2026 May
By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF)
Are you wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses more often these days? Summer is just about here. That means longer days with sunshine and more green around us with the growing vegetation.
It’s part of the cycle of the seasons.
With the warm weather increasing the temperature we feel each day and night, there may be a more visible increase in homeless people on the streets, in doorways, and under bridges. The green grass in parks and other public spaces also provides a possibility of encountering makeshift “homes” or encampments.
Sometimes, as we move nearer to summertime, we do notice such things occurring.
When something in a person’s life has caused them to be displaced from affordable, stable, or secure housing…they make a space for themselves wherever they can. Warm weather does help them survive a little easier.
However, no matter the time of year, we have found that it is usually not just one thing that has caused a person to become homeless. Instead, we have seen where one situation after another (hitting someone all at once) has been more common as the reason.
When life bombards a person – making circumstances feel like an overwhelming, uncontrollable force from all directions – disaster is sometimes the result.
The loss of housing is definitely disastrous…and scary.
At such times, families and individuals are placed in dire situations and ask hard questions of themselves and others. What do I/we do? Where do I/we go? How do I/we get out of this mess? Is there anyone out there who can help me/us?
Our shelter is prepared to receive people (within the legal limits) and has programs already set in place to encourage them as they figure out their next steps. We try very hard to help them feel comfortable while they are our guests and make our campus their temporary home.
If we can remove the need for all basic necessities from their “how to turn things around” equation, they can focus on their future. Food, shelter, and safety are what each guest is provided once they become a resident.
One of our guests, Felix (not his real name), found himself in the position of needing to turn his life around.
Here’s his story:
I had lost my way in life. I had no direction or purpose. I was involved with anyone who had something going on.
I didn’t really care about my responsibilities. My calendar was in my head, and I tried to keep up with everything, but eventually, I usually wound up being late or missing the important events in my life.
I simply did not have respect for anything – or anyone.
Then, one day
I realized I had nothing to show for my life…
I was homeless and alone. So, I had a one-on-one conversation with the only One left in my life: God.
God brought this place [Joy Junction] to mind. I had heard about it, and knew that they had a program to help people get their lives turned around. I decided to get myself here and get my life figured out.
I’ve had God in my life since I was a child, but I didn’t give Him the attention I should have. The program has helped me understand that I CAN be the man God created me to be.
I truly believe that God and Joy Junction have saved my life. I am a better man now. I am so thankful that the people here believed in me. The hard work paid off and if I can show just one person that their life really can be turned around, it will all be worth it.
I want to tell them: “Just believe and God will show you the way because He loves you more than words can say.”One of many focus areas we have is to help people understand that they are still worthy, even after becoming homeless. Their current situation does not need to define who they are.
Homelessness does not have to be the last page in the story of their life.
We are here to help them learn how to make better decisions as they work to turn their lives around. We want them to feel prepared to go back out into society with mental, emotional, and spiritual tools to guide their path.
We have staff in different departments that are trained to help with the various needs of each guest. For example, sometimes, they simply just need to know how to write a proper resume and be given instructions on how to look up employment on a computer.
Our guests are important to us and we will continue to care for them throughout the year, just as we always have.
We provide a physical answer to their homeless need, as well as emotional and spiritual support, as we encourage them to move forward one step at a time.
