Corey’s addiction destroyed his marriage and alienated him from his children. Nick endured the emotional isolation of a rough childhood, only to find herself alone on the streets of Atlanta. For each of these and many others who enter our doors at Atlanta Mission, relational poverty binds them to a life they desperately want to leave. Homelessness becomes an inevitable and inescapable fate for those who have nowhere else to turn.

Psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Bruce Perry identifies relational poverty as a deep lack of connectedness in one’s environment. Whether it’s abuse creating physical isolation or addiction removing emotional and psychological safety, relational poverty occurs when trusted structures and people meant to support and nurture individuals are pulled away. 

For many, the feelings of abandonment that accompany this poverty makes every other aspect of life even harder. A job loss or eviction that might have been bearable in the context of a supportive community becomes a painful reminder of the loneliness that marks individuals’ lives. Without friends, family or community to support them through tough times, many discover that homelessness becomes the next chapter in a story that is full of sadness.

At Atlanta Mission, we know that relational poverty can make individuals feel imprisoned in their homelessness. Without scaffolding to help them rebuild, individuals struggle to make real progress toward their goals. That’s why we actively work to help all of our clients re-envision family as a trusting community of care — serving together, strengthening each other, and spurring each other on to new hope and freedom. Consider these three ways Atlanta Mission works to eliminate relational poverty through our programs.

1. We meet basic needs.

It might seem small, but a warm bed and a hot meal can communicate big hope. When clients arrive at our emergency shelters, we welcome them warmly and offer to meet their immediate basic needs. Three healthy meals, a safe place to sleep, and laundry facilities to clean clothes communicate the stability of a healthy family life that may have only ever felt like a dream. We know that, for clients starving for love, a delicious meal communicates care. For clients longing for a real home, a space to place their belongings communicates safety and trust. Each time we meet basic needs our actions affirm that we’re not going anywhere. We have a mission to love and serve, and we do it faithfully, day in and day out.

2. We offer Ambassador relationships.

When a client decides to Choose Help, he or she is ready to move beyond basic needs. Our Atlanta Mission Ambassadors step forward at this time to begin the deep, long-lasting work of building trust through one-to-one relationships, modeling for individuals the kind of connections that will help them learn to grow healthy relationships on their own. For clients who are deeply lonely, Ambassadors offer a listening ear, steady wisdom, and gentle guidance as they set and work to meet their goals. Clients discover that they can experience freedom from homelessness, and, better yet, that there are people who are cheering them on each step of the way.

3. We encourage service.

There’s nothing that makes you feel more a part of a community than serving in it. Many of our clients grew up in households where they had to fend for themselves. Some experienced abandonment from caregivers. Others lost friends and family because of poor, self-interested choices they made. However their relational poverty has accrued, Atlanta Mission knows that community is the solution to reducing this deficit and service is the currency of this transformation.

In our residential programs, all participants contribute to the life of the community through activities such as cleaning common areas, engaging in purposeful conversations, and maintaining their personal space. Each client learns that relationships include give and take, a healthy balance of receiving care and offering assistance to others. As we model these types of relationships, individuals see that relational poverty is reduced each time another person feels welcome in our space and each time a simple need is met.

Atlanta Mission knows that relational poverty takes time to overcome. Nonetheless, we believe the rhythms of basic care, relationship building and service invite our clients to envision a better life, one where they can create healthy family networks with those around them and cultivate the support and trust they need to succeed.