Our Neighbors Without Shelter: A Call for Compassion What the Point-in-Time Count Reveals About Homelessness in McDowell
MMA Board Chair, Debora Workman, and Board Member, Becky Young, joined volunteers at the recent Point-in-Time Count to help ensure every neighbor experiencing homelessness was counted.
This summer, Mission Ministries Alliance hosted the Point-in-Time Count for McDowell County. The results were sobering. 106 individuals were counted living in places not meant for human habitation—a 43% increase compared to the winter count, when 74 individuals were recorded, including those who had a safe place to rest in our overnight shelter.On the night of the summer count, both of our program shelters were at full capacity. The Friendship Home for Women and Children sheltered 37 women and children, while the John Thompson Center for Men provided housing for 18 men. These beds were full, but the need extended far beyond what we could offer. Sometimes, when people see homelessness, they assume those individuals are “not from here.” But through this count, we interviewed each person—and the truth is, the majority have lived in McDowell County most of their lives. They are not strangers. They are our neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and friends who have fallen on hard times.
The increase we are seeing is not just about housing—it is about the lack of timely access to mental health and substance use treatment. Too often, people wait weeks or months for an appointment, even when they are ready for help today. By the time the system is ready, they may have lost hope. This revolving door leaves many people stuck outside, disconnected from care and community.
At Mission Ministries Alliance, we believe compassion must be at the heart of every response. Housing is critical, but without grace-filled, trauma-informed, and recovery-centered care, even housing solutions can fall short. That is why we train our staff not just in best practices, but in the practice of compassion. Recovery principles are woven into every part of our work—because we know healing happens when people are seen, valued, and treated with dignity.
How You Can Help
We are calling on our community to support in whatever way you can. Times are uncertain, with federal and state funds being cut more each week, and we know the road ahead will depend on the strength of our local community.
You can make a difference by:
Volunteering your time at one of our shelters or community programs
Committing to become a monthly donor, helping sustain this vital work
Dropping off supplies to meet the daily needs of our residents
Every act of generosity, no matter how big or small, helps us keep moving this mission forward.
If you’d like to get involved, please reach out to me directly at crystal.sweatt@m3life.org. Together, we can ensure that no one in McDowell County is left without compassion, care, or hope.
