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About Us

How It All Started

Richard in front of house

When Richard Howell was released from prison in 2009, he got turned down for housing again and again. He experienced first-hand the ways our rental and housing markets exclude returning citizens who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. “How am I supposed to be a productive citizen if I don’t have the basic need of housing?” he asks. It’s an urgent question for a state with around 5,000 returning citizens in a given year.

Rather than lose hope, his experience inspired Richard to work to find rental housing for people with felony backgrounds, while also helping them stabilize their lives.


This is one example of many where Richard sees opportunities where others see problems.  Richard sees opportunities everywhere — for connection, for change, or for new and better systems. He has launched addiction recovery programs, organized housing for people with felonies, collected resources for people to help them survive COVID-19, and now works helping young people transition from school to jobs.

Having participated in addiction recovery programs, Richard understood what had and hadn’t worked for him.

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Richard builds relationships to help share the opportunities he sees with his community. He views his work as a means to eliminate the barriers between people and resources, creating more direct lines of access to opportunity. 

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Vita Nova Process Chart

Our Process

Vita Nova Resident Criteria

  • Men with felony backgrounds

  • On parole/probation

  • No sex offenses

  • Maintain sobriety - from legal (alcohol, marijuana) and illegal substances

  • Employed or seeking employment

  • Actively working with SOAR case manager
     

Vita Nova Resident Criteria

Rule violations will be handled by SOAR case manager and/or housing coordinator. Consequences may include removal from the program.

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  1. Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol. No drugs or alcohol on the premises including marijuana. Residents cannot come home if you are intoxicated or high.

  2. Zero tolerance for violence, sexual assault, damage to property, carrying a gun, human trafficking, selling drugs, theft.

  3. No bullying (defined as seeking to harm, intimidate, or coerce another person).

  4. No unwanted toching or sexual harassment

  5. Follow all parole conditions.

  6. Visitors allowed 7 am – 10 pm. No overnight visitors. 

  7. All visitors must follow house rules.

  8. No more than two guests without prior approval. 

  9. All visitors are required to sign in. 

  10. No pets or pet-sitting.

  11. Curfew 10pm unless given prior approval.

  12. Room inspections can be conducted at any time. 

  13. No smoking or vaping in house.

  14. No candles or incense in house.

  15. Keep your personal and common areas clean.

  16. Quiet time after 10 pm.

  17. No storing food in room.

  18. Treat people and their property with respect.

  19. Treat building with respect.

  20. Treat neighbors with respect.

Board of Directors

Stacy Radosevich, Co-Chair

Senior Planner, St. Louis County

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Elise Strader, Co-Chair

Homeless Program Project Coordinator,

Human Development Center

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Richard Howell, Vice Chair and Founder

Housing Specialist, True North Goodwill

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Caitlin Vander Wal, Secretary

Planner, St. Louis County

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Kyra Gustafson, Treasurer

Program Operations Manager,

Mediation and Restorative Services

Corinne Fader

Re-Entry Specialist, True North Goodwill

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Lynn Nephew

Realtor, RE/MAX

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Matt Whiting

Chemical Health Counselor,

Genesis Recovery Services, LLC

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Katherine Mueller, ex officio

Business Manager, Vita Nova

Principal, Flourish Nonprofit Development LLC

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