Jess Agan - May 2024

As homelessness continues to rise in nearly every city in America, leaders are scrambling for answers. Next month, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on Johnson v. Grants Pass—the case of a homeless person who sued the city of Grants Pass, OR, after being fined for sleeping on public property. Although many city leaders are hoping the Court to rule in favor of Grants Pass, I recently wrote for The Hill that the ruling won’t change much at all. Although policy is important to guard the intended use of public property, policy is not the answer to the issue of homelessness. 

Jess knows. He was homeless and frost-bitten when one of our team members took the time to get to know him, connect him to medical help, and then get him off the streets and into our respite unit where he could recover from a partial amputation. 

“I never lost faith, but I had lost heart. I honestly thought no one cared—until I came to Watered Gardens. God has put people and resources here to show His love. If someone wants to get better, Watered Gardens will help. I’ve found healing for my foot and my heart here.”

Real solutions arise from real compassion that builds real relationships. It’s not an easy solution but it’s the only one that really works. Thank you for your support. Your support enables the kind of personalized attention that Jess, and every person, deserves.