On any given night in America, 553,000 people are homeless. They are men, women and children. They are single and married. They are from every ethnic group, they come from a wide variety of economic and social backgrounds, and every one of their stories is unique. In short, they are just like us.
And while the reasons for their plight run the gamut, even the briefest visit to some of the cities in the Western US will convince you that the problem is getting worse. In fact, it’s an epidemic. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has reported that, between 2016 and 2017 alone, the number of “unsheltered” homeless (that is, those not in a shelter of any kind) grew by 9 percent.
Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, leader of The Salvation Army in the Western US, shares his vision for increasing The Salvation Army's efforts to combat homelessness across the West.
Communities in the West look for solutions to the homelessness crisis
Despite the state of the economy, levels of homelessness continue to rise in many communities, none more prominently than those along the West Coast. Cities like Seattle and Los Angeles, known for their lack of affordable housing, are battling a crisis of homelessness that seems to know no end.
Read Story
A permanent place to call home for homeless in Los Angeles
If ‘home is where the heart is,’ then it’s fair to say the residents of the new in Bell, California, are surrounded by more love than ever.
Read Story
What experiencing homelessness taught me about having plans
‘God’s plan are always better than our dreams.’ Joey Zumaya had it all—a family, house and career. He and his wife, Jessica, had married young and quickly. But early on in their marriage, Joey found himself lost.
Read Story