At Urban Pathways, we are honored to spotlight the impactful journey of two of our supporters, Joe and Ann, whose dedication to combatting homelessness has touched countless lives in our community. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Joe after he donated business clothes to the UPwards Employment Program, and to learn more about what has drawn them to support Urban Pathways.
Joe and Ann’s involvement with Urban Pathways is rooted in a long-standing concern for those experiencing homelessness in and around New York City. Through regular trips into the city for business or pleasure, they have seen the homeless population ebb and flow over time. For years, they would stop and greet the people they encountered. Initially starting with a little cash —first a dollar, then two, then five, they soon realized connection and sustained action were more meaningful.
“There’s not an easy answer, but it’s got to be something more sustained. If you’re going to fix the problem, you can’t hand somebody a tuna salad sandwich and orange juice and wish them a happy day.”
They began building relationships with some of the people they met, first learning a few people’s names and eventually learning about their backgrounds and needs. Over time, instead of cash, they offered to buy a sandwich or a meal. Through the years, they brought clothes to a man that had been robbed, gave a suit to another who needed to go to a funeral, and got winter gear for a woman living in Central Park in the cold. Joe remembers chatting with one woman over coffee—as they talked, she vowed not to spend another winter on the streets, but also explained why she didn’t want to go to shelters … and how much harder it was to gain housing the longer she experienced homelessness.
Very often these interactions, over coffee or a sandwich, on the sidewalk or on a bench, revealed a sincere desire to “get off the streets,” combined with equally strong resistance to shelters—all evidencing the need for more holistic solutions, without which continuing life on the street became more intractable and alternatives less achievable.
When they moved to the city, Joe and Ann extended their involvement and deepened their commitment to creating sustainable change in homelessness solutions. Their journey intersected with Urban Pathways just before the pandemic: Joe became aware of the organization’s work while compiling statistics on homelessness in their new neighborhood, and in the city at large. As he researched, he learned about Urban Pathways’ projects and the idea of a housing first approach—getting someone off the street and helping them rebuild with the potential for stable housing and career opportunities. Since then, Joe and Ann have become consistent supporters, following Urban Pathways’ impact through annual reports and updates.
“Urban Pathways takes the money they raise, and they’re building brick and mortar, they’re opening facilities. The fact that you’re touching 2,500 people in a year doesn’t sound like a big number, but you’re actually housing 1,200 of those 2,500 people… that’s a lot more of an investment.”
Then, everything changed with the pandemic. While they could no longer be as active in forward-facing outreach, Joe and Ann redoubled their support of solutions to end homelessness through financial contributions to Urban Pathways.
Reflecting on the organization’s impact, Joe emphasizes the importance of sustained efforts in addressing homelessness. He encourages others to recognize the myriad causes and reasons leading to the plight of the homeless and challenges them to join in supporting initiatives that offer long-term solutions. For Joe and Ann, it’s not just about providing temporary relief, but about empowering individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity and opportunity.
“It’s all important. And I think if you’re in a position that you can afford to give—whether it’s $10 or $1,000, or $100,000, whether it’s once or monthly—you’re doing something good.”
We thank Joe and Ann for continuing to champion a future where everyone has a safe place to call home, and for lighting the path home for so many New Yorkers!
