The Dare Center opens

Loring Henderson opens a drop-in and rest center in downtown Lawrence.

Carrying a legacy forward

HRC joins with the Coalition for Homeless Concerns to carry its work forward.

A new chapter

HRC hires its first Executive Director, Brett Hartford. The work grows from a place to rest into a place to move forward.

LINK joins HRC

LINK, a community meal program serving Lawrence since 1985, becomes a program of HRC.

One place, many paths

A day center, a community meal, paid work, and partners on site every week.

Brett Hartford

Executive Director

Brett has spent his life in nonprofit work, with a focus on making friends out of strangers and making resources real and reachable.

Born and raised in Lawrence, Brett went from Bible college to working in the projects of Orlando, then to a multi-site church in New Jersey. He spent 10 years at City Relief, serving people experiencing homelessness across the New York City area, as Director of Outreaches, Director of Operations, and Director of Partnerships.

For 17 years, Brett has served in the New Jersey National Guard, where he plays low brass in the 63rd Army Band.

Brett has been married for 18 years to his childhood best friend, Renee. Together they have two daughters, Selah and Talita. He loves adventures with his family, running, good food, and chopping wood.

Victoria Brown

Director of Operations

Victoria has spent most of her working life in the service industry, putting the needs of the people she serves and leads first, and building the systems that help an organization grow.

Born in the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal, Victoria grew up doing community outreach alongside her parents, who worked in law enforcement and pastored a small neighborhood church. Her late mother had one philosophy: leave people better than you found them.

After 19 years working her way up to corporate leadership, Victoria brought those skills to HRC to focus on her passion for community care and relationship building.

Victoria has been married to her best friend since high school, Nick, for ten years. Together they have two children, Oliver and Charlie. She loves traveling, cooking with her husband, and spending time with friends and family in Lawrence.

Tony Kaufman

President

Brennan Clark

Treasurer

Debra Engstrom

Secretary

Anne Emert

Board Member

Lauren Coleman-Temple

Board Member

Cathy Hilliard

Board Member

Loring Henderson

Founder and Board Member

Loring Henderson

Founder

Loring graduated from the University of Kansas in 1961 and served six years in the U.S. Navy. He then spent three decades in Washington, D.C., working with social and political organizations.

His heart brought him back to Kansas, where he directed the Redemptorist Social Services Center in Kansas City and later led the Lawrence Community Shelter, reshaping it to better serve people experiencing homelessness.

After retiring from the shelter in 2014, Loring founded the Drop-In and Rest Center, The Dare Center, which became the Homeless Resource Center. He still serves on our board today.