Being the Volunteer Coordinator at Gateway Rescue Mission has been an eye-opening experience for me. Homelessness is often misunderstood, and I’ve learned that many of the stereotypes’ people have about it are wrong. It’s easy to think that homelessness happens because of laziness or poor decisions, but the reality is much more complicated.

During my time at Gateway, I’ve met people who became homeless because of medical bills they couldn’t afford, lost jobs, or other situations completely out of their control. Some are veterans who came home with challenges that no one could see. Some struggle with severe mental illness that has largely gone unaddressed.  Of course, there is also addiction mixed in with it all as people have sought a means to self-medicate.  What they all share isn’t laziness—it’s strength. They’re fighting every day to find stability and rebuild their lives.

At Gateway Rescue Mission, we do more than just serve food or provide a place to sleep. We help restore people’s sense of dignity and hope. We show them that they matter. This work has helped me realize that homelessness isn’t about a lack of effort—it’s about circumstances. It’s also shown me how important it is for communities to come together to support those in need.

Changing the way people view homelessness starts with learning and understanding. It’s easy to make assumptions, but when you take the time to get to know the people who are affected, you see their humanity. Helping others means breaking down those false ideas and seeing individuals for who they really are—people with dreams and abilities, just like everyone else.

If you ever volunteer or get involved, you’ll see the world differently. You’ll realize that breaking stereotypes isn’t just about changing how others think; it’s also about changing ourselves. Together, we can make a real difference.

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