08/26/2026
When Shepherd’s Way shows up to do outreach for the unhoused, we try to build relationships with everyone who is out there trying to deal with homelessness, be they the people who are experiencing it, or other charitable organizations, church groups, governmental organizations, institutional powers, or concerned citizens who for one reason or another are trying to help.
Relationship-building is not as easy as some might think because, frankly speaking, some entities are difficult to work with. They are either extremely territorial turf protectors, think that their way is superior to others, or perhaps are locked in a selfish bureaucracy or bureaucratically-controlled environment where they feel threatened by compassion, and especially that of a religious nature.
We and most of the groups like ours who show up to help the unhoused do so out of exactly that: Compassion. We are not part of a bureaucracy that is politically shielded. Nor are we out there for ego purposes, or to engage in petty turf battles with anyone. We operate out of kindness and the people that we serve respond to it with gratitude. Given that we have no institutional powers and are not bureaucratically-controlled, that makes us and groups like us easy targets when blame needs to be placed somewhere.
That’s okay. Our purpose is strong. We have a shield, too – the strongest of all. And we are getting things done.
