In their significant new book, When We Walk By, Kevin Addler and Donald Burns suggest that “No one should go through homelessness alone.” It’s a book about Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play In Ending Homelessness in America. The reality of America’s epidemic of loneliness touches us all in some way. It tugs at our hearts. The authors’ analysis doesn’t stop there, however.
“Unfortunately, relational poverty is often overlooked by many of the organizations that supply housing and other services to the unhoused…. They often regard efforts to rebuild relationships and provide social connections not a necessity, but a ‘nice to have’ for their unhoused clients….
As human beings, we need more than just a physical home: we need a social home as well.” (p. 22-23)
For Mile High Ministries, relationships and social connection are at the very core of our work. When speaking of our supportive housing, we often talk about “More than a roof.” Our residents so often say, “Joshua Station has become family.” We anticipate hearing that from our new resident neighbors at our newly opened Clara Brown Commons.
It doesn’t happen simply by accident. It requires great intentionality and focus on our part, and open-hearted courage on the part of our residents. But it does happen!
Critically, we also need collaboration of donors and volunteers—both to make our housing affordable, but even more importantly, to make it supportive. We are grateful for every single team member who is lovingly investing treasure, time, and talents so that our residents can be home, and not alone.
