Community means everything, especially when it comes to fighting homelessness, poverty and addiction.

The businesses, organizations, nonprofits, churches and private citizens of Colorado Springs invest in Springs Rescue Mission and the people we serve by volunteering their time, organizing events and making generous financial contributions that make our work possible. In fact, more than 80 percent of our funding comes from faithful donors.But their hard work and dedication to helping our neighbors in need isn’t always seen or celebrated. Most of the time, they’re unsung heroes fighting on the frontlines of homelessness.As a supporter, donor or advocate of the Mission, these community champions provide our guests with the help and hope they so desperately need to get their lives back on track and find pathways out of homelessness. They’re making a real difference.

I’m not just saying this. There’s proof!

Every January, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts its annual “Point-In-Time” survey to provide an estimated count of those experiencing homelessness in cities across America.

This March, the results of last year’s survey were finally released. I felt nervous as I clicked on the link to read of its findings, especially after an introduction that read “homelessness continued its upward trend before the pandemic even began.”But the more I read, the more I realized just what communities are capable of when they join in the fight for a common cause — in this case, that’s the fight against homelessness.While the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in dozens of metropolitan areas in the U.S. saw a double-digit increase, a small group of American cities began to see deceases.

Among the cities that saw a decrease in homelessness was our own Colorado Springs, with a whopping 14.3-percent drop!

These numbers can be debated, but we think it’s incredible to see what this community is capable of when we rally together to help those in need. And while the fight against homelessness is far from over, please take a moment to recognize that you are making a difference.If you’ve read this far, we consider you an advocate of Springs Rescue Mission, a true community champion. And we want you to know that you and your neighbors are making a real difference in the lives of the men and women we serve.In Colorado Springs, men and women experiencing homelessness are receiving more help than ever before because of neighbors like you. But we can’t stop now. Let’s keep going. Let’s keep working together until every man, woman and child is healthy and in a safe place to call home.We'd like to take this opportunity to thank a few of our partners — Community Champions, as we call them — for supporting the work of Springs Rescue Mission and for loving the men and women in this community who continue to struggle with homelessness, hunger, poverty and addiction:Academy Christian ChurchAndrew Womack MinistriesAnschutz FoundationArrow Moving and StorageBBVABethel Lutheran ChurchBloom FoundationBoettcher FoundationCalvary Worship CenterCharis Christian CenterChurch For All NationsCity of Colorado SpringsClassic HomesColorado Community Health AllianceColorado Health FoundationColorado Springs Health FoundationColorado Springs ImagingColorado Springs UtilitiesCOS I Love YouCross Fellowship ChurchDaniels FundDavid C. CookDrifter’s HamburgersDutch Bros. FoundationEastern Colorado BankEdward JonesEl Paso CountyEl Pomar FoundationEnt Credit UnionErickson, Brown & KlosterFellowship Of The RockiesFirst Presbyterian ChurchForestgate Presbyterian ChurchGates Family FoundationGE Johnson FoundationGordon Construction Co.Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal ChurchHoly Trinity Anglican ChurchIndependent FinancialInterim HealthcareJaxon EngineeringJohn and Margot Lane FoundationKenneth King FoundationKrueger BrothersLarry H. Miller CharitiesMary K. Chapman FoundationMike MacGuirePerkins MotorsPikes Peak Community FoundationPulpit Rock ChurchQuick Quack Car WashRampart SupplyRay Nunn ConstructionRhodescoRock Family ChurchSeason InvestmentsSprings Reformed ChurchStrata GroupStrecker HomesSunrise United Methodist ChurchT. Rowe Price FoundationThrive Commercial PartnersU.S. FoodsUSAAVanguard Church CentralWalmartWells FargoSubscribe to our blog to learn more about Springs Rescue Mission and the people we serve — people who have seen tough times but are committed to breaking the cycles of homelessness, hunger and addiction in their lives. We see stories of hope and transformation lived out every day, and we’d love to share them with you.