Joy Junction: The Next 30 Years

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction is  three decades-plus old. It is hard to believe the shelter I founded was 30 years old last Aug., and that I’ve spent more than half my life at what has obviously now become a lifetime calling. Looking back, it seems just a short time ago that I … Read More

ABQ Homeless Looking for More Than a Dry Bed and a Warm Meal; New Mexico’s Largest Shelter to Open 52-Unit Apartment Complex

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc.   It’s no secret that homelessness in Albuquerque is an ongoing crisis. The crisis continues, despite inaccurate promises by some groups to “end” homelessness. Over the last few years, I’ve seen panhandling increase prolifically all over the city, while at Joy Junction, desperate families-often with children-call or visit us daily … Read More

Missing but Not Always Missed

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A well known but controversial country song contains these lyrics, “He was a missing person who nobody missed at all.” That started me thinking about America’s missing homeless, and whether anyone misses them. The answer seemed pretty obvious on at least a couple of Facebook pages  that I checked out. … Read More

Joy Junction Constructing to Meet Growing Homeless Need in City; Completion of On-Site Apartment Complex Will Allow Donation-Only shelter to Lift Up More Homeless People in Dignity

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO, Joy Junction Inc. With recent national attention on our city’s efforts to reduce homelessness and panhandling in the last couple of years, it’s curious why the total number of homeless individuals doesn’t go down. If anything, according to whom you ask and which statistics you believe, it keeps increasing. In addition, we’re still … Read More

Lifeline of Hope Song

The homeless community needs a bit of hope, just like the rest of us. Joy Junction’s mission has always been to help the homeless community, whether it be a place to stay to help those struggling with addiction, or providing a community where they feel welcome. The Lifeline of Hope, a meals on wheels so to say, is a way … Read More

From Plight to Prosperity

Joy Junction – a well known name in the Albuquerque community and the biggest homeless shelter in New Mexico, didn’t just come about overnight. The Founder and CEO of Joy Junction was once homeless himself. He struggled to find hope and a way for a better life. However, one day he discovered the gospel and was saved by Jesus Christ. … Read More

Day Shelter Program

During those freezing or scorching hot days, many homeless people are left without any relief in sight. It’s been Joy Junction’s mission to help the homeless when and wherever we can. Joy Junction is pleased to announce its new Day Shelter Program. This program gives the homeless a warm or cool place to stay during the day. The homeless are … Read More

Joy Junction’s Life Recovery Program Produces Changed Lives

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc.   When you hear the word homeless, what comes to mind? I’m guessing you may think of the prolific number of panhandlers we have in Albuquerque, someone shuffling through Downtown with a loaded shopping bag, or a person waving his hands to the sky and talking enigmatically to an invisible … Read More

Why the Homeless, Albuquerque, and America Need the “Opposition Party.”

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. There’s a tendency to “write off” some professions. It’s a very bad habit.  For years, victims have included used car salesmen and preachers. Now the media have joined that “elite” list. The media were recently derisively referred to as the country’s “opposition party.” This is a tragic lowering of our … Read More

Stop It and Communicate! Helping the Homeless “Takes a Village,” and Means Brushing Angry Homeless “Partisanship” and More Into the Corner

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. With ongoing national attention of our city’s ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness and panhandling, it’s curious why the total number of homeless individuals doesn’t go down. If anything, according to who you ask and which statistics you believe, it keeps increasing. In addition, we’re reminded of the sometimes deadly effects of … Read More

Homeless Man’s Valentine’s Day Wish to Study the Bible With His Wife , Give Her Roses and Take Her to Eat at Burger King.

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Flowers, candy and cards mark Valentine’s Day, and while crassly commercial and criticized by some, isn’t a day of kindness and love (however superficial) better than more politics, especially in this day of seemingly never ending partisan rancor? Just in case you’re curious, Valentine’s Day as we know it today … Read More

City Residents Concerned About Poor Decision Making and Laziness Being Contributory Factors to Homelessness. Shelter Gets Shocking Emails about the Homeless.

by Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A new survey carried out for Joy Junction by NM Research and Polling, revealed that 54 percent of residents believe poor decision making and laziness are factors that contribute to homelessness. That’s a potential problem in a city where we have an ever increasingly serious hunger and homelessness problem. At … Read More

Survey Shows Concern about Homelessness Right Behind Albuquerque’s Spiraling Crime Rate

NEWS RELEASE FROM JEREMY REYNALDS AT JOY JUNCTION CONTACT: info@joyjunction.org In a revealing new survey carried out for Joy Junction by NM Research and Polling, when asked about issues facing residents in the Albuquerque area, seventy percent of respondents felt homelessness is a problem, while 43 percent feel it is a very serious problem. Hispanics, those with a household income … Read More

Homeless Share Simple, but Poignant New Year Resolutions.

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. They include getting teeth replaced and spending more time with kids. With Thanksgiving, Christmas and now even the new year behind us, are you still thinking about new year’s resolutions? You know, stuff like resolving to be a better person, changing jobs, quitting smoking, eating less and exercising more, or … Read More

Compassion or Judgment? What’s Your 2017 New Year’s Resolution?

by Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. They’re all over Albuquerque and cities nationwide, holding a variety of signs designed to get you to fork over some spare change. Panhandling verbiage ranges from a simple, “Hungry. God bless,” to “Too honest to steal and too ugly to prostitute.” What do you do? Sometimes it can seem like … Read More

Homeless Shelter Guests Thank Donors Who Make Services Possible

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction’s more than 30 year existence is due to God’s faithfulness and community support. We have thousands of generous people who have supported this outreach of compassion for years. Without them, the lifesaving nights of shelter and thousands of meals served each month wouldn’t be possible. We don’t hesitate … Read More

No More Inmates or I’m Done Volunteering.

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The marginally measured invective attacked my soul like rusty nails on a chalkboard. The email was from one of the many wonderful volunteers at our recent community wide Thanksgiving dinner at the Albuquerque Convention Center. It was attended by 1,400 plus hungry and homeless people, and hundreds of volunteers who … Read More

Homeless but Still Thankful at Thanksgiving. What’s Your Gratitude Level?

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s almost “Thanksgiving” again at Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter. It’s hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving Day will mark the 31st successive time we have shared the blessing of Thanksgiving with Albuquerque’s many homeless and abused women and homeless families. I’m so thankful to the … Read More

HUD Report’s Questionable Conclusions that Homelessness is Down in New Mexico is Not Something for Which We Should Give Thanks

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Maybe the bureaucrats at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are the only ones who really believe the agency’s report that homelessness is on the decline. According to HUD’s latest national estimate, homelessness continues to decrease in the U.S, specifically among families with children, veterans, and individuals … Read More

Working Full Time, Living in Poverty and Giving to the Homeless

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. There’s a belief among some that people who work full time don’t usually live in poverty. But is it true? We asked some of our Joy Junction guests, and also posed the question on our Facebook page. It drew expected, but also some surprising and heated answers. So what is … Read More

Time for Prayer, Grace and Words of Healing

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction Homeless Shelter Guest. “Elected officials come and go, but Jesus endures forever.” Unity and reconciliation should now be uppermost on the mind of our still deeply divided country. Prayer, grace and words of healing should be in abundance. If any of your words and attitudes have injured anyone … Read More

Some Albuquerque Homeless Realize That Whoever Wins on Nov. 8, the Sun Will Still Shine on Nov. 9 and Jesus Will Still be Lord. Do You?

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Election coverage is dominating the news cycle. While one candidate calls his opponent a nasty woman and she fires back that he’s a puppet of (Russian President ) Vladimir Putin, millions go hungry and their plight is practically dismissed by most American media as viewers complain but revel in the … Read More

Former City Chief Public Safety Officer Concerned Albuquerque’s There’s a Better Way Program Doesn’t Require Background Checks for Workers

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Former Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said City’s lack of background checks for “A Better Way” Program are “are exposing people to unnecessary risk” and City couldn’t escape liability in the event of an incident According to its website,  in September 2015, the City of … Read More

Joy Junction: 48 Hours

By Jeremy Reynalds,Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Serving on the front lines of Joy Junction, they are often appreciated, but sometimes cussed at and threatened. However, they keep on working because they care for the homeless and hungry, and love Jesus. They are our resident services supervisors at Joy Junction. Here’s a look at a recent 48 hours … Read More

Religion and Services for the Homeless. An Immoral Combination?

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A while ago, I was flabbergasted to hear about the head of a homeless agency who reportedly thought it is “immoral” to mix religion with delivery of services to the homeless. There are others who also believe the same way. Maybe he or his clients have had bad experiences with … Read More

From Coke, Meth and Alcohol Addiction to Joy Junction Chaplain

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction Chaplain Marcos Atwood is a firm believer in the power and importance of prayer. On a recent Monday morning he started the day by praying with guests and staff – a tradition his predecessor and mentor former Chaplain Gene Shiplet initiated. Then he helped a married couple whose … Read More

The Homeless Have Mixed Emotions About the Holidays

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While for many of us the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays will be a great time of celebration with family and friends, that is often not the case for the homeless. We asked a few of our Joy Junction guests how they feel about the holidays. One woman said the … Read More