2026 Summer
By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF)
Take a look around. It’s summertime! The days are beautiful, filled with pretty blue skies and a bright sun. It’s hard not to notice all the flowers and color around us. It appears to be a perfect season to be out and about.
On the days when we are not at work, it’s nice to enjoy a cup of coffee on the patio, a lunch date with a friend, a nice nap on the couch with the air conditioning blowing softly on us, and maybe a game of pickleball or baseball in the evening. Life is good.
But for those who are suffering from homelessness, the outlook on life does not feel so beautiful.
Coffee in the morning is a luxury and a rare find, lunch is not always a possibility, naps are not an option if you want to keep an eye on your belongings, and a game of anything fun is not even thought about. “Survival” is the name of the “game” for those without a home.
When people find themselves without housing and come to us for help, we offer services that will brighten their days with encouragement, hope, and direction. We work hard every day to make sure we are able to provide for our guests.
Our program offers the support they need to break the cycle of homelessness, recover from addictions or destructive behaviors, and prepare themselves to feel ready to find jobs.
It can definitely be a rough time for those who are serious about leaving their old way of life behind so they can begin a new way of living. Change is hard. But, it’s certainly worth it. Our staff works to build up their confidence and their ability to say “no” which, in turn, helps to provide mental tools for them to take with them when the time comes to leave our campus.
Some manage to finish the program, graduate, and move out with a job waiting on them. However, for many others, it takes a much longer time to work through the process. It’s a daily effort for all involved.
That’s why we are so thankful for our partners who help our ministry continue.
Homelessness is an issue 365 days a year – non-stop – but summer is the hardest season for us, financially, to take care of those in our care. The financial support we receive throughout the year plummets in the summer months.
We are a year-round-service shelter and we work hard to make sure we are here for those who need us. One of our guests, Gloria (not her real name), really needed help. It didn’t matter what time of year it was. She just needed a safe place to be.
Here’s her story:
I was living with a roommate in a two-bedroom apartment. We had been renting together for three years. Then, without consulting me, she invited her grandson and his girlfriend to move in with us. She said they had become homeless.
I wasn’t happy about it, but my heart hurt for them. However, when they (and my roommate) began using meth in our apartment, and invited other people in to join them, things began to get so much worse. I was uncomfortable in my own home.
My money and personal belongings began disappearing. When I approached them about it, the grandson threatened me with physical violence. That was the last straw for me.
I knew I had to leave, but I had no family here to stay with. I no longer had a roommate to share expenses, and other apartments were way beyond my means. There was no place for me that I could afford. I would be homeless…but I felt I had no other choice. I had to get out…and quick.
I am 61 years old, and being homeless was very scary to me.
So, I got online and looked up ideas that could possibly help. I found that shelters were an option. Joy Junction was family oriented, so I decided to try it.
I called to see if they could take me in. They could, so I packed up my things and drove here the same day. I am so very thankful that Joy Junction exists. They are helping me readjust my life and find a better way.
Sometimes, removing oneself from a very bad situation results in homelessness. It can happen at any time during the year. We are here to help those who find themselves in such dire circumstances.
We provide the security of a safe place to sleep and three meals a day. We are grateful for our donors who have the same tender hearts that we do, and provide support for us, so we can keep our doors open for them.
In spite of the financial challenges during the summer months, our daily goal is not only to feed and shelter our guests, but to enlighten them with programs centered on improving their decision-making processes. With our program guidance, we hope to empower them to feel the courage to step back into the workforce once again.
To do that, we need your help. We know your summer plans may not be centered on us, but we’re asking you to take a moment to think about joining us and to support our efforts.
Please help us help them!
We need volunteers every day of the year. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 505-463-4818.
If you’d like to send in a donation, please call 505-217-9586, or go to our website at www.joyjunction.org, or mail it to PO Box 20550, Albuquerque, NM 87154.
Thank you!
