Sheboygan Stories: Unhoused and Unheard

Scott LaBonte
  • 5.0 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Real people. Real stories. Sheboygan Stories: Unhoused and Unheard is a raw and honest podcast sharing the voices of those experiencing homelessness in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Hosted by Scott LaBonte, co-founder of Sheboygan Area Pay It Forward, each episode amplifies stories of survival, struggle, and strength from the streets, shelters, and systems that often forget the people they serve. No filters. Just truth.

  1. What Actually Helps

    APR 5

    What Actually Helps

    After talking about the hard truths of helping in the last episode, this week’s conversation shifts to something just as important—what actually makes a difference. Drawing from their experience running the Pay It Forward day center, Scott reflects on the things that truly helped people move forward. Not quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions, but the small, consistent moments that build trust over time. From relationships and routine to accountability and community support, this episode explores what real help looks like—and why it’s often different than what people expect. Because meaningful change doesn’t usually happen all at once. It happens in the quiet moments, the everyday interactions, and the willingness to keep showing up. Chapters (00:00:23) - Unhoused and Unheard Of: Helping the Homeless(00:01:05) - What Actually Made a Difference in People's Lives(00:09:04) - Paying it Forward: Sheboygan Stories

    10 min
  2. The Hard Truths About Helping

    MAR 22

    The Hard Truths About Helping

    Helping people experiencing homelessness is often talked about in simple terms—compassion, resources, and support. But the reality is more complicated. In this episode, Scott is joined by his wife Kathleen for an honest conversation shaped by their years running the Pay It Forward day center. Together, they reflect on the parts of this work people don’t always see—the balance between compassion and accountability, the importance of safety within shared spaces, and the difficult decisions that come with trying to serve everyone well. They also discuss why some individuals choose not to access shelters or warming centers, and what that reveals about the challenges of creating spaces that feel both welcoming and safe. With the warming center scheduled to close on April 15th, this conversation takes on added urgency. Because when the doors close, the need doesn’t. This episode isn’t about criticism or easy answers. It’s about honest reflection, lived experience, and the complex reality of helping people navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives. Because real change starts with real conversations. Chapters (00:00:00) - Unhoused and Unaccountable(00:02:38) - Pay It Forward: Being Safe and Responsible(00:09:34) - Anatomy 101: Accountability(00:15:38) - Donor perspectives on other organizations(00:20:26) - Homeless People Avoid The Warming Center(00:24:50) - Warming Center: When Will it Close?(00:30:29) - Discussion of the Need for a Community Center(00:31:51) - The Cost of Helping Others(00:37:04) - Pay it Forward Donor on transparency(00:43:08) - Ask Questions at the Charity Ball(00:44:17) - No Single Organization Can Solve Homelessness(00:48:09) - "It's Super Hard to Win"(00:49:39) - Unheard: Sheboygan Stories unhoused and unheard

    51 min
  3. Why Community Matters More Than Programs

    MAR 8

    Why Community Matters More Than Programs

    Over the past few years, conversations around homelessness in our community haven’t always been easy. There’s been frustration, misunderstanding, and a lot of stigma. But lately, something feels different. In this episode, Scott reflects on a shift he’s starting to notice in Sheboygan — in conversations, on social media, and on the streets. More curiosity. More compassion. More people beginning to see our unhoused neighbors not as problems to solve, but as people to understand. This episode explores why community matters more than programs, and how small human moments can slowly change the way a city sees its most vulnerable neighbors. Because real change doesn’t always happen through policies or programs. Sometimes it starts with simply seeing each other. Chapters (00:00:00) - Community matters more than programs(00:05:19) - I've Noticed a Change in Our Community's Talk About Homeless People(00:11:38) - Paying it Forward: The Journey of the Homeless in Sheboy

    18 min
  4. The Quiet Work

    FEB 22

    The Quiet Work

    Not every step forward is loud. In this reflective solo episode, Scott explores the space between crisis and triumph — the quiet, steady work that happens after someone moves into housing. Inspired by a recent follow-up conversation with Jimmy, this episode looks at why we’re drawn to dramatic transformation stories and why real stability often unfolds slowly and without applause. From media narratives to nonprofit expectations to personal parallels in special education and parenting, “The Quiet Work” challenges how we define success — and invites us to recognize the value of maintenance, consistency, and simply holding steady. Because sometimes progress doesn’t perform. It just persists. Chapters (00:00:24) - What if Real Progress Isn't Seen in Social Media?(00:05:31) - The Quiet Work of Homelessness

    12 min
  5. From the Sidewalk to Stability

    FEB 8

    From the Sidewalk to Stability

    In Episode 2, Jimmy shared his story from the sidewalk outside the library during the very early days of this podcast. In this follow-up conversation, Jimmy returns almost a month into living in his own place for an honest check-in on what life looks like now. This episode isn’t about a perfect ending. It’s about the in-between — what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what stability really feels like after time spent unhoused. Through reflection and lived experience, Jimmy offers insight into the realities of housing, support, and the slow work of rebuilding. A reminder that people are not moments — they are stories still being written. Chapters (00:00:00) - Sheboygan Stories: A Check-in With Jimmy(00:01:04) - Post-Part 2: Fighting the Streets(00:02:37) - Living in a Place for the First Month(00:04:20) - Has there been anything that's been harder than you expected?(00:07:10) - What Does Support for Recovery Look Like For You?(00:08:13) - How to Get Support in Recovery(00:08:59) - Don't Give Up On Your Journey(00:14:20) - Bob Dylan on his battle with depression(00:14:53) - When Did We First Met?

    16 min
  6. Meeting People Where They Are

    JAN 25

    Meeting People Where They Are

    In this episode, Scott reflects on the unexpected connection between special education and homelessness. Drawing from his experience as an elementary special education teacher and his work alongside people experiencing homelessness, he explores shared themes of vulnerability, unmet needs, and systems that weren’t built for everyone. This isn’t a comparison — it’s a realization. One that challenges how we judge behavior, define accountability, and offer support. Episode 20 asks an important question: What if the problem isn’t the people… but the systems around them? Chapters (00:00:24) - Unhoused and Unheard Of: IEPs(00:10:50) - Language matters in special education(00:12:47) - In the Fight for Homeless People(00:15:29) - How to Adapt the Homeless to Our System(00:16:48) - Pay it Forward: Ending(00:23:49) - The homeless in the library(00:27:21) - The challenges of treating people with disabilities(00:28:27) - Paying it Forward: This Episode

    30 min
  7. What people don't see: Why it feels like nothing changes

    JAN 11

    What people don't see: Why it feels like nothing changes

    Homelessness is often judged by what we can see — but most of the struggle happens in the moments no one notices. In this episode, Scott and Kathleen pull back the curtain on the daily realities of life without stability and explore why real change can feel so slow and invisible. From constant exhaustion and survival mode to system barriers and quiet wins that rarely get recognized, this conversation offers an honest look at what progress really looks like when you’re unhoused — and why compassion and consistency still matter, even when outcomes aren’t immediate. This is a reflective, real-time conversation about perspective, patience, and seeing people beyond the surface. Chapters (00:00:22) - Unhoused and Unheard: Homelessness in Sheboygan(00:01:00) - Confessions of a Combat Veteran(00:01:57) - What People Don't See About Homelessness(00:03:59) - Tom Clancy on Homeless People and Their Consequences(00:06:14) - On the Nextdoor App(00:07:18) - "How Do You Know They're Homeless?"(00:12:00) - Homeless People's Day-to-Day Life(00:14:30) - What Do Special Ed Students Need to Do to Survive?(00:17:04) - How to Get Out of Survival Mode(00:21:26) - The dignity of the addicted person(00:25:02) - Why Does It Seems Like Nothing Ever Changes?(00:29:30) - Why Progress Takes So Long(00:33:59) - Jimmy Gets His Keys Back(00:38:08) - Volunteer Burnout, turnover(00:40:40) - Wonders on the Streets: Progress(00:46:52) - Clear Boundaries and Consequences(00:51:09) - What Kind of Compassion Is That?(00:51:33) - No Home For Homeless People?

    53 min
  8. Inside the System: Therapy, Treatment, and Second Chances

    12/28/2025

    Inside the System: Therapy, Treatment, and Second Chances

    In this episode, Scott sits down with Morgan, a Drug Court Coordinator, and Sam, a therapist with the Department of Health and Human Services, for an honest look at how recovery, mental health, and accountability intersect. They talk about what drug court really looks like, the challenges people face while navigating substance use and trauma, and why support systems matter just as much as structure. This conversation offers insight into the work happening behind the scenes — where compassion meets responsibility and real change begins. Chapters (00:00:00) - Unhoused and Unaccounted in Sheboygan(00:01:03) - What led you into this line of work?(00:02:24) - Getting it together in the court system(00:03:13) - What Led You Into Work at Health and Human Services?(00:04:43) - In Treatment Court, Sam and Andrea(00:07:03) - How Often Are You Two Working Together in the Treatment Court?(00:08:13) - Mental health and addiction(00:09:43) - How early do you often see the struggles in people's lives with(00:11:01) - What is Treatment Court in Sheboygan?(00:15:40) - What Does the Drug Court Team Look Like?(00:19:23) - How Homelessness Impacts Recovery or Treatment Court(00:23:22) - "They Didn't Choose This Life"(00:29:27) - How to Protect Your Mental Health While Working(00:34:30) - What Keeps You From Getting Burned Out?(00:36:47) - What Does Success Look Like For Someone Who Graduates Drug Court?(00:40:37) - What would you both want to see happen for substance abuse and mental

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Real people. Real stories. Sheboygan Stories: Unhoused and Unheard is a raw and honest podcast sharing the voices of those experiencing homelessness in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Hosted by Scott LaBonte, co-founder of Sheboygan Area Pay It Forward, each episode amplifies stories of survival, struggle, and strength from the streets, shelters, and systems that often forget the people they serve. No filters. Just truth.

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