July 8, 2026 • 10 mins
Guests are Megan Park, Marketing + Communications Manager at Bethany House Services, and Naeyah Woods, a resident and mother of four at Bethany House
Bethany House is the largest provider of family homelessness services in Greater Cincinnati, serving more than 2,500 people each year, two-thirds of them being children
BHS is the only local organization that addresses every stage of housing instability, offering prevention programs, emergency shelter, and post-shelter support to help families achieve lasting stability.
Since BHS’s founding in 1983, they have provided life-changing services to more than 39,000 people, including 25,000 children
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is iHeart Sinsey, a public affairs show producer right
here in Cincinnati. I'm Sandy Collins. My next guest is
a young woman with kids who has come up against
some tough circumstances and has needed to reach out for help. Unfortunately,
Bethany House is there to help her. My guest is
Nikia Woods, she is a mom of four, and Megan
(00:24):
Park from Bethany House. She's the marketing and communications manager
for Bethany House Services. We're gonna hear Nikiah Woods story
on iHeart Cincy. Nikia, glad that you're here today because
your story is going to help people, and you're going
through a tough time and we know that, and I
just wanted to reach out to you and say I'm sorry.
(00:46):
Whatever your circumstances are, and we'll find out some of
those here in a minute, whatever you feel interested in
sharing with us. But it's really nice to have you
on the show. And Megan Park is here. She is
the marketing and communications manager for Bethany House Services. How's
it going both of you?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Pretty good? Pretty good?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So, Nikia, you've got four little ones? How big are they?
And you're all in the shelter?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We well, I have four children. They are fourteen, ten, nine,
and soon to be eight. I do have three of
them here in shelter with me. My youngest son stays
with his.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Five and that's tough for everybody to be separated. Yeah,
do you want to kind of talk about the fact
that you're struggling now You've had some help and you've
had a job, and you still are having trouble finding
a house big enough to house you all, or you know,
an affordable apartment to live in. Can you tell us
(01:52):
a little bit about your story.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, I was working at Metro before I got here.
I have broken in my hand and a part of
my wrist and the cosman to be medically from work,
and I had basically fell on hard times with pay bills,
paying my rent, and I basically was letting my landlord know.
At first she was like working with me, and then
(02:15):
all of a sudden, one day I got an eviction
letter and I'm like okay, So I went through safe
visit the pall. They'd be like, okay, well we'll pay it,
and she's like, well, I don't want you guys to
pay it, because if you pay it, then I can
e Victor and it was just like all because she
wanted to renovate the building and raise the rent. This
is great.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, that seems to be a problem in this town
with everybody wants to raise the rent and when they're
all complaining in their own personal lives that they can't
afford anything. Megan, this seems to be a common issue
with people that are experiencing homelessness, and that is medical
bills throw everything off.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yes, absolutely, Yeah, it just takes one unexpected event for
people to not be able to catch up and fall
behind on rent.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
It could be a car repair that throws you off.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You know, there's so many there's so many unexpected things
in life that if you're on a tight budget, you know,
you fall behind quickly. And we heard this story over
and over and over and over again here in Shelter.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, and so many people live check to check. They
try to save, they'll save up five hundred, one thousand
dollars maybe more, and then here comes that next thing
that comes in and boom, all of that's gone and
now you've got to live check to check again. And
it's just, you know, you're like a hamster on a
wheel and it's tough, but Bethany Services helps out. How
did you get involved and get a place there at Bethany.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Well, Originally when we got indigted, I was saying, with
like a sister or a friend here and there when
they would let us you know, sometimes they would sometimes
things happen.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I completely understand.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
And then we were standing in the car and the
whole time we just kept calling back to be out.
We had reached out to prod Jack Connect and they
have put us in a hotel for like four days,
I think. And then I want to say, like the
day after we get out the hotel, they had called
me back like, hey, we have shelters, we have space
for you in the shelter. So they were ever going
(04:14):
to get to an uber to come to us, and
we've been here every sin.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
That was on October fifteenth.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
It's been quite a while since last fall. How did
the kids handle it? How do you talk to them
about what's happening.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
I'm pretty open with my children. They're pretty like understanding
and comprehending, humble children. So they kind of I told
them as we were kind of going through with what
we're going through, so to them, they know what we're
going through. But they know what we're going through, but
it's not affecting them because this is like a vacation.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Something to them.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
It's an adventure. Everything is an adventure when you're fourteen, ten, nine,
and eight. But seriously, it is a tough time, and
so they're at Bethany House Services. Megan, you all want
to get people back into housing, but not just temporary housing.
You want to really address the problem. How do you
(05:10):
do that?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Absolutely, so we help families overcome lots of barriers. And
one of the big things we do is help people
get vouchers or Section eight if they're eligible, and then
that can help them ensure that they are able to
stay in their apartment's longer term. We definitely want people
to get into apartments that are not going to be
(05:32):
too expensive for them in a year's time or two
years time. And that's the best solution to homelessness is
homes that people can afford.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And do you think that's going to be changing at
all in the next year or so? Everything is going
up financially, and we've been talking about this problem in
Cincinnati for years. If you look at apartments for rent,
you know you've got these little dinky houses for two
thousand dollars a month, and you're like, well, you know that,
I've seen so many of these places where the sidewalk
(06:04):
is crushed all the way up that you can barely
get up on the porch and they're paying fifteen hundred,
eighteen hundred a month just for that hole. You know.
So what do you see in the future when it
comes to affordable rents in the next year or so.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
There is such a huge gap in the market, right, Like,
there's lots of building happening, but it's down on the banks,
it's in very exclusive places. This medium to low range
housing is still a huge hole in the market. Much
more needs to be built. And as you pointed out,
like landlords are part of the problem. Landlords that have
(06:46):
housing that is unlivable with we hear stories about mold
and roaches and ants and you know, all kinds of
terrible housing situations. Yeah, also leads to people to shelter.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So if that is haveening to you or someone you know,
there are remedies. They're not allowed to do that, right, Megan.
The landlords are not supposed to let the critters in
the in the mold are growing in your place.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
No, they are not to get into shelter, you have
to call the capline. But there's also United Way has
numbers two one one is a great number to call.
There's Tenant Tenant Guard is a great website that you
can go to for help with rent. Like there are
other you know, things to plug the holes. But you know,
(07:33):
we see people when they have tried everything and were
their last Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Nikiya, what your future look like here this summer and
what's your next steps?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Well, I have currently received Section made, so I'm currently
looking for housing, which is also still kind of hard
because I guess of the economies a lot of people
aren't wanting to accept sectionatey anymore because Section eight is
low balling the landlords where where they want sixteen seventeen hundred,
(08:08):
They're like.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Nope, you're only going to get twelve.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
So that's making it a little hard. But yes, I'm
currently looking trying to get a place for us. They
will re be.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Megan. Anything that we can do to help out Nakia
or any of the other folks that you're serving there
at Bethany House. What can we do?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We have lots of ways to help. You can go
to our website and see a lot of what we're doing.
You can see ways to give, things to give, you
can volunteer. There's so many opportunities to come and help.
I also wanted to point out that Nikia has a
job waiting for her, and because her children are in shelter,
she can't leave. I don't want to tell your story,
(08:50):
but one of the barriers the parents' face is daycare.
That they can't leave their children alone and shelter to
go out to a job, and if they work second shift,
that's a problem. Are starting a daycare in house? That
will be We're starting construction this summer and by school,
by fall, we'll be ready to start watching families children
(09:11):
in house.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Megan, that is an expensive project you're taking over, but boy,
how much that is needed. You don't want to leave
those kiddos home, and well good, I'm glad Nikia that
you've got that job waiting thanks to them. I certainly
hope that this moves quickly for you and you get
the help that you need from Bethany House. How's the
you said you hurt yourself at work? Are y'all heeled up?
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I'm fine now, just gets a little siffering now, again.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
But it's fine.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
But you know that comes with age too, Mkia, everything
starts to get a little Thanks so much. Good luck
to you. Nikia. Check in with us in a few
months and let us know how you're doing.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Will you sure I can do that?
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Megan? Will you book her for us?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I will you will.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Thanks so much, ladies, Thank you. If you missed any
of this show, you can hear it on the iHeartRadio
app look under podcasts for Iheartsinsey. If you got any
suggestions on shows upcoming or questions, just email me Iheartsinsey
at iHeartMedia dot com. Iheartsinsey with an I at iHeartMedia
(10:20):
dot Com until next week. Thanks for listening. I'm Sandy Collins.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Iheartsinsey is a production of iHeartMedia, Cincinnati,
This is iHeart Sinsey, a public affairs show producer right
here in Cincinnati. I'm Sandy Collins. My next guest is
a young woman with kids who has come up against
some tough circumstances and has needed to reach out for help. Unfortunately,
Bethany House is there to help her. My guest is
Nikia Woods, she is a mom of four, and Megan
(00:24):
Park from Bethany House. She's the marketing and communications manager
for Bethany House Services. We're gonna hear Nikiah Woods story
on iHeart Cincy. Nikia, glad that you're here today because
your story is going to help people, and you're going
through a tough time and we know that, and I
just wanted to reach out to you and say I'm sorry.
(00:46):
Whatever your circumstances are, and we'll find out some of
those here in a minute, whatever you feel interested in
sharing with us. But it's really nice to have you
on the show. And Megan Park is here. She is
the marketing and communications manager for Bethany House Services. How's
it going both of you?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Pretty good? Pretty good?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So, Nikia, you've got four little ones? How big are they?
And you're all in the shelter?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We well, I have four children. They are fourteen, ten, nine,
and soon to be eight. I do have three of
them here in shelter with me. My youngest son stays
with his.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Five and that's tough for everybody to be separated. Yeah,
do you want to kind of talk about the fact
that you're struggling now You've had some help and you've
had a job, and you still are having trouble finding
a house big enough to house you all, or you know,
an affordable apartment to live in. Can you tell us
(01:52):
a little bit about your story.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, I was working at Metro before I got here.
I have broken in my hand and a part of
my wrist and the cosman to be medically from work,
and I had basically fell on hard times with pay bills,
paying my rent, and I basically was letting my landlord know.
At first she was like working with me, and then
(02:15):
all of a sudden, one day I got an eviction
letter and I'm like okay, So I went through safe
visit the pall. They'd be like, okay, well we'll pay it,
and she's like, well, I don't want you guys to
pay it, because if you pay it, then I can
e Victor and it was just like all because she
wanted to renovate the building and raise the rent. This
is great.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, that seems to be a problem in this town
with everybody wants to raise the rent and when they're
all complaining in their own personal lives that they can't
afford anything. Megan, this seems to be a common issue
with people that are experiencing homelessness, and that is medical
bills throw everything off.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yes, absolutely, Yeah, it just takes one unexpected event for
people to not be able to catch up and fall
behind on rent.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
It could be a car repair that throws you off.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You know, there's so many there's so many unexpected things
in life that if you're on a tight budget, you know,
you fall behind quickly. And we heard this story over
and over and over and over again here in Shelter.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, and so many people live check to check. They
try to save, they'll save up five hundred, one thousand
dollars maybe more, and then here comes that next thing
that comes in and boom, all of that's gone and
now you've got to live check to check again. And
it's just, you know, you're like a hamster on a
wheel and it's tough, but Bethany Services helps out. How
did you get involved and get a place there at Bethany.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Well, Originally when we got indigted, I was saying, with
like a sister or a friend here and there when
they would let us you know, sometimes they would sometimes
things happen.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I completely understand.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
And then we were standing in the car and the
whole time we just kept calling back to be out.
We had reached out to prod Jack Connect and they
have put us in a hotel for like four days,
I think. And then I want to say, like the
day after we get out the hotel, they had called
me back like, hey, we have shelters, we have space
for you in the shelter. So they were ever going
(04:14):
to get to an uber to come to us, and
we've been here every sin.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
That was on October fifteenth.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
It's been quite a while since last fall. How did
the kids handle it? How do you talk to them
about what's happening.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
I'm pretty open with my children. They're pretty like understanding
and comprehending, humble children. So they kind of I told
them as we were kind of going through with what
we're going through, so to them, they know what we're
going through. But they know what we're going through, but
it's not affecting them because this is like a vacation.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Something to them.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
It's an adventure. Everything is an adventure when you're fourteen, ten, nine,
and eight. But seriously, it is a tough time, and
so they're at Bethany House Services. Megan, you all want
to get people back into housing, but not just temporary housing.
You want to really address the problem. How do you
(05:10):
do that?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Absolutely, so we help families overcome lots of barriers. And
one of the big things we do is help people
get vouchers or Section eight if they're eligible, and then
that can help them ensure that they are able to
stay in their apartment's longer term. We definitely want people
to get into apartments that are not going to be
(05:32):
too expensive for them in a year's time or two
years time. And that's the best solution to homelessness is
homes that people can afford.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And do you think that's going to be changing at
all in the next year or so? Everything is going
up financially, and we've been talking about this problem in
Cincinnati for years. If you look at apartments for rent,
you know you've got these little dinky houses for two
thousand dollars a month, and you're like, well, you know that,
I've seen so many of these places where the sidewalk
(06:04):
is crushed all the way up that you can barely
get up on the porch and they're paying fifteen hundred,
eighteen hundred a month just for that hole. You know.
So what do you see in the future when it
comes to affordable rents in the next year or so.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
There is such a huge gap in the market, right, Like,
there's lots of building happening, but it's down on the banks,
it's in very exclusive places. This medium to low range
housing is still a huge hole in the market. Much
more needs to be built. And as you pointed out,
like landlords are part of the problem. Landlords that have
(06:46):
housing that is unlivable with we hear stories about mold
and roaches and ants and you know, all kinds of
terrible housing situations. Yeah, also leads to people to shelter.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So if that is haveening to you or someone you know,
there are remedies. They're not allowed to do that, right, Megan.
The landlords are not supposed to let the critters in
the in the mold are growing in your place.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
No, they are not to get into shelter, you have
to call the capline. But there's also United Way has
numbers two one one is a great number to call.
There's Tenant Tenant Guard is a great website that you
can go to for help with rent. Like there are
other you know, things to plug the holes. But you know,
(07:33):
we see people when they have tried everything and were
their last Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Nikiya, what your future look like here this summer and
what's your next steps?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Well, I have currently received Section made, so I'm currently
looking for housing, which is also still kind of hard
because I guess of the economies a lot of people
aren't wanting to accept sectionatey anymore because Section eight is
low balling the landlords where where they want sixteen seventeen hundred,
(08:08):
They're like.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Nope, you're only going to get twelve.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
So that's making it a little hard. But yes, I'm
currently looking trying to get a place for us. They
will re be.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Megan. Anything that we can do to help out Nakia
or any of the other folks that you're serving there
at Bethany House. What can we do?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We have lots of ways to help. You can go
to our website and see a lot of what we're doing.
You can see ways to give, things to give, you
can volunteer. There's so many opportunities to come and help.
I also wanted to point out that Nikia has a
job waiting for her, and because her children are in shelter,
she can't leave. I don't want to tell your story,
(08:50):
but one of the barriers the parents' face is daycare.
That they can't leave their children alone and shelter to
go out to a job, and if they work second shift,
that's a problem. Are starting a daycare in house? That
will be We're starting construction this summer and by school,
by fall, we'll be ready to start watching families children
(09:11):
in house.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Megan, that is an expensive project you're taking over, but boy,
how much that is needed. You don't want to leave
those kiddos home, and well good, I'm glad Nikia that
you've got that job waiting thanks to them. I certainly
hope that this moves quickly for you and you get
the help that you need from Bethany House. How's the
you said you hurt yourself at work? Are y'all heeled up?
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I'm fine now, just gets a little siffering now, again.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
But it's fine.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
But you know that comes with age too, Mkia, everything
starts to get a little Thanks so much. Good luck
to you. Nikia. Check in with us in a few
months and let us know how you're doing.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Will you sure I can do that?
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Megan? Will you book her for us?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I will you will.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Thanks so much, ladies, Thank you. If you missed any
of this show, you can hear it on the iHeartRadio
app look under podcasts for Iheartsinsey. If you got any
suggestions on shows upcoming or questions, just email me Iheartsinsey
at iHeartMedia dot com. Iheartsinsey with an I at iHeartMedia
(10:20):
dot Com until next week. Thanks for listening. I'm Sandy Collins.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Iheartsinsey is a production of iHeartMedia, Cincinnati,
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