Religion, Spirituality, Community, and Change at a Residential Homeless Shelter

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article looks at the effects of religion, spirituality, and religious community in an evangelical Christian homeless shelter. We describe the culture of the shelter as well as the life stories of its residents, with the goal of understanding how residents experience the shelter and how religion and the religious community help them cope with their past and improve their situations. We illustrate how many of the residents connect to the spiritual and cultural toolkit, culture and community at Grace Ministries, and then incorporate these elements into their life stories, which helps them start tackling issues such as low selfesteem, depression, and addictions.