“I’ve finally figured out the most important thing you do here.”

A Joshua Station resident certainly got my attention with that line, and I leaned in for what was next.  The most important thing? “You love us, so that we can learn to love ourselves.”

Our residents’ most urgent and visible need is secure housing. In our weekly staff meetings this month we are listening to the exceptional podcast “According to Need.” With the homelessness crisis exploding in our communities and nation—now involving over half a million people—this in-depth series asks: How are we doing in getting people into housing?

In short, not well. For just one example, since its inception in 2000, dialing 211 has been a great lifeline for navigating local resources. If you’re looking for housing these days? Most likely, a dead end. The tsunami of need, caused by vast inequities in housing availability and access, has overwhelmed it.

Imagine having lost housing, with your kids in the car, hearing “I’m sorry ma’am” … and then searching for words for your children’s questions. Imagine, over weeks and months managing your family life day and night in the front and back seat, what it might do to your spirit.

So, we open as many units as we can at Joshua Station, and are building more at Clara Brown Commons. We engage the overwhelmed systems, collaborating with many local partners. Recognizing that families come to us deeply traumatized, we provide best-practice supports for healing. Our programming offers expertise and advocacy.

Most importantly, as our residents thankfully recognize, we give and receive love. While it’s true that each piece of our programming is love, abundant love oozes even between the cracks of our formal organizational work. We often call Joshua Station our “beloved community.” We hug. We listen. We share disappointment and hope, every day, in our circle of caring. Our residents who are accustomed to “systems” often remark how very unusual this is.

“Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully” (1 Peter 4:8-9).

Stirred by great love,

Amy Jackson, MSW

Deputy Director, Mile High Ministries

Program Director, Joshua Station