The Humanity of Homelessness

In this episode, John Marshall sits down with peer support specialist and former Episcopal priest, Ruth Kruger, to trace a powerful arc from childhood trauma and poverty to a vocation of radical presence with neighbors navigating homelessness and housing insecurity. Ruth shares about growing up in a “ghetto” neighborhood of San Diego with an abusive, alcoholic father, a terrified younger self who learned to survive by hiding in trees and waves, and the years of housing insecurity and couch-surfing that leave her describing herself today as “homeless adjacent.”

Along the way, Ruth reflects on the long, nonlinear work of healing: decades of depression, weekly therapy, leaving an abusive marriage, going back to school in her 40s, and slowly trading a rule-based, punitive faith for a God she now names as “Mother and Papa,” the birther of the cosmos who loves without condition. She and John talk about low-barrier care at Church at the Park, why trauma-informed practice always asks “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?,” and how safety, belonging, and a cup of coffee can become sacred ground where real change begins.

Ruth also speaks candidly to staff and caregivers about compassion fatigue, the holiness of “tucking someone in on the couch” when they come back drunk or high, and the need for people in this work to seek their own refuge, rest, and honest support. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Church at the Park’s approach distinct—or how one person’s hard-earned wisdom can humanize homelessness and reveal grace in the margins—this conversation offers a tender, hopeful look at love that holds the outcome loosely and refuses to give up on anyone.

At 6 years old, Juanita Savoy‑Nash was sleeping under a pickup truck, working fields for food, and going to school in clothes that smelled like the mattress she shared with her sisters. At 85, in the middle of chemotherapy and recently moved out of her camper van into her own apartment, she’s still finding ways to show up for her neighbors at Church at the Park—with rides, laundry, peanut butter sandwiches, and an open seat at the table.

In our newest episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, John Marshall sits with Juanita to trace her journey through childhood homelessness, migrant labor, nursing, sex‑offender treatment work, early retirement, and eventually the grassroots community that became Church at the Park. She talks candidly about suicide attempts, the helplessness of poverty, the “magic in the air” when unhoused neighbors began serving one another in Cascade Gateway Park, and how passing out sandwiches and planting corn in a raised bed garden nurtured her as much as anyone she served.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually changes when we move from “helping the homeless” to belonging with our neighbors who are living outside, this conversation is for you. Listen to Juanita’s story and join us in resisting the stories of fear and exclusion with a different one: I am beloved, and so is my neighbor.

At 16, Megan Perez grabbed the clothes on her back, boarded a train from Los Angeles to Salem, and stepped into a safe house closet that became her bed—and the start of a new life. In this episode, John Marshall sits down with Megan to trace her journey from a childhood marked by domestic violence, housing instability, and park-for-the-night survival, to becoming a youth pastor, case manager, program developer, and deeply trusted leader in homeless services across the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Megan shares how acting as a “shield” for her mom and siblings shaped her sense of responsibility, why she didn’t initially recognize her own homelessness, and the moment at Church at the Park’s managed camping pilot when she realized, within an hour, “I can never do anything else with my life.” She reflects on supporting adults and youth in shelters, hotel turn-keys, and transitional housing, the limits of “housing first” when community is lost, and why collaboration, wraparound care, and honest stories matter more than neat outcomes. Along the way she names the people whose memories anchor her work, challenges common myths about people “coming for resources,” and offers a hopeful, honest vision of what it means for a community to truly show up for its neighbors.

In this episode, John Marshall sits down with Michelle Barnes, a former Church at the Park staff member whose journey has taken her from a chaotic childhood in Salem, through addiction, domestic violence, the loss of her children, and years of homelessness, to hard-won sobriety, stability, and service to others. Michelle shares candidly about surviving abuse, sex trafficking, multiple suicide attempts, and life in tents, cars, and shelters—and how community, recovery, and learning to choose herself have reshaped her story. Together they explore the complex relationship between trauma, mental health, addiction, and homelessness, why “just get a job” is not an answer, and where Michelle has found hope, dignity, and purpose as she now walks alongside neighbors still living outside.

In this part two conversation with Church at the Park staff member Sterling Cunio, the Humanity of Homelessness digs into a single, urgent question: what does meaningful involvement actually look like when it comes to our neighbors experiencing homelessness? Picking up where the first episode left off, Sterling walks through “minimum, medium, and maximum” pathways of engagement—from simply learning someone’s story, to building sustainable rhythms of service, to re-imagining how land, housing, and policy can be used so that everyone has access to shelter. Along the way, he reflects on his own journey with Salem, the power of tiny consistent actions, and what he learned about rest, ecosystem, and burnout from a recent artist residency in Costa Rica.

Listeners will hear a candid invitation to join a community of people who are, in Sterling’s words, “consciously and deliberately engaged” in making things better, without romanticizing sacrifice or ignoring real limits. This episode is for anyone who has ever sat at a dinner table conversation about homelessness and wondered, “But what do I actually do next?”

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, John sits down with writer, organizer, and former Church at the Park storyteller Sterling Cunio to trace a life that spans suburban Texas, Salem’s streets, nearly three decades in prison, and a surprising new vocation: waging joy in hard places. Sterling reflects on losing his grandmother, becoming homeless as a teenager, committing a serious act of violence, and receiving consecutive life sentences—then describes the interior work that began when a victim’s family member asked him a single, destabilizing question: “Why did you do it?” From that point, he talks about choosing nonviolence without any promise of release, discovering that “doing good felt good,” and being met by a web of community support that eventually opened the prison gates.

Now, as a poet and member of the Ubuntu Commons Initiative, Sterling travels to places like Costa Rica, Washington D.C., and New Orleans, using story and art to help communities imagine systems change grounded in joy, relationship, and shared responsibility. Along the way, he shares what he sees when he walks Salem’s shelters and encampments, why he keeps “adopting” neighbors living outside in every city he visits, and how simple acts—like saying hello to someone on the street—can become small rebellions of hope

Join us for a powerful conversation with Bill Hardman, a staff member at Church at the Park’s family shelter site in Salem, Oregon. Bill shares his journey through decades of addiction, repeated incarceration, and homelessness, offering an inside look at the challenges faced by many in his community. With honesty and humor, Bill reflects on the vital role of trust, support, and consistency in healing, and how building relationships in safe spaces helped him find stability and joy after years of hardship.

Bill’s story is one of resilience and hope—reminding us that transformation is possible at any stage of life, especially when people feel seen, accepted, and empowered to write new chapters for themselves. Whether he’s cracking jokes, mentoring younger shelter guests, or simply holding a baby so a parent can take a breath, Bill exemplifies the compassion and honesty that can change lives.

Tune in for lessons on recovery, generational trauma, accountability, and the unique power of genuine connection.

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Patrick Geier, a participant in Salem’s Safe Parking program. Patrick and his wife, Chantel, journeyed to Salem in search of stability after a lifetime of upheaval and hardship, including years of homelessness. With characteristic honesty and resilience, Patrick bravely details his childhood in Lubbock, Texas, marked by family trauma and constant relocation, and how these experiences shaped his ability to persevere through dire circumstances.

Patrick opens up about the deep impact of his relationship with Chantel, the healing presence of community, and the transformative support provided by programs like Safe Parking. He shares candidly about overcoming addiction, his ongoing commitment to helping others, and his determination to build a better future. Along the way, Patrick challenges stereotypes about homelessness, emphasizing the importance of compassion, agency, and the distinction between a "handout" and a "hand up."

Join us as Patrick’s story dispels myths and delivers hard-won wisdom about hope, resilience, and the value of believing in a better tomorrow.

In this powerful episode of "The Humanity of Homelessness," we sit down with Aurora Granado, a single mother of five whose story is a testament to resilience, faith, and transformation. Aurora shares her journey through two experiences of homelessness, her path to recovery from addiction, and how finding her faith became the cornerstone of rebuilding her life.

From a childhood marked by foster care and instability to becoming a mother determined to break generational cycles, Aurora's story reveals both the complex factors that can lead to homelessness and the profound impact of community support. Now a participant in Church at the Park's family shelter program, Aurora is preparing to start a new job at Amazon and dreams of opening her own caregiving facility to serve elderly community members with dignity and love.

Throughout our conversation, Aurora's infectious positivity and deep spiritual conviction shine through as she discusses how her relationship with God has given her a new identity and purpose. Her wisdom about the temporary nature of difficult circumstances and her commitment to helping others make this episode both inspiring and instructive for anyone seeking hope in hard places.

This episode offers valuable insights into the realities of homelessness, the importance of wraparound services, and the transformative power of faith and community support.

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, we sit down with Kyle Dickinson, the executive director of Salem Leadership Foundation. Kyle shares his personal journey—from his roots in Redding, California to his roles in ministry, fundraising, and community leadership. He reflects on formative moments that shaped his vision of community, belonging, and stewardship, weaving together stories of sports teams, the lessons learned from his father, and deep experiences with faith-based service. 

Kyle discusses the importance of connection across Salem’s nonprofit, faith, and civic sectors as essential to building a healthy, thriving city. He also offers rich perspectives on the complexities of addressing homelessness, emphasizing long-term relational approaches, learning from lived experience, and nurturing a sense of collective belonging. Join us for a conversation full of warmth, humor, wisdom, and hope for Salem’s future.