235: Beyond the statistics on homelessness

Today, we're covering one of America's most pressing challenges: homelessness. But this isn't an episode drowning you in statistics. Instead, we're going to explore real solutions happening right now across the western United States—ways The Salvation Army is helping to truly change lives, one person at a time. Of course, the numbers are sobering. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness increased by 18 percent between 2023 and 2024. That’s approximately 770,000 people experiencing homelessness in our country. But behind every statistic is a person’s story, and that's what we're focusing on today. Christopher Hogan, The Salvation Army's Territorial Social Services Director for the Western Territory, puts it perfectly: addressing homelessness requires "programs of excellence" that combine spiritual care, best practices, clear purpose, strong operations and meaningful outcomes. He wrote a piece on how The Salvation Army is ensuring excellence in our recent issue of Caring Magazine, themed “Hope in Action,” which you can find at caringmagazine.org/hope. So what does it look like in practice? Let me take you on a journey from Alaska to Arizona, showcasing nine different approaches that are working. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. JOIN THE HOPEFULS. Get inside the group. WHAT’S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. DO GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.