities beyond our county lines.

To say this journey has been emotionally overwhelming would be an understatement.

Since the day we received this grant, there has rarely been a day when someone hasn’t reached out and said:

“How can I help?”
“Can I be included?”
“Let me be part of the conversation.”
“This has been a dream of mine and I want to help.”

Some days, there have been several.

And every single time, I am reminded that this dream belongs to far more people than any one or even multiple organizations.

There have been a few obstacles along the way. That comes with taking on something this significant. But those obstacles have been far outweighed by the doors that continue to open, the partnerships forming, and a path that becomes clearer with every conversation.

Next week, we anticipate signing with the consulting group that will help guide us through this process.

Once the contract is signed, we will begin by meeting with those who have walked beside us from day one. From there, we will continue expanding the table—bringing together faith leaders, employers, community organizations, service providers, families, and others whose voices and experiences need to help shape what comes next.

At every step, we will keep our community informed about what we are learning, where we are going, and how people can become part of the work.

The table is getting bigger.
The vision is becoming clearer.
And the work is just beginning.

07/17/2026

The foundation is being built… one conversation at a time.

One of the most exciting parts of the Orange County Collaborative for Housing & Economic Stability, made possible through the generous investment of the Being for Others Health & Wellness Foundation, is that while the work has not officially begun, the momentum already has.

We are currently in the final stages of selecting the consulting group that will guide this community-driven initiative. Although no formal work has started, the conversations taking place today are laying the foundation for what we believe will become lasting change for Orange County.

This week alone, we had the opportunity to connect with several incredible individuals who are excited about the opportunity the future holds.

-Mike Myers, representing Congressman Mark Messmer, scheduled a meeting this week with us after hearing about Team OC and the work we have done with our community partners and volunteers over the last several years.. It was exciting to share the forward-thinking approach our community is taking today to strengthen housing and economic stability for local families.

-Thanks to an introduction from Skylar Whiteman, we met with Kevin Keith from Ivy Tech Community College. Earlier this year, Skylar helped create an opportunity for 12 community members to earn a free CCMA certification, valued at nearly $2,500 per participant. She assisted in making the connection for Team OC with Ivy Tech and after a wonderful conversation this week about what we could do together , Kevin reached back out with an exciting opportunity. If they can identify an instructor and secure funding, Ivy Tech is prepared to offer another CCMA cohort, creating a pathway to careers paying $16–$20 per hour and helping families move toward long-term financial stability creating the pathway to home ownership and stability.

-We also met with Julia Kathary and Leslie James-Whilhite from the Albion Center, thanks to an introduction from Christian Blome. Their organization serves individuals and families impacted by abusive relationships, and they have expressed a genuine desire to partner with Orange County. We look forward to exploring how this collaboration can strengthen the support network available to some of our community’s most vulnerable residents and including them in the collaborative conversations as we move forward.

These meetings aren’t the project.

They’re the foundation.

Before plans are written, before strategies are implemented, and before initiatives are launched, strong relationships must exist. That’s exactly what is happening.

The Orange County Collaborative is not about Team OC. It’s about bringing together education, healthcare, employers, government, nonprofits, faith leaders, and community members around one shared vision: creating lasting pathways to housing stability, economic opportunity, and stronger families.

07/10/2026

Today, we welcomed partners from IU to the table as we continued building the foundation for the OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative.

Our discussion centered on creating long-term pathways to financial stability that ultimately lead to housing stability. We explored what it looks like when someone first seeks support, how financial education can become part of that journey, and the important role our local banking partners can play in helping individuals and families build financial confidence, increase savings, and create lasting wealth.

This collaborative is about more than addressing today’s needs—it’s about creating a sustainable pathway toward long-term success for Orange County families.

Looking ahead, we hope to finalize our partnership with a consulting group next week. From there, leaders in Human Resources from some of our area’s largest employers will join the conversation as the next group at the table, sharing their vision and helping shape workforce solutions that strengthen both economic opportunity and housing stability.

Every conversation, every partnership, and every shared vision brings us one step closer to building a stronger, more resilient Orange County. We are grateful to everyone who continues to invest their time, expertise, and heart into this work.

07/01/2026

A special thank you to Skylar Whiteman and the Orange County Economic Development for connecting us with Uplands Regional Land Bank and then we brought in Orange County Habitat for Humanity for the conversation.

These are the kinds of collaborative discussions that create lasting change.

Even though we are just getting started with this initiative, these introductions and this meeting today turned into a gift of land to OC Habit for Humanity…that will allow an additional home to be built in 2027 in Orange County.

A new home, a new family…a chance at a better tomorrow!

As we continue the work of the OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative, we are reminded that no single organization can solve our housing challenges alone. Real, sustainable solutions happen when nonprofit organizations, local government, businesses, and community partners come together with a shared vision and have a voice at the table.

Having different voices at the table brings different perspectives, stronger ideas, and greater opportunities for the families we serve. Every partnership strengthens our ability to create pathways toward safe, stable, and affordable housing throughout Orange County. We look forward to Bobbie Abel with the Upland Regional Land Bank joining us in the conversation as we work to strengthen housing and economic stability today, tomorrow and for the future of Orange County.

This is what “Better Together” looks like—and it is exactly how we will build a stronger Orange County for generations to come.

Thank you again to our new partners at the Upland Regional Land Bank for all the work they are doing to grow a stronger tomorrow in the work they are doing today.

Tom Motsinger
Alyssa Lawson
Team OC
Being for Others Health & Wellness Foundation
Orange County Habitat for Humanity
Uplands Regional Land Bank
Bobbie Abel

06/22/2026

Today was set aside for even more conversations with individuals who want to help this work and have a voice at the table. The excitement surrounding this initiative to be honest, brings a lot of emotion. People continue to raise their hands—not because all the answers have been decided, but because they believe we can build them together.

As we move forward, this work will not belong to one organization or one group of people. It will belong to a community willing to listen, collaborate, and create pathways toward stability for families working hard to build a better future.

Attached are four letters from amazing community members who were the first to raise their hand in the beginning to help navigate what the next year can look like as we work alongside our consulting group to build the Orange County Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative. Three of the four also serve on the Team OC Board, but what stood out to me wasn’t their titles—it was that each message carried the same theme.

Housing stability matters.

Assitant Chief Christopher Cook spoke from the perspective of public safety, sharing how often law enforcement encounters families facing crisis with nowhere safe to turn. Dr. Thomas Bostic reflected on 30 years of ministry and counseling, reminding us that shelter is one of our most basic human needs and the foundation from which hope can grow. Brandon Query highlighted what can happen when a community rallies around a shared purpose and believes in what is possible. Jamey Sullivan connected the dots between housing, education, financial stability, and long-term community success through both his professional and volunteer experiences.

Different voices. Different experiences. The same message.

Thank you to every person who has stepped forward to be part of the conversation.

We’re just getting started, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be on this mission together.

06/19/2026

The past two days have been filled with interviews and conversations with consulting firms across Indiana as we search for the right partner to help launch the OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative. Next week brings even more conversations as we continue looking for the team that can help us build a thoughtful plan designed to create long-term impact for Orange County.

Our vision once the consulting firm is hired is to bring every voice to the table. We will begin by listening to our faith leaders who are walking beside of us on this journey , who often know the stories of need before anyone else and are among the first to offer support. We will also engage our largest employers to better understand workforce challenges, starting wages, qualifications, benefits, and the realities families face as they work toward stability. Additional groups and community members will follow, because lasting solutions are built when everyone has a seat at the table.

I have never seen a community come together quite like Orange County, and I am overwhelmed by the compassion and commitment of the people who call this place home.

As we move forward, I want to recognize some of the individuals who continue to support this initiative. Raegan Wampler and her team who stepped in late last year to provide financial education to a single mother facing eviction, helping equip her with tools to better manage her finances during a difficult season. It was one piece of a larger community effort that helped restore stability and hope for a mother and son and a piece that no doubt will be added to our long term planning.

I am also grateful for Sheriff Davey Henderson, who sees firsthand the impact that financial stress, job loss, and unexpected hardships can have on families. His perspective and willingness to walk alongside others bring valuable insight to this work.

These are just two examples among many. Orange County is filled with people who consistently raise their hands and ask, “How can I help?” It is hard not to be emotional when you witness the love so many have for this community and the belief that, together, we can build a stronger future for all.

OC Bridge to Stability Housing Collaborative

10/09/2026

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08/31/2026

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