Hope Among the Ruins

Telling the full story of the Triangle Town Center cleanup will be nearly impossible—because even when we’re done, it won’t really be done. Some areas, for jurisdictional reasons, we aren’t allowed to clean. But where we can make a difference, you better believe the change will be drastic.

What you’ll see: shopping carts returned, needles picked up, powerful before-and-after photos, and stories of how this project provided over $1,100 in wages to our Workforce team. What you might not see: the sadness. The reality that people lived—and still live—in unhealthy and unsafe conditions. That addiction is how some coped. That kids’ toys were left behind—because families were here once, too.

I look forward to editing the pics, picking the perfect song for the reel, and sharing the wins. But this one has been heartbreaking. I believe grown folks make their own choices. Needles alone don’t shake me. But needles next to toys? That’s a tough one to swallow.

I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be unhoused. At its core, it’s about survival—and everyone survives differently.

And that’s why we keep showing up. Change doesn’t happen all at once—it happens one cleanup, one paycheck, one act of care at a time. And no matter how much is left to do, we’ll be back.

Someone recently told me, "I feel like your work is a bright spot… for a lot of folks from all walks of life—which is needed right now." That reminder keeps us going. Because in the midst of sadness, there’s still hope. And that’s worth everything. - Preston