Called to Serve: Ashley Brooks on What the Mission Really Does
By James Havel
Ashley Brooks didn’t plan on running a homeless shelter. In 2018, the former hospital fundraiser and stay-at-home mom was praying for direction when a friend sent her a link. “Have you heard that Rolla has a shelter for people that are homeless?” the friend asked. Brooks clicked—and felt pulled.
Her first volunteer shift came with a six-month-old in tow and a lot of nerves. The moment the doors opened, that changed. “The first guy that walks in is just like this old cowboy… ‘Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for letting us get out of the cold.’” By the end of the night, she remembers thinking, “This is where I’m supposed to be.”
Within a year, the all-volunteer operation wanted her on staff—but couldn’t afford it. “We have four thousand dollars in our checking account right now,” she was told. Brooks and the team prayed—and within days, “we had all the money to pay my salary for the first year… it was thirty thousand dollars. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.”
Seven years later, Brooks serves as Executive Director.
What the Mission Actually Is (and Isn’t)
Brooks is clear about the Mission’s place in the ecosystem: “We are a cog in the machine… an essential part of helping people,” alongside partners like Compass Health, the Missouri Job Center, Four Rivers, SEMO, and others.
She’s equally clear about persistent myths:
No, the Mission isn’t busing people in. “One of the criteria… is that we screen and we verify their last address, and they have to have become homeless in Phelps County before they can stay here.”
No, it’s not a flop house. Guests are “in classes… doing chores… meeting with caseworkers… working… going to doctor’s appointments.” Rules include “no profanity. No fighting… no drug paraphernalia… if we catch you you’re out,” to keep the space safe.
Two Paths: 30-Day Emergency Use or “Rise and Rebuild”
People can use emergency services—meals, laundry, showers—“up to 30 days in a calendar year.” To stay beyond that, they enter Rise and Rebuild, a high-accountability case-management track:
Employment: “They have to become employed… within two weeks.”
Savings: “They have to save 80 of their income,” so move-out deposits and first-month rent are covered (with flexibility to pay off past debts like child support or old landlord balances).
Sobriety & Accountability: “We do initial and random drug… screenings and breathalyzers.” A single relapse triggers a candid plan; “if they relapse three times… they are out,” with the door open to return when ready.
Classes: At least two per week—housing readiness, budgeting, Seeking Safety, Building Bridges, and a Friday Good Dads group for fathers rebuilding relationships.
Brooks sums up the approach: “We meet people where they are… but we don’t let them stay there.”
The Moments That Matter
Some wins arrive years later. Brooks recalls a trafficking survivor who “fought us the whole time,” then called recently: “I’m three years clean. I’ve got my own car. I have a baby… I’m just so thankful.” Other messages come from parents: “My son… has a relationship with his daughter… I’m so grateful.”
The hardest days? “When you see all of that potential… and then they… choose the drugs… and you’re finding out later that they’ve died.” She remembers a brilliant mother who struggled with schizophrenia and later overdosed. “It just breaks my heart.”
Why Partnerships Win
Brooks credits collaboration for outcomes: “We have one of the highest housing rates in the entire State.” The formula is simple teamwork: Compass addresses mental health, the Mission provides shelter and case management, the Job Center supports employment—“and all of that together… they can really succeed if they have this team of people helping them.”
Funding has diversified, too. “We used to be just completely sustained on community donations… but we do have some federal grants now… our Rise and Rebuild program… was because of a Federal Grant.”
What’s Next: Families and Housing
Looking five years ahead, Brooks wants the Mission to “continue to fill gaps,” especially where affordable housing is scarce and family homelessness is hidden. For now, the Mission shelters only adults; families are placed in hotel, “a very expensive way to shelter families.” She adds, “Family homelessness is more prevalent here than most people realize,” because many parents fear asking for help.
The Quiet Bottom Line
Faith, for Brooks, is a working verb. She shows up, does the hard things, and lets the results speak. The Mission isn’t charity; it’s structure, accountability, and a way forward—a small cog that keeps lives moving from crisis toward steadiness.
Reclaiming the Night: How Lucid Dreaming Helped Me Face PTSD
For many people, sleep is a sanctuary. For others—like me—it's the battlefield.
Living with PTSD means my nights are often filled with intense nightmares, pulling me back into memories I’ve worked hard to process. There were years when the idea of falling asleep filled me with dread. But something unexpected happened along the way: I began to take control of those dreams.
They call it lucid dreaming—the moment in a dream when you realize you’re dreaming. That awareness can change everything. What started as terrifying sequences I couldn’t escape slowly became opportunities for healing.
In a lucid dream, I could shift the narrative. Instead of reliving the same trauma, I could insert an ally. I could walk away. I could breathe.
Lucid dreaming didn’t erase my PTSD, but it gave me back something I’d lost: agency. The ability to shape my internal world, even when my external world felt chaotic. It taught me that healing isn’t just about what happens during the day. It’s about what we reclaim in the night, too.
For anyone facing similar struggles, know this: there are tools. There are practices. There is hope.
And sometimes, that hope begins in the unlikeliest of places—like a dream.
- James Havel Jr.
Founder, The Rolla House LLC
Title: 250 Years of the U.S. Army — But the Battle Doesn’t End with the Uniform
Today, we commemorate a monumental milestone — the 250th birthday of the United States Army. A quarter of a millennium of selfless service, of brave men and women defending not just land and liberty, but the ideals that define this country.
As a veteran, this isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s a reminder of the pride I felt wearing the uniform, the discipline I carry with me to this day, and the deep sense of purpose that came with service. But it’s also a reminder of the battles that don’t make headlines.
Because long after the medals are awarded and the deployments end, many of us are still fighting. Not on the battlefield, but in silence — against PTSD, addiction, identity loss, and the isolation that can come from not knowing who you are outside the mission.
This post isn’t just to honor the Army’s legacy. It’s a call to build a future where veterans don’t have to fight alone.
At The Rolla House and Ash & Ember Foundation, we’re creating something different. We’re building recovery systems rooted in trauma-informed leadership, peer support, and personal growth. We believe in restoring mission, team, and trust — the same pillars that made us strong in uniform.
So yes, raise your flags today. Toast to 250 years of history. But when the parade ends, remember — the work of caring for our soldiers never stops.
Because the next 250 years depend on how we serve each other — not just in war, but in peace.
A New Beginning — The Vision Behind The Rolla House
It all begins with an idea.
Posted: May 2025
By: James & Nikki, Co-Founders
There’s a moment in every recovery story when the fog lifts and the road ahead—while still long—finally becomes visible. For us, The Rolla House is that road.
We’re building more than a sober living home. We’re creating a place of Rescue, Redemption, and Recovery—a space where people rebuilding their lives after addiction or hardship can begin again with dignity, structure, and support.
Slated to open in January 2026, The Rolla House will provide a safe, clean, and spiritually grounded environment for individuals who are serious about personal growth and committed to walking through the 12 Steps with integrity.
But this is also about community.
We’re not doing this alone. From day one, we’ve been clear: this is local work, for local people, powered by local hands. Our dream is to see Rolla and its surrounding areas come together to offer not just shelter—but a genuine path forward.
In time, we hope to expand our efforts to include:
Volunteer opportunities for recovery allies
Pet fostering and animal care integration (because love and responsibility matter)
Skill-building, entrepreneurship, and job readiness resources
A resale shop and donation hub to help fund and sustain operations
This blog will track our journey: the challenges, the small victories, and the community that makes it all possible. Whether you're in recovery, in support, or just curious—you’re welcome here.
If you believe in second chances, in purpose over profit, and in the kind of recovery that transforms more than just the individual… we’d love to have you walk this road with us.
Let’s build something real. Together.
— James & Nikki