2024 December #2 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Life produces many different scenarios. Some are happy. Some are sad. Some are intense. Some are peaceful. We love the happy and peaceful times – especially during the holiday seasons. Focusing on the fun and joyful events makes us cheerful. We carry a smile on our face pretty much everywhere … Read More
“I wanted to end my life…”
2024 December #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Sometimes, life is just downright hard. There are times when unforeseen circumstances pop up and all kinds of emotions begin to drown out the joy in life. We all need to take time to process our emotions and work through options on how to deal with them. Things like loss, … Read More
“It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
2024 November #2 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Decisions, decisions…life is full of them. Every day, most of us have many choices to make. Should we get up out of bed, or sleep a little longer? Should we eat breakfast, or skip it? Should we wear jeans, or dress up? Should we follow our original plan for the … Read More
“I was finally able to overcome my addictions.”
2024 November #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) When there is a compulsive desire to regularly “give in” to something (whatever it is), for long periods of time, it usually takes over. That uncontrollable desire, over time, develops into a habit…usually, a bad habit. A total dependency on something is called addiction. Unfortunately, many times that involves a … Read More
“I had just stopped using meth…”
2024 October #2 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Have you ever thought about the fact that, sometimes, homeless people may feel they have been robbed of their lives? Some may wonder how in the world they got to the place where homelessness was their reality. In some cases, the people worked hard, but the income just could not … Read More
“I felt alone in the world…”
2024 October #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Sometimes, the hard knocks of life really do pull the rug right out from under us. One moment we are on top of the mountain and all is going well, then, the next moment, we feel like we’ve been thrown down to the depths of the valley. The job that … Read More
“I was in an abusive relationship…”
2024 September #2By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Over the years, we have found that some of our guests became homeless because they were escaping an abusive situation. They needed protection and provision, both. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that abuse is present in all types of family units. It doesn’t matter if they are married. It doesn’t … Read More
I had strayed far from who I used to be.
2024 September #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) As you look around the city, do you wonder about the background stories of those you see trying to survive on the street? The hopelessness that is shone on some of their faces is heartbreaking. It appears that their expression says, “there’s no dream of a future for me to look … Read More
I had no idea where to go…
2024 AugustBy a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Some days are just crazy. Everything seems to go wrong. The day starts off good. We wake up, have our coffee, tea, or juice, and breathe deep…feeling like life is as it should be. Everything is going smoothly. Then, after arriving at work, it is announced that the company is downsizing and … Read More
I couldn’t find housing…
2024 July #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) No one needs to be reminded that it’s hot outside. The heat is felt by every person, one way or another. But, it’s felt even more by those who have to remain out in it because they’ve fallen on hard times and have no housing to protect them. There are many … Read More
Being a drug addict can destroy your life…
2024 June #2By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Living in someone else’s home, with their family, is always a tricky situation. Being grateful is a given, but being frustrated with the situation and afraid of the unknown is also part of the equation. How long will the current circumstance last? Will the family unexpectedly choose to end their generosity? … Read More
Our hearts hurt for those without a home…
2024 June #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Summertime. It’s a season when the cold weather has been gone for a while and many of us are enjoying our time outside. Most of this season brings plenty of sunshine throughout the day. Feeling that warm sun in the morning energizes us and prepares our mind for a good, productive … Read More
I had nowhere, but the streets, to go…
2024 May #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) It’s nice to feel the warmth of the sun, after the passing of cold weather, now that we are in the spring season. Our winter seasons are not as cold as many other states, but we still have our share of “below freezing” nights. When our temperature gets that low, many … Read More
Sometimes, life just throws you a curve ball…
2024 April #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Springtime is a beautiful time of year. It’s when all the green begins to show up again in the vegetation around us. It’s also when we get to watch the colors pop up around the city as new growth reveals itself. It’s a time of rejuvenation and renewal. It puts a … Read More
In desperation, I asked God to step in…
2024 March #2By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) We have a holiday coming up. This one represents new life, so it appropriately fits what we try to encourage our guests to reach for every day of the year. Easter is widely known in our culture as the holiday that reminds us that Jesus Christ lived a perfect life on … Read More
Being homeless is scary…
2024 March #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Even though we have some nice, sun-filled days from time to time, it’s still winter. The nights are cold outside…and we see the evidence of many people around our city trying to sleep and stay warm along the streets, down the alleyways, and between buildings. Some of them have just fallen … Read More
It’s been a long road…
2024 February #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) When we start something new, it’s usually at that point that we make changes. That’s why it’s called “new.” It’s different from before. The beginning of a new year is a good time to think about the kind of changes that might benefit the direction of the coming days. Being stagnant … Read More
I had lost focus on what matters in life
2024 January #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) At the beginning of every new year, most of us tend to stop and take stock in what all we did during the year before, and what we plan to do differently, or better, in the year ahead. Some years have been very hard, and we are SO looking forward … Read More
You are an important part of our mission.
2023 December #2 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) It is our dearest hope that you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season! Every one of you are very special to us. Your compassionate heart spreads joy every time you choose to join us as we strive to help those who have fallen on hard times. We … Read More
I had destroyed my life…
2023 December #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) There are times when some of our guests open up and share their story the moment they arrive. But, for the most part, it usually takes them a few days to feel comfortable enough to talk about why they have become homeless. For such a sensitive subject matter, it may … Read More
I have never known how to change my behavior or addictions…
2023 November #2 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Your phone rings. You answer it to find that someone is asking for your help. You own a pickup, so when someone needs assistance with their move, naturally, you are one of the first people they call. You shop at the same store as your elderly neighbor, so when it’s … Read More
I thought life was good…
2023 November #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Where is your “happy place?” Do you have a familiar location you like to go to in order to feel a deep peace? Do you go somewhere quiet to escape life’s hectic demands? Is it your easy chair in your home, or a camping site by a beautiful river, or … Read More
I was relieved to be able to find help…
2023 October #2By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) As a person goes through their teenage years and begins to plan out and dream about their ideas for their future as an adult, it’s hard for us to imagine that they would “dream” of becoming homeless. It’s most likely not anyone’s plan or goal to become someone who is homeless … Read More
I could not see a future for myself…
2023 October #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) When things are going smoothly in our lives, it’s easy to be thankful. During those times, we probably wear a smile on our face for no particular reason, and we may even nod greetings to strangers we pass in the grocery store. Life is good. But, when tragedy or trauma or … Read More
Joy Junction is thankful for you!
2023 September #2By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Have you noticed a slight change in the scenery around you? The foliage is beginning to take on a different look in some areas. As it does every year, it is getting ready to make some drastic changes. When we see pops of red, orange, and yellow color beginning to show … Read More
Our hearts are full of compassion for them.
2023 September #1By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Have you noticed that the summer months have flown by? The autumn season is fast approaching. During each season, whether it’s hot or cold, we consistently have families and individuals who have fallen on hard times enter our campus for help. Some have lost their jobs. Some have lost their mates. … Read More
It is important to keep families together
2023 August #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Have you ever been abruptly separated from someone you were close to? A child? A parent? A spouse? A friend? They were there, and then, suddenly, they were gone… Do you remember the fright you felt? That sharp pain of panic might have filled your heart so quickly, and in … Read More
All at one time, I lost my whole life…
2023 July #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Most people have experienced something deeply hurtful or painful in a relationship – within a family or friend circle, a job setting, or any other kind of circumstance. Sometimes, that type of traumatic event marks the brain and heart so deeply, it affects every other thing in their lives. It’s … Read More
I was on the streets trying to survive…
2023 June #2 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Have you ever experienced a really bad sunburn? The damaged skin is so very sensitive to anything that touches it; you feel uncomfortable no matter what position you are in. It’s hard to wear even the lightest clothes because the pressure of the fabric on the skin is painful. What … Read More
They turn to us for relief
2023 June #1 By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF) Sometimes, being homeless does not mean a person is an addict or seen as unkept. Sometimes, homelessness simply means an individual or family no longer has a place to call their own. Because of unexpected circumstances, like suddenly losing a job or experiencing the pain of having a spouse walk … Read More
