Homeless Woman Removed From Shelter for Not Being Christian

Since this interview, Reset (not her real name) has been removed from the faith-based shelter and is now back living in her car. If you’d like to help her, here is a link to her GoFundMe Reset is a physically disabled homeless woman in Oceanside, California, who faced discrimination when staying in a 30-day faith-based shelter. After the 30-day period, she was removed from the shelter because she is not a Christian. This exclusion goes against the teachings of Jesus, who commanded his followers to show unconditional love to everyone, including the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and those in need. While some ministries genuinely help homeless people, many others use an outdated discipleship model that prioritizes religious programming over providing services and support. Withholding basic needs from hurting people is not what Jesus would do. It’s coercion, not Christianity. Reset became disabled after a freak accident. She was a nomad living in a skoolie bus, working remotely, when she flew out of the windshield, causing her disability. She lost 95% of everything she owned and now has to use a walker to get around. True homelessness is the absence of choice. Many people intentionally live in vehicles, but any time they want to go rent an apartment, they can. Homeless people that live in vehicles have no other choice. This is the big difference between a nomadic lifestyle and homelessness. Reset’s story highlights the larger issue of discrimination, as people with physical disabilities face significant barriers to finding adequate shelter and services. Reset shared that she called over 70 service providers to find help and learned that many don’t have a bed or don’t support people with physical disabilities. Unfortunately, many service providers lack the resources and accommodations to support people with disabilities, leaving them without access to basic needs like shelter, food, and medical care. It’s unacceptable that homeless individuals with physical disabilities are being left behind, and more needs to be done to ensure they receive the support they need. ================================== Subscribe here: Invisible People’s website: Support Invisible People: On Patreon: Invisible People’s Social Media: Mark Horvath’s Twitter: About Invisible People There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness. We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness. This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you. However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now. Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.