Behind the stereotypes of homelessness are men with stories of loss, resilience, and hope–and at Beacon of Hope, they are rebuilding their lives.

I once asked a class of fourth graders what they wanted to be when they grew up. Their answers came fast and fearless–firefighters, business owners, race car drivers. Big dreams. Cool dreams.

But do you know what no one said? Not a single kid said they wanted to be mentally unstable, addicted, divorced, or homeless.

And yet, how often do we hear people say, “They choose to be homeless,” or “They just need to get a job”? That thinking erases the real people behind the label–and the long, complicated roads that led them here.

About 80 percent of the men staying at Beacon of Hope wrestle with addiction, mental health issues, or both.

Sixty-seven percent of chronically homeless people in the U.S. were sexually abused as children.

Many grew up in foster care or spent everything for a fresh start only to get sick and lose work. Divorce alone has pushed plenty through our doors.

The fastest-growing group of homeless men in America are those over 50. By the time they arrive, most have run out of options — and out of couches to crash on. They carry invisible weights: grief, trauma, shame, regret. They are nervous, anxious, and deeply tired.

So no, people don’t choose this life. This is not what they wanted to be when they grew up.

That’s why Beacon of Hope exists: to catch men when they’re falling, to show them Jesus, and to remind them He restores what’s been broken.

Life here is structured and purposeful. Days start at 5:30 a.m. with cleaning duties and chapel. Men work jobs, study, volunteer, or train through our “Back to Work” program. Evenings bring check-ins, chapel, and fellowship. Programs like Celebrate Recovery, boundaries classes, and leadership training help them rebuild.

When we reduce people to stereotypes, we stop seeing their humanity. At Beacon of Hope, we see it every day — in men becoming fathers, leaders, and workers again.

No, they didn’t dream of this life. But with grace, structure, and love, they’re dreaming again.

To learn more about Beacon of Hope Men’s Shelter, call 515-955-3366 or email beaconofhopebrian@gmail.com.

Brian Bidleman is the executive director of the Beacon of Hope Men’s Shelter.