Fix Homelessness How to rebuild human lives
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What Works

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Starving homeless people receive food from volunteers who serve humane : The concept of giving

Springs Rescue Mission: More Than Food and a Bed

The city of Colorado Springs does not want people sleeping on the streets and stealing or begging for food. The last IRS report 990 that Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) filed (April 2024) shows $5.6 million in food and shelter costs, with $2.2 million coming from governments and $3.4 million from private sources. Their overall income is a healthy $13.5 million. SRM does not owe its life to government, and it does not give beds and meals only to those who sit through a service or listen to a sermon. Part of the argument for city government supplementing the SRM budget comes down to dollars and cents. Colorado Springs spends about $57,000 annually per chronically homeless adult. SRM sees about 220 Read More ›

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people praying to god at home on black background with people stock photo

Springs Rescue Mission: Spiritual Recovery Through Love, Not Force

A Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) document declares, “Our faith is why we do what we do, but faith is never required of others to receive basic relief services.…We believe it is God’s job to change people, not ours.” Old-style missions often thought they could change people by requiring attendance at chapel services. SRM does not have a campus church or any required service. SRM’s Christian statement emphasizes that God is “the one who transforms. Therefore, when guests make bad choices, it’s up to God to work with them. It’s God’s job to change people. It’s our role to help in the project, not own it.” Last March, though, The Gazette — Colorado Springs’ daily newspaper — reported criticism of SRM Read More ›

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Robert Marbut Discusses Seattle’s Homelessness Crisis on the John Curley Show

In Seattle, the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness is on track to double in just the next three years. Robert Marbut appeared on KIRO Newsradio’s John Curley Show to discuss the policies that have exacerbated the crisis and the solutions available to the city and county. Discovery Institute released a report last November detailing our policy recommendations for the city of Seattle to curb their homelessness crisis.

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King County Non-Profit Steps Up for the Homeless Where County Government Fails

The More We Love While King County Executive Dow Constantine continues to fail Burien, The More We Love is on the ground right now, quietly placing homeless men and women into detox and housing. “Camp Constantine” remains a cesspool of crime, drugs, and chaos. Pray for these outreach workers. The More We Love Does the Heavy Lifting What’s even more perplexing, King County hired REACH to clear out Camp Constantine. But Burien city leaders say this homeless outreach provider contacts The More We Love to do the heavy lifting, and of course Kristine Moreland obliges since her group is just trying to save lives.

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King County Non-Profit Rescues Homeless Mother and Her Children from Burien Encampment

Rescued Homeless children are suffering in Burien’s encampments. Two kids were just rescued from Dow Constantine’s drug den near the courthouse. Even though he literally created this problem, the King County Executive is ignoring pleas from city leaders and neighbors to shut it down. King County Lets Treatment Beds Sit Empty Burien Councilmember Linda Akey says there are detox and treatment beds open right now in the area for the people staying in Dow Constantine’s drug camp. But Akey says King County is refusing to move them and won’t tell her why. The More We Love Just a few months ago, Kristine Moreland and The More We Love secured a contract with Burien to do all the homeless outreach in Read More ›

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Robert Marbut Discusses Grants Pass v. Johnson on [un]Divided with Brandi Kruse

On unDivided, hosted by Brandi Kruse, Robert Marbut discusses what Grants Pass v. Johnson means for cities and their homeless populations, what cities like Seattle and San Francisco need to do, and the importance of investing in treatment for mental illness and drug addiction, and the reality behind Housing First. Read More ›
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People support each other in a rehab session
Licensed via Adobe Stock

Community — Not Housing — First

Can people, laden with childhood traumas plus the hard experience of years of homelessness, overcome their pasts? On a Monday afternoon in May, I threw that question at Alan Graham, founder and CEO of Austin's Community First! Village (CFV), where close to 400 formerly homeless humans now live. Read More ›
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Inside of a homeless shelter
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Homelessness is Exceptionally Hard to Solve

Sunrise pastor Mark Hilbelink said its navigation center last year helped more than 800 people get off the streets. Michael Busby was typical among those who benefited. He told the press that Sunrise staffers "helped me out a lot. They helped me restore my sanity. They help out with housing, they help out with medication, they keep your meds for you, and they give them out to you every day or every week." Read More ›
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Vintage print of lunch time in farmhouse: boy, girls and children eat together in the kitchen and feed a pet dog
Licensed via Adobe Stock

Helping New York Orphans: What Went Wrong, and Right

The past two weeks I’ve given a largely positive view of how Charles Brace and others helped homeless children in New York (and other northeastern cities). But when orphan trains headed west from 1853 to 1929, sometimes things went wrong. Read More ›
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In 1789 a charming five year old chimney sweep toiled through tough days in the bustling streets embodying the spirit of a spirited eighteenth century street urchin
Licensed via Adobe Stock

Caring for Orphans in New York City

Two columns ago I mentioned Charles Brace's concern about high rents in New York City. When Brace founded the New York Children's Aid Society in 1853, he began by setting up religious meetings aimed at orphaned or abandoned boys from 10 to 18 who slept in alleys. Read More ›