By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The marginally measured invective attacked my soul like rusty nails on a chalkboard. The email was from one of the many wonderful volunteers at our recent community wide Thanksgiving dinner at the Albuquerque Convention Center. It was attended by 1,400 plus hungry and homeless people, and hundreds of volunteers who … Read More
Dubbed “Toxic Charity” by Some, It’s Really Helping Those Who Can’t Help Themselves.
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Tragically, a bumper sticker “theology” with a Darwinian survival of the fittest twist has caught on among some of those who help the hungry and homeless. A Ventura newspaper succinctly summed up what its adherents believe. That the giving of food, showers, clothing and other no-strings “handouts” enable a homeless … Read More
Homeless but Still Thankful at Thanksgiving. What’s Your Gratitude Level?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s almost “Thanksgiving” again at Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter. It’s hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving Day will mark the 31st successive time we have shared the blessing of Thanksgiving with Albuquerque’s many homeless and abused women and homeless families. I’m so thankful to the … Read More
HUD Report’s Questionable Conclusions that Homelessness is Down in New Mexico is Not Something for Which We Should Give Thanks
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Maybe the bureaucrats at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are the only ones who really believe the agency’s report that homelessness is on the decline. According to HUD’s latest national estimate, homelessness continues to decrease in the U.S, specifically among families with children, veterans, and individuals … Read More
Working Full Time, Living in Poverty and Giving to the Homeless
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. There’s a belief among some that people who work full time don’t usually live in poverty. But is it true? We asked some of our Joy Junction guests, and also posed the question on our Facebook page. It drew expected, but also some surprising and heated answers. So what is … Read More
Time for Prayer, Grace and Words of Healing
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction Homeless Shelter Guest. “Elected officials come and go, but Jesus endures forever.” Unity and reconciliation should now be uppermost on the mind of our still deeply divided country. Prayer, grace and words of healing should be in abundance. If any of your words and attitudes have injured anyone … Read More
Some Albuquerque Homeless Realize That Whoever Wins on Nov. 8, the Sun Will Still Shine on Nov. 9 and Jesus Will Still be Lord. Do You?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Election coverage is dominating the news cycle. While one candidate calls his opponent a nasty woman and she fires back that he’s a puppet of (Russian President ) Vladimir Putin, millions go hungry and their plight is practically dismissed by most American media as viewers complain but revel in the … Read More
Former City Chief Public Safety Officer Concerned Albuquerque’s There’s a Better Way Program Doesn’t Require Background Checks for Workers
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Former Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said City’s lack of background checks for “A Better Way” Program are “are exposing people to unnecessary risk” and City couldn’t escape liability in the event of an incident According to its website, in September 2015, the City of … Read More
Joy Junction: 48 Hours
By Jeremy Reynalds,Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Serving on the front lines of Joy Junction, they are often appreciated, but sometimes cussed at and threatened. However, they keep on working because they care for the homeless and hungry, and love Jesus. They are our resident services supervisors at Joy Junction. Here’s a look at a recent 48 hours … Read More
Religion and Services for the Homeless. An Immoral Combination?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A while ago, I was flabbergasted to hear about the head of a homeless agency who reportedly thought it is “immoral” to mix religion with delivery of services to the homeless. There are others who also believe the same way. Maybe he or his clients have had bad experiences with … Read More
From Coke, Meth and Alcohol Addiction to Joy Junction Chaplain
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction Chaplain Marcos Atwood is a firm believer in the power and importance of prayer. On a recent Monday morning he started the day by praying with guests and staff – a tradition his predecessor and mentor former Chaplain Gene Shiplet initiated. Then he helped a married couple whose … Read More
The Homeless Have Mixed Emotions About the Holidays
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While for many of us the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays will be a great time of celebration with family and friends, that is often not the case for the homeless. We asked a few of our Joy Junction guests how they feel about the holidays. One woman said the … Read More
Bashing the Poor, Hungry and Homeless
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Insults and demeaning statements can be a major part of what it means to be homeless, hungry and obviously needy. A recent article in the British Daily Mail said that “welfare addicts” are costing Australians billions of dollars. According to one study, the annual price tag for welfare here in … Read More
New Mexico’s Largest Homeless Shelter Avoids Typical Barriers to Access
News Release from Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. info@joyjunction.org ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, is celebrating 30-plus years of implementing accessible methods of support for homeless individuals and families by providing food, shelter, pastoral counseling and even longer-term transitional housing. In 1986, Dr. Jeremy Reynalds, founder of Joy Junction, set out … Read More
The Media, The Homeless and a Basket of Deplorables
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. By the way some people react to the homeless, you’d think they believe they’re equivalent to a basket of deplorables, as well as being similar in nature to a religious group once dismissively described as largely poor, uneducated and easy to command. While there are many wonderful, caring and giving … Read More
Fifteen Years after 9/11, Hope for Love, Help and Kindness Overshadowed by Cavernous Political Divide and Angry Nation
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. On the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11, we again remember the events of that terrible day and the thousands whose lives were lost to those awful attacks. While I have my own story which I’ll share later, I wondered what some of our current Joy Junction guests were doing on that … Read More
“Let’s Do Lunch. You Buy!”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The sign is very clear. Held by a plaintive looking middle-aged man it reads, “Let’s do lunch. U-buy.” Would you? I would for sure. I’m never without $5.00 fast food gift cards in my car, which I offer to those who ask. They’re always gratefully received. I also offer my Joy … Read More
Grateful Hearts Even in a Difficult Time
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s never easy being homeless. It’s probably one of the most stressful times in your life, and while we try to do the best we can for those staying with us at Joy Junction, we wanted to see what they thought. With that in mind, we asked a few of … Read More
Things I Hated To Do.
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While the harsh realities of life give us a lot to pray for, sometimes it can all get a bit overwhelming and we need some good news. There are many wonderful things happening around us that don’t draw media attention, and they include some of the lives being transformed at … Read More
Albuquerque Being Touted Nationally as a Role Model for Helping the Homeless, so why are there Panhandlers on Every Other Street Corner?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s been about 15 months since blue signs sprouted like mushrooms all over Albuquerque encouraging people to call 311 instead of giving to panhandlers. By so doing, those with a heart to help were told they could donate to local food banks, and the homeless or hungry unaware of local … Read More
We Like Our Gospel Country
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that many of our guests – perhaps most – come in emotionally bruised and battered to Joy Junction. A few also show evident physical scars from being homeless and living on the streets, but emotional hurt and devastation is much more common. While … Read More
All the Homeless Have a Story. Maybe You Can Be the One Who Gives It a Happy Ending
by Jeremy Reynalds, Ph. D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc Litter was strewn on the ground. It included sandwich wrappers, chicken bones, lettuce and an old blanket. A building wall with a dark stain on it appeared to have been used quite recently for a bathroom. An unpleasant stench permeated the air. In addition, a porta potty with a … Read More
Could a Solution to Albuquerque’s Ongoing Smelly Problem Lie with Miami Initiative?
by Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The City of Miami is rolling out a permanent solution that will help the homeless in Downtown Miami by providing them with portable public bathrooms. Less than nine months ago, The Pit Stop Pilot Program, a temporary program that provides portable bathrooms for the city’s homeless population, was put into … Read More
Being Homeless Can Be Deadly!
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) recently released its report “No Safe Street: A Survey of Hate Crimes and Violence Committed Against Homeless People in 2014 & 2015″ It’s alarming, to say the least! The report says that last year there were 77 documented cases of attacks resulting in 27 deaths. … Read More
A Peek Behind the Scenes at Joy Junction-Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. How many times do we think of our trash collector, or perhaps the janitor at the office who works late evenings disposing of the trash we’ve generated in the day? As a rule, I’m guessing probably not too often. However, that would all change if they went on strike, right? … Read More
How Britain’s Veteran Musical Troubador of Peace and Social Justice Came to Write a Song for Joy Junction
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Garth Hewitt has a passion for those routinely ignored by the rest of the world. I fell in love with this delightfully ever so English Anglican priest’s music while still in England in the late 1970’s. Even back then, it had a soul piercing quality often not present in some … Read More
Love and www.pleasezipitnow.com The Answers to Every Social Issue
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The answer to every social issue is love and a healthy dose of respect for the other man or woman’s opinion. Sadly, it’s something we don’t see a whole lot these days, with people’s opinions of whatever political or theological persuasion on verbal overdrive and the taking refuge in media … Read More
Joy Junction’s Thirtieth Anniversary
Come and Join Us!
Joy Junction Managers Pay It Forward
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. You’ve almost certainly heard of the phrase to pay it forward. It’s typically taking a person’s kindness to you and “paying it forward” to someone else. Thinking it would be good for our Joy Junction managers to try something “outside the box,” we gave them a $5.00 bill, and told … Read More
