Here's Why Karen Laine's New Nonprofit Is Controversial

When Karen Laine announced she was taking a step back from Two Chicks and a Hammer, her business with daughter and Good Bones co-star Mina Starsiak, a million fans' hearts broke simultaneously. As a Facebook post advised in September 2019, "After a long career of practicing law and revitalizing homes and neighborhoods, Karen is retiring. ... Karen is excited to spend her time doing all the things she loves like spending more time with Roger, sailing, hanging with her chickens, and working on DIY's for Good Bones!"

Clearly, it wasn't going to be a quiet retirement for Laine and indeed her own Instagram bio implores fans to get in touch if they wish to book her for an event. Likewise, the Good Bones star remains hands-on during the various featured home renovations, as promised. The former lawyer is also studying for a whole new career in her spare time, so keeping busy is paramount. However, one of Laine's new ventures is sure to cause some raised eyebrows.

In a wide-ranging interview with Pop Culture, Karen Laine gushed about how wonderful the cast and crew is on Good Bones and how much she values the work they do in the greater Indianapolis area. She especially loves giving a platform to local businesses, noting it's "very gratifying to be able to help local businesses and help local people that we know." The show, as the reality star acknowledged, has given her more opportunities than she ever thought possible, one of which is Laine's setting up of a 501c3 specifically to target homelessness in her hometown called Indy Home. The Good Bones star admitted the concept itself isn't rare but it is, technically, quite controversial.

As she explained, "It's called Housing First and the idea is to really address homelessness, you have to give someone a home. If you have barriers to that, like, you require them to give up a pet, or a loved one, or alcohol, or whatever it is, before they have a home, they're going to resist being in a home." Laine advised that having a home is a basic human need and if you can meet it while allowing the person to keep their dog, for example, significant "change comes from there." As the former lawyer sees it, once someone feels secure and reassured in their home, it makes a real difference in all facets of their life.