At this time last year, Richard Reiter – who goes by “Pops” – lived on the banks under the Kansas River bridge.

“It’s an experience I don’t want to do again if I (don’t) have to,” he said recently.

But in December – just in time for Christmas – Reiter proudly announced his first real address in 15 months: An apartment in west Lawrence.

Reiter credits his recent success to Carla Wozniak, one of four new social workers at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center dedicated to helping the homeless.

“He completed drug and alcohol treatment,” Wozniak said of Reiter.

“After that, we were just going through the motions, got his food stamps back on. And then, finally, we found an apartment for him.”

Bert Nash officials said the work is typical of the four “homeless outreach specialists” added to the staff in May. The new positions are paid for by a $160,000 grant from City Hall.

“The team is really designed to help individuals remember appointments, get them appointments, cut through the red tape and understand the red tape,” said Lynn Amyx, residential services coordinator at Bert Nash.

The team is finding that it takes time to earn the trust of their clients.

“Because this program is new, it’s taking some time to develop a reputation within the homeless community,” Wozniak said.

“For a population who doesn’t have a lot of reason to trust, that is a big sign of success – the willingness to engage,” Amyx said.

Between May and September, the four specialists spent more than 1,500 hours working with 285 clients at locations across Lawrence. They helped 13 families, made up of 59 people, improve their housing situations.

“Of all the things I can think of, that’s had the greatest impact to the people on the streets and the people that are in need,” said Steve Ozark, of the Lawrence Coalition for Homeless Concerns.

Reiter, in his new home, is grateful for Wozniak’s help.

“She’ll stand behind you 100 percent,” he said. “When she says she’s going to do something, she does it.”