FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING
A proven pathway for the entire family.
Elevate Lives walks with families through stable housing, mentorship, education, and community, building the foundation for generational change in north Springfield.
THE REALITY
One in four people in Springfield live in poverty.
But poverty isn't just about income. It's what happens when a family has no margin. No savings, no support system, no room to recover from one bad month. Most people don't stay stuck because they lack effort. They stay stuck because they lack stability and a clear path forward.
Every year, billions of dollars are poured into poverty relief with very little change in the overall numbers. Meals and shelters meet real, immediate needs. But breaking the cycle takes something more. It takes a pathway.
THE PATHWAY
This is not a program.
It's a pathway.
The Pathway out of Poverty is a structured, relational journey that walks with families for 18 to 24 months through five stages of transformation:
Stability — Safe, quality housing through Homes with a Purpose. A family can't grow when they're not sure where they'll sleep next month.
Structure — Life-skills training, financial coaching, and mentorship. Building the daily habits and knowledge that create a foundation for change.
Growth — Deeper relational connections, community involvement, and personal development. Families begin to discover who they're becoming, not just what they're leaving behind.
Opportunity — Workforce development, career guidance, and real-world skills. The transition from surviving to building.
Independence — Families graduate the Pathway with stable housing, financial literacy, a support network, and the confidence to sustain a thriving life on their own.
We don't offer temporary help. We walk with families for the long road.
Is the Pathway right for you?
We're looking for the 1 in 100 who are serious about changing their lives and willing to put in the work to make it happen. The Pathway is built for individuals and families who are already making progress, who demonstrate responsibility, and who are ready to go all in.
Due to our specific focus, we are not able to accommodate those currently in crisis situations.
How to get started:
The Pathway begins with a referral. We do not accept self-referrals.
- If you are graduating from a program, connected to a local church, or working with a social worker, have the leader, pastor, or social worker who knows you best reach out to apply@elevatelives.org to schedule a referral call on your behalf. Include family size, configuration, and any relevant timing details.
- If a referral is accepted, you'll receive a phone call and an application link.
- Applications are reviewed and those selected for an interview will be contacted within one week.
Common questions:
Who is a good fit? Our focus is the working poor who are demonstrating responsibility and a desire to change. All applicants must be clean and sober for a minimum of 9 months, preferably 1 year.
Do you only help single moms? No. We work with different family configurations: married, single individuals, with or without kids.
What does the commitment include? Active engagement in weekly group sessions, setting and achieving weekly goals, meeting weekly with a trained mentor, meeting monthly with the Pathway Director, and participation in a local church.
What if I only need housing? All housing is reserved for Pathway participants who have completed the referral, application, and interview process.
What if I don't need housing? Great. Housing is not a requirement. The referral process is the same.
Contact: apply@elevatelives.org
ELEVATE CENTER
What if everything a family needed existed in one place?
Elevate Center is a former elementary school in north Springfield, transformed into a collaborative hub where four organizations work side by side toward one goal: whole-family transformation.
Christ-centered education that builds confidence, character, and long-term opportunity for children.
Addiction recovery and support for individuals and families on the path to restoration.
Stable housing, life-skills training, mentorship, and a faith-centered pathway to personal transformation.
Entrepreneurship training, hands-on job skills, and real-world experiences for youth.
Four organizations. One roof. One mission.
From the crib to career, every member of the family has a place here.
THE IMPACT
This is working.
570+
People Served
17
Stabilization Homes Renovated and Occupied
42-unit
Apartment Development in Progress
Hundreds employed through workforce training
Families reunited and thriving independently
MEET THE FOUNDER
Russ Gosselin has spent nearly two decades learning what it actually takes to help a family break the cycle of poverty.
Russ founded Elevate Lives in 2007 in Colorado Springs, where he led neighborhood revitalization efforts and walked alongside families navigating poverty firsthand. In 2017, he brought that experience to Springfield, Missouri, and began building what would become the Elevate Center.
He didn't design a program from a boardroom. He built a model from the ground, renovating homes, mentoring families, and assembling a team of partner organizations who share a conviction that no one thrives alone. Today, the Elevate Center houses four organizations under one roof, and the model is growing.
“The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”
GET INVOLVED
There's room at the table for you.
Your investment fuels a pathway that's already changing families in north Springfield. Every dollar supports stable housing, mentorship, education, workforce training, and addiction recovery, all under one roof, all working together toward one goal.