Portraits of Hope Ministry

06/21/2026

Shannon was walking around an encampment in an open field, near the corner of Ashlan and Parkway in Fresno, California. She was cleaning up the trash surrounding her encampment. Trying to keep it as clean as she can, as to not draw a lot of attention.

Shannon has been living on and off the streets for the last 10 years. She says she is no longer addicted to Methamphetamines, but uses occasionally to help her survive living on the streets.

Before living on the streets, Shannon was living in a home and working full time as a convenience store manager. She was living in her childhood family’s home. She had been in a long-term relationship and had several children. However, over the years, drugs and alcohol took a heavy toll on their relationship. The arguments turned to fights and once her children had grown and moved out, it turned to domestic violence. That is when everything changed.

Shannon was born in Texas. She was one of 9 children. The family had moved out to Fresno, California before she was old enough to start school. Shannon says she had good parents and they provided them with everything the children needed. Her childhood was good.

Shannon would complete high school and graduate with straight A’s. After high school she would get a job and began to work full time. Over the years she held several different jobs at various department and convenience stores, and worked her way up to manager.

However, it was also during that time in her life she began dating her soon to be long term boyfriend. Early on, this is when she was introduced to the party scene and began to use Methamphetamines, and she liked the high. Shannon says she was not addicted to “Meth”, but it did not take long for her to get into trouble. As apart of her court case, she attended and completed a drug program.

Shannon stayed clean over the years. However, her boyfriend did not, and it took a big toll on them. As she worked full time, the drugs and alcohol continued to tear apart their relationship. The arguments became more frequent and more intense. Then after her children graduated from high school and moved out, that is when things had gotten serious. The fights had now turned to domestic violence and Shannon said she had to leave. So, she left everything behind and turned to the streets.

After being out on the streets, Shannon fell back into using Methamphetamines. She says she uses the “Meth” to help her stay awake and to keep moving around, while out on the streets. The streets are a dangerous place for a woman to be and she does not want to be another victim. She feels safer being on the streets, then where she was.

Shannon is getting tired of living on the streets and she would like to get clean. She is on several waiting lists for programs. She would also like to see her grown up children, but she holds onto a lot of guilt because of where she is at in life.

Shannon is a believer in Jesus Christ and believes in the power of prayer. We then shared sometime in fellowship and she allowed me to openly pray for her.

I would ask that everyone who reads this, lift up Shannon in your prayers. Pray for the Lord to help her overcome any addictions she may have. Pray that she uses the Word of God to quench her thirsts and not any of these earthly vices. Pray that the Lord guides her decisions and leads her from having to live on the streets.

6-7-2026
Ashlan/ Parkway in Fresno, CA
Shannon

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06/09/2026

Marcus had been sleeping along side of an abandoned building, near the corner of Tulare and E Street in Fresno, California. He was packing up his belongings and getting ready to head out for the day.

Marcus has been living on and off the streets, or incarcerated for the last 13 years. He is addicted to Methamphetamines and Ma*****na.

Before living on the streets, Marcus was living with his mom and going to high school. He lived alone with his mom, because his dad was murdered when Marcus was a young child. Marcus says his mom provided him with everything he needed. However, from a young age, Marcus was drawn to the street gang lifestyle and after joining, he went all in. That is when everything changed.

Marcus was born in the nearby town of Firebaugh, California. Marcus was raised by his mom, because his dad was murdered, when he was only 6 years old. By his teens, Marcus and his mom had moved to Fresno, California. This is where he went to high school. Marcus said his mom tried to do her best to give him what he needed, but he wasn’t the best son. He did not care for school. He mostly liked to play video games and he felt drawn to the street gang lifestyle. By the time Marcus was 17 years old, he had joined a local street gang and had gone all in into the lifestyle. He had found his new family. He would drop out of high school and spend most of his time running out on the streets. This was also when he first started to smoke Ma*****na, which then led to him also smoking “Crystal Meth”.

Because of the street gang lifestyle, Marcus is always on the move and stays where he can. This lifestyle limits where he can stay and has also caused him to be locked up, off and on, for about 9 years. Over the last 13 years, Marcus would either crash on a friend’s couch, be locked up, or sleep on the streets.

Marcus would like to get off the streets, but he knows he would have to make the difficult decision to leave his street gang lifestyle behind him. Which means turning his back on his street gang family, and facing his addictions. As Marcus says, “You can take the man out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the man”.

Marcus is a believer in Jesus Christ and believes in the power of prayer. We then shared sometime in fellowship, and he asked to be kept in prayer.

I would ask that everyone who reads this post, lift up Marcus in your prayers. Pray for the Lord to help him overcome any addictions he may have. Pray that he uses the Word of God to quench his thirsts and not any of these earthly vices. Pray that the Lord guides his decisions and leads him from having to live on the streets.

5-31-2026
Tulare/ E Street in Fresno, CA
Marcus

Please Read, Share and Follow the Portraits of Hope Ministry. Let's not let their voices go unheard.

06/08/2026

Portraits of Hope Ministry is in need of items to handout to those who have found themselves in a place of brokenness. Through these donations on the Amazon wish list, you can directly bless those in need, one care package at a time. Through acts of kindness and love, we can make a difference.

Learn more about the Portraits of Hope Ministry by visiting the website @ www.portraitsofhopeministry.com

Amazon Wish List
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1O4TFYSL6A4AO?ref_=wl_share

05/28/2026

Kris was walking down the street, near the corner of Olive and Echo in Fresno, California. He was carrying a box filled with all of his belongings. He had just been woken up and kicked out from in front of a local shop.

Kris has been displaced and living on the streets for the last 5 years. He frequently uses various drugs and alcohol.

Before being displaced and living on the streets, Kris had been living with his aunt. He had moved in with her shortly after his mom had passed away. Kris had been working several different odd jobs over the years, but he wanted to go to Fresno City College and get his degree. However, during the year after his mom had passed away, he stopped working and he did not have any money to pay for the rent. This is when he lost his place to stay, he spiraled into addiction and everything changed.

Kris was born and raised in the Fresno area. He was born to two loving and hard-working parents. Kris says his childhood was normal and there was nothing really bad that had happened, while growing up.

Kris admits that he did use drugs and alcohol while in his teens. He first tried alcohol and ex**sy, while he was at parties in high school. However, he says he only used them at parties. His grades were good and he graduated from high school.

After high school, Kris left California and went to stay with some family in Arkansas. He stayed with them for about 10 years. While in Arkansas, he worked various jobs, mostly manual labor type jobs.

After living in Arkansas for 10 years, he moved back to California. He wanted to go back to school and get his college degree. However, while he was beginning to attend college, his mom had passed away. Kris said he wasn’t working and did not have any money, so he moved in with his aunt. Because he was not working, he could not pay her.

After a year of not paying rent, Kris was told he could no longer stay there, and he had to move out. This left Kris unable to continue going to college and with no place to stay. So, he turned to the streets.

Once out on the streets, Kris spiraled into heavy drinking and using various street drugs. He is not sure why he feels he needs to take them, but he believes it helps him to deal with being alone and out on the streets.

Since being out on the streets, Kris has tried several different programs. However, once you are there for a little while, you run out of time and then you are back out on the streets.

Kris would like to get off the streets. He just needs to find some type of affordable housing, or a program that can provide him a safe place to stay for a longer period of time.

Kris is a believer in Jesus Christ and believes in the power of prayer. We then shared sometime in fellowship, and he allowed me to openly pray for him.

I would ask that everyone who reads this post, lift up Kris in your prayers. Pray for the Lord to help him overcome any addictions he may have. Pray that he uses the Word of God to quench his thirsts and not any of these earthly vices. Pray that the Lord guides his decisions and leads him from having to live on the streets.

5-13-2026
Olive/ Echo in Fresno, CA
Kris

Please Read, Share and Follow the Portraits of Hope Ministry. Let's not let their voices go unheard.

05/13/2026

John and Jo Ann were standing along side of their van, in a local park near the corner of Olive and Golden State in Fresno, California. John was working on the van, while Jo Ann was heating up some food for them to eat.

John and Jo Ann have been displaced and living out of their van for the last year. They are not addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Before living on the streets, John and Jo Ann had been living in low-income apartments, through a local assistance program. They had been living in the program for about 3 years, after they had lost their place during COVID-19.

John was born and raised in the Fresno, California area. His parents divorced when he was young, so he was primarily raised by his mom. John loved his mom and said she did what she could, to provide for them. As John grew up, he eventually moved out and began his own family. However, the relationship would fall apart and John would be out on his own.

That is when John met Jo Ann. Jo Ann was from a nearby coastal town. She had come to Fresno to get away from a marriage that had also fallen apart. John and Jo Ann, both had ended up at the same gathering, and that is where their journey together would start. They would begin dating and would be together for the next 30 years.

John has been on limited income and disability for a good part of his adult life, due to being in a bad accident. John would work when he could, working at local packing houses or various side jobs. With his limited income, John had been able to keep them in a place. That was until the cost of living had gone up, due to COVID-19. That is when they had to begin staying in various low-income apartments and hotels, using the living vouchers. However, about a year ago, they were told they no longer qualified for the living vouchers. Without the vouchers and with their limited income, they had no choice but to begin living out on the streets, in their van.

Currently Jo Ann is trying to collect her Social Security, which would help them a lot. However, they were told that she cannot complete the process and collect it without an address.

John and Jo Ann would like to get off the streets. They believe that if they can get her Social Security and some affordable housing, they could get back up on their feet and stay off the streets.

John and Jo Ann are believers in Jesus Christ and believe in the power of prayer. We then shared sometime in fellowship, and they allowed me to openly pray for them.

I would ask that everyone who reads this post, lift up John and Jo Ann in your prayers. Pray for the Lord to help him overcome any addictions he may have. Pray that he uses the Word of God to quench his thirsts and not any of these earthly vices. Pray that the Lord guides his decisions and leads him from having to live on the streets.

5-6-2026
Olive/ Golden State in Fresno, CA
John and Jo Ann

Please Read, Share and Follow the Portraits of Hope Ministry. Let's not let their voices go unheard.

05/13/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/kuG1ZURd_Lg?si=jo3OHtyVfuEzdxuLhttps://www.youtube.com/live/kuG1ZURd_Lg?si=jo3OHtyVfuEzdxuL

1 like. "From Skid Row to Living with Purpose | Lang Martinez"

05/04/2026

Portraits of Hope Ministry is in need of items to handout to those who have found themselves in a place of brokenness. Through these donations on the Amazon wish list, you can directly bless those in need, one care package at a time. Through acts of kindness and love, we can make a difference.

Learn more about the Portraits of Hope Ministry by visiting the website @ www.portraitsofhopeministry.com

Amazon Wish List
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1O4TFYSL6A4AO?ref_=wl_share

Through these portraits and testimonies, I HOPE to give a voice to those who have found themselves in a place of brokenness.

04/22/2026

Dustin was standing at the exit of the Walmart, near the corner of Herndon and Ingram in
Fresno, California. He was standing near his bicycle and a cart filled with all of his belongings. He was holding a cardboard sign that said, “Anything Helps”.

Dustin has been living on the streets for 6 years. He says he is not addicted, but uses
Methamphetamines to survive, while living out on the streets.

Before living on the streets, Dustin was living with his wife in their own place. He was making a living working for a nearby school district, driving busses and other various jobs. He had been working there for about 20 years. However, over the years Dustin had been suffering from some serious back issues. Then when the back issues became too much for him to work anymore, he found himself out of a job and without any income. That is when everything changed.
Dustin was born in a nearby coastal town and lived there with his mom and dad, until he was in high school. Growing up, Dustin said he had a normal childhood and things were good. His parents had moved to Fresno for his senior year in high school. Dustin’s grades were good and he was passionate about pole vaulting. He would graduate from high school and went to Fresno State on a full ride “Track” scholarship. However, Dustin would find himself getting too distracted with all of the partying that happens in college. This distraction took a toll on him and caused him to lose his scholarship and he would drop out.

After college ended, Dustin continued to party, which consisted of weekends filled with alcohol and Methamphetamines. However, he was also able to work, get married and begin to start a family. As the years continued, Dustin began to settle down. He would work his way into a local school district where he would work for the next 20 years.

Over the years, Dustin had been having serious issues with his back and it began to affect him at work. It finally became so painful, he could no longer work and he had to leave his job. By this time Dustin’s children were grown and had moved out. Unfortunately, with the loss of income, they were not able to afford their place anymore. Dustin and his wife found themselves having to move out and had no other place to go, but to the streets.

Since being out on the streets, Dustin has tried to get into various programs. However, he says he keeps falling into the same dilemma. While living out on the streets, it is dangerous when you sleep. So, Dustin has been using Methamphetamines to help him stay awake and to survive
while living on the streets. However, Dustin says he is not addicted. So, when he has tired to get into various programs, they seem to give preference to those in addiction/recovery. This has left Dustin with little to no hope and he has quit trying to find a program.

Dustin would like to get off the streets. He just needs to find some type of affordable housing, or a program that can provide him a safe place to stay. Dustin is a believer in Jesus Christ and believes in the power of prayer. We then shared sometime in fellowship, and he asked that he be kept in prayer.

I would ask that everyone who reads this post, lift up Dustin in your prayers. Pray for the Lord to help him overcome any addictions he may have. Pray that he uses the Word of God to quench his thirsts and not any of these earthly vices. Pray that the Lord guides his decisions and leads
him from having to live on the streets.

3-5-2026
Herndon/ Ingram in Fresno, CA
Dustin

Portraits of Hope Ministry.
Help to raise awareness of the brokenness out on the streets. Through acts of kindness and love, we can make a difference.

www.portraitsofhopeministry.com

04/02/2026

Douglas was walking through the parking lot, near the corner of Blackstone and Garland in Fresno, California. He was walking through the parking lot, talking to several other people who were displaced and staying in the area.

Douglas has been living on the streets for the last 10 years. He is not addicted to drugs, but only drinks alcohol.

Before living on the streets, Douglas was living with his wife and son. They were living in a small place that they were renting. Since Douglas was disabled and not able to work, they relied on her income for the rent. Then after his wife’s personal struggles got the better of her, it cost them everything. Including their marriage. That is when everything changed.

Douglas was born and raised in the central valley area. He was raised by his mom, and later his step-dad. His biological father was not really in his life. Because of the family dynamics, Douglas said he had to grow up at a very young age. Some of his experiences growing up left him with examples of how not to be.

As an adult, Douglas would make a living and support his family by working as a mechanic. Douglas would continue to work as a mechanic for over 10 years, up until he and his son were hit by a car. They were out walking along the side of the roadway, when they were hit by a car. His son would be alright, but Douglas was left disabled and unable to work. He would now have to rely on one income, to make ends meet.

It was during this time that his wife began to have a personal struggle with addiction. Douglas said he had recreationally used drugs and alcohol, but she had fallen hard into addiction. It would not take long before it took a toll on them and their relationship crumbled. With no income, this would leave Douglas nowhere else to turn, but to the streets.

Over the last several years, Douglas has been able to start collecting disability. However, it is not enough for him to get his own place. He is currently on a waiting list, but does not know how long the wait will be.

Douglas would like to get off the streets. He just needs to find a place that he can afford, with his limited income. He hopes that soon, he will be able to get into an affordable place or program, and get off the streets.

Douglas is a believer and believes in the power of prayer. We spent some time in fellowship and he asked to be kept in prayer.

I would ask that everyone who reads this post, lift up Douglas in your prayers. Pray for the Lord to help him overcome any addictions he may have. Pray that he uses the Word of God to quench his thirsts and not any of these earthly vices. Pray that the Lord guides his decisions and leads him from having to live on the streets.

2-21-2026
Blackstone/ Garland in Fresno, CA
Douglas

Portraits of Hope Ministry.
Help to raise awareness of the brokenness out on the streets. Through acts of kindness and love, we can make a difference.

www.portraitsofhopeministry.com