The Church & Homelessness
Why is homelessness on the rise across America?
Lasting solutions can’t be found without first identifying the root cause of a problem. When we fail to do so, our efforts miss the mark—and the issue continues to grow. This is at the heart of the homelessness crisis: most cities have yet to recognize the core issue, and as a result, continue to treat only the symptoms of chronic homelessness.
Many assume homelessness is primarily driven by addiction, economic hardship, or housing shortages. In response, resources are often directed toward short-term rehab programs, apartments, shelters, and case management. While these supports are important, this approach alone falls short—especially for those who are chronically homeless. Without addressing the deeper causes, the cycle continues.
What is chronic homelessness?
People become homeless for many reasons. A catastrophic event — such as the sudden loss of family, employment, or health — can thrust healthy and capable individuals into homelessness. Many of these individuals need only a temporary "hand-up" through rehabilitation programs to get "back on track," because they once lived functional, stable lives.
But chronically homeless individuals require far more than a time-limited, three- to six-month rehabilitation program and an apartment. From our years of working with the chronically homeless in Redding, we have learned that many of them have never truly been "on track." They need more than a quick "hand-up"—they need a whole new foundation and community connections for a sustainable and wholesome life.
While many drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs provide valuable counseling, therapy, and clinical resources - these programs fail to provide supportive friends and community. Once the program ends, many chronically homeless individuals may have shelter, but lack a healthy, supportive community to continue their growth—and so they relapse into old patterns of addiction, isolation, and homelessness.
What then is the “root” cause of chronic homelessness?
Countless personal stories and national statistics (see references below) point to a common foundational cause: the breakdown of the healthy, nuclear family. This collapse often sets off a chain reaction—loss of supportive relationships, housing stability, work habits, and essential life skills—leaving individuals vulnerable to mental illness and addiction. Those who experience chronic homelessness are not simply seeking shelter; they long for unconditional love and lasting, healthy relationships that can replace the pain and darkness left by their traumatic pasts.
Many of us were raised in relatively stable families that provided a basic framework for common-sense decision-making. Because of this, it can be difficult—sometimes nearly impossible—to fully grasp the chaos, abuse, and trauma that many homeless individuals have endured from an early age. What we consider “normal” may be completely foreign to them.
As a result, it’s easy to become frustrated, critical, or to lose hope for our homeless neighbors —especially when we don’t understand their deeper story. Without that context, many mistakenly believe the homeless “choose” their situation, when in reality, their choices have been shaped by years of pain and day to day survival.
What does it take for a chronically homeless individual to permanently leave homelessness behind?
They need the chance to experience a family community —perhaps for the first time—a kind of “do-over” rooted in love, safety, and accountability. They need to belong to a mutually accountable community where they can walk a path of healing and transformation—a journey that often takes at least two years to begin reversing the deep, negative patterns formed by years of abuse and trauma (see references below).
They need time to form new habits grounded in biblical truth, with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They need space to develop relationship skills, build a strong work ethic, and discover their God-given identity and purpose. Above all, they need a long-term, supportive community—true family. Short-term programs, while helpful, cannot provide the depth of relationship or consistency required for lasting transformation.
What is the role of the church in ending homelessness?
The Church is called to befriend, embrace, and disciple those experiencing homelessness.
But this calling can feel daunting—and rightly so. The behavioral challenges, mental health struggles, and addictions common among the chronically homeless can make this work both difficult and unsafe. Many well-meaning believers, desiring to live as Good Samaritans, have found themselves overwhelmed by unpredictable behaviors—whether from individuals currently on the streets or those who have recently completed a rehabilitation program.
As a result, many pastors and church leaders understandably counsel their congregations to support and volunteer at local rescue missions, opting for safety over deeper long-term relationship.
Is there a safe and wise way to engage the homeless and overcome the risks? YES!
The Road Home is a safe, relationship-based approach to homelessness that fosters healing and transformation through meaningful connections—formed in partnership with a growing network of disciple-making believers from diverse churches across Redding.
Long-term discipleship—modeled after Jesus and the early Church—is the missing link to true community for the chronically homeless. The Lord intends His Church—His body on earth—to become their new friends, community, family, and home?
As followers of Christ, it is our privilege to set aside a measure of our comfort and time to serve Jesus in “the least of these.”
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
And when did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’”
The Road Home positions Christ-followers to befriend and disciple the homeless—safely and effectively.
This Christ-centered discipleship home offers a secure, structured environment where formerly homeless “students” are surrounded by the stability and support of a growing, grace-filled community. Volunteers are thoughtfully trained, personally mentored, and meaningfully connected as they engage in life-on-life discipleship that fosters deep healing and spiritual growth. As students rediscover their identity and purpose in Christ, volunteers, too, are transformed—strengthened in faith, compassion, and the joy of making disciples.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
This mutual sharpening reflects the heart of The Road Home—where discipleship becomes a two-way journey of growth, healing, and shared purpose in Christ.
The Road Home as a safe place to embrace and disciple the homeless:
We offer disciple-making volunteers and their home-groups opportunities to connect with chronically homeless “students” at the Road Home. This community environment keeps both the homeless and the volunteers safe. Those befriending the previously homeless need to be equipped, prepared, and in community themselves. What does this look like?
After orientation, a combination of classroom and on-the-job training to be provided:
Classroom training, using the Road Home Student Manual, and its application.
Cyclical on-the-job training. Learning by doing is supported by going through the training manual.
Establishing a standardized training routine helps all new volunteers get on the same page, while also empowering them to feel confident and ready.
Discuss and create ways to cultivate meaningful connections via social events at the Road Home.
Pair new volunteers with a more experienced volunteer as a mentor, whom they can shadow and ask questions during their training period and beyond.
For more information, contact us!
How We Make This Possible:
The Road Home creates a discipleship environment that is both structured and relational, offering meaningful opportunities for volunteers to grow alongside those they serve. Our approach includes:
Informal discussions applying biblical principles to real-life challenges and transformation
On-the-job learning through mentorship and guided experiences that equip volunteers with confidence, clarity, and unity of purpose
Relational connection opportunities such as shared meals, service projects, and organized social events that foster natural, authentic relationships
Mentorship pairing that connects new volunteers with seasoned team members for encouragement, support, and ongoing discipleship training
“For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross.”
And for the joy set before us, we choose to see with His eyes and love the poor, the homeless, and the incarcerated with His heart—
When the Church learns to love the poor well, unity will flourish and revival will break out.
Why we promote a minimum of two years at the Road Home:
True behavioral change takes time.
Deep patterns of addiction, criminal thinking, and dysfunctional behaviors are often rooted in decades of broken habits and trauma. It simply takes sustained time — often at least 18–24 months — to unlearn unhealthy patterns and rebuild entirely new ways of thinking, relating, working, and living. Short-term programs often don't allow enough time for real transformation at the heart level.Trust and deep relationships require long-term investment.
In tandem with new life in Christ, we rely on peer-based accountability, mentoring, and communal living. These strong relationships, where people learn vulnerability, correction, forgiveness, and teamwork, aren't built in a few weeks or months. Time allows real bonds of trust and belonging to form — something many students have never experienced before.Internalization of new skills and identity.
We emphasize vocational training (landscaping, moving services, etc.) alongside emotional and social learning. It takes time not just to learn job skills, but to internalize a new identity — to stop seeing oneself as a "failure," "addict," or "criminal," and start seeing oneself as a new born again creation, a responsible adult and a contributor to society.Permanent lifestyle changes stick through different seasons.
A two-year span allows students to experience a range of emotional seasons — holidays, birthdays, deaths, successes, setbacks — while staying clean, accountable, and supported. This is vital, because addiction and relapse are often triggered by life's highs and lows. Practicing new coping skills over time helps those changes "cement."Delayed gratification and perseverance are built over time.
A huge part of criminal and addicted thinking is an "instant gratification" mindset. A long program helps retrain the brain to delay gratification — to work today for rewards that may be months or years away. This is key for any long-term success in life, whether in employment, relationships, or personal health.Graduates can become leaders and mentors.
In longer programs, students not only learn for themselves, but also start teaching others. They move from being served to serving others — a crucial part of recovery and maturity. It reinforces their new identity and skills while giving them a sense of purpose.\
We are not aiming for "rehab" — we're aiming for total life transformation. Short programs might fix the outside behavior for a while. Two-year programs aim to rebuild the person from the inside out.
REFERENCES
Raised fatherless: Approximately 90% of all homeless and runaway children come from fatherless homes. See: Statistics on Fatherless Homes
Raised in the Foster Care System. Between 31% and 46% of youth exiting foster care become homeless at least once by age 26. A Look into Generational Pipelines of Foster Care and Homelessness - The Imprint
No healthy friend and community connections after rehab. The transition from addiction rehabilitation to stable housing is fraught with challenges, including lack of rental and work history, traumatic life experiences affecting work ethic and relationship skills, and limited access to supportive services. We were wired for family connection. What is homelessness? ~ National Alliance to End Homelessness
The profound human need for social connection and family becomes especially poignant when considering the experiences of those facing homelessness. Beyond the absence of shelter, homelessness often entails a deep erosion of social bonds, leading to what scholars term "relational poverty"—a state where individuals lack meaningful relationships and community ties, exacerbating their vulnerability. Wikipedia
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—are strongly linked to homelessness in the United States. Research indicates that individuals experiencing homelessness report significantly higher rates of ACEs compared to the general population.Adverse childhood experiences and homelessness: advances and aspirations
