“Sometimes I feel like I'm losing my spiritual essence, that it dissolves as easily as tearing a piece of paper and throwing it in the trash. All that remains is the physical form, the construct, devoid of the spirituality that gives it meaning. Many people think we only need to address the issues of food and shelter, but they fail to recognize the importance of companionship, play, and the opportunity to become who we might have been. The need for hope, the possibility of a better future, can challenge and redefine our very existence. Beyond the lack of basic necessities, I am still that child who longs to play, listen to music, share friendships, and be part of this unfathomable mystery we all struggle to explain. The mystery that connects us, makes us walk the same Earth, and laugh with the same bittersweetness.”

‍-A man in a state of homelessness