The third place has always been a feeling. An emotion. An aspiration that all people can come together and be uplifted as a result of a sense of belonging. –Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks The Significance of Third Places In the dynamic tapestry of human life, beyond the confines of our homes and the structured […]

You see, when you’re homeless, you’re invisible. People don’t want to see you because when they see you it’s very hard for them to just ignore you, to just pretend that you’re not there. ~John S., a homeless man Homeless culture is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It is shaped by a variety of factors, […]

Homelessness is the space between the place where you once lived and the place where you will live again. It is the place of dislocation, transition, waiting … ~Lucy, a woman who was once homeless What does homelessness look like, and who does it affect? Martha Stone, the executive director of a 96-bed homeless shelter, […]

People avoid eye contact. They step away from you. They don’t answer you if you address them — even if you wish them a good day! It’s painful. It’s debilitating. Over time, it gets worse, not better. There are a lot of bad things about being homeless, but being invisible is the worst! This is how […]

People experiencing homelessness deserve to experience the type of love that goes to battle alongside them, not against them. — Love Beyond Walls California singer/songwriter Rocky Michaels brings much-needed awareness to the plight of the unhoused and unsheltered, with his release of “An Uncomfortable Truth.” He shines a light on the issue of homelessness in […]

The only thing worse than being homeless is feeling invisible and forgotten. Out of Sight, Out of Mind The homeless often feel invisible, allowed to plummet through widening holes in the social safety net, then hidden in doorways from which people avert their eyes. Homelessness sits at the nexus of stigma, isolation, and vulnerability: though […]

You feel invisible when you’re homeless…I don’t let it beat me. I get up every day and try again. I survive every one of these days still being me. ~Ron, a homeless man battling mental illness Most of us have probably never imagined ourselves living on the streets. But for about 2% of the world’s […]

People experiencing homelessness can’t be boxed into a few stereotypes; they’re as diverse and deserving of our love and support as anyone else. And the best way to help is to start by making eye contact and listening to their story. It’s a sobering adventure getting to know people on the street. You quickly realize […]

People in poverty have a sense of scarcity. So, it makes sense for them to keep taking. It’s weird to think that helping can contribute to keeping someone sick. The way to minimize the damage from helping in the wrong direction is to be mindful of possible unintended consequences. We have to be more thought-out […]

If you’re always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in? Slow down, enjoy the moment you’re in, and just be … Taking a moment is about simply taking a few seconds every day for our mental health to “Just Be”. To pause, breathe, disconnect, and then reconnect, so we can […]