Days 13 - 30 of 'The Americas' Challenge
Days 13 -18 - Los Angeles, USA
During Gordon’s time in LA for the ‘Giving the Vulnerable a Chance’ campaign, Gordon spent the majority of his time exploring the streets of Skid Row, witnessing disparity at its highest.
A community of hopelessness, but one where there are some good organisations bringing hope and support for LA’s most vulnerable.
Main Observations
The sheer volume of people living homeless on Skid Row is incomprehensible. It seems hopeless, but there are stories of hope where people have been supported by organisations and are living a life of hope and helping others.
Organisations/Initiatives making a difference
Dream Centre is a resource center focused on providing support to those affected by homelessness, hunger, and the lack of education through residential and community outreach program – serving up to 40,000 people a month. Key programs include:
Clothing distribution
Mobile food banks
Jail outreach
Human trafficking rescue
Foster care intervention
Disaster relief
DreamKids program
Midnight Mission was founded in 1914 and is centred in the heart of Skid Row. The mission run a Courtyard Outreach programme, where they provide emergency services to those in need, in hope to break the cycle of homelessness. These services include:
Hot food
Hygiene facilities
Shelter
Education
Job readiness programmes
Days 19 - 24 - Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is one of the few cities in the Western hemisphere where the use of hard drugs has been decriminalised - meaning people can legally consume 2.5 grams of hard drugs in their homes and in designated public shelters.
Main Observations
Whilst you can legally consume 2.5g of hard drugs in the designated spaces, downtown Vancouver streets are filled with people taking drugs (Gordon witnessed many people openly shooting up fentanyl, snorting cocaine or smoking crystal meth out on the streets). Now, because of the decriminalisation, the police have no grounds to approach anyone taking illicit drugs in public, without another crime being committed.
The general public seemed so immune to witnessing the utter despair and hopelessness of those off their faces and at rock bottom in the streets of Vancouver - likely because they’ve been exposed to witnessing so much drug abuse around them, that it’s the new ‘normal’ for their city. It makes us think ‘is this where Scotland is heading?’ as the government seeks to open more drug use centres.
Organisations/Initiatives making a difference
Nestara - with an aim to elevate Vancouver’s downtown eastside community, Nestara provides access to treatment, recovery, housing, food, and necessities to those in need in the community. Whilst in the area, Gordon came across one of their food stations, serving >50 people warm food and beverages
Days 25 - 30 - New York, USA
Homelessness in New York City has significantly risen in the last 3 years, with >100,000 sleeping in shelters (35,000 of that are recorded to be children), and this figure does not include rough sleepers. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, more than 350,000 people are without homes in New York in October 2025.
Main Observations
The city was being reached by an incredible non-profit called 'The Coalition of the Homeless' with over 50 charities coming together to collectively support the cities most vulnerable people. The power of numbers mean many people can be supported and helped across the city as they try and help build long-term solutions to the homelessness crisis in New York.
Organisations/Initiatives making a difference
The Coalition for the Homeless is a large-scale non-profit organization supporting vulnerable people across New York with 6 key programmes:
Food: providing 1,000 fresh warm meals a night across 25 different locations in the city.
Crisis services: providing immediate, lifesaving help to homeless and at-risk men, women and children
Housing: providing housing and support services for those in need
Job training: equipping homeless and low-income women the tools they need to find living-wage jobs
Youth: helping homeless kids overcome the obstacles they have endured so they can build brighter futures
Advocacy: shining a light in the issue of homelessness and advocating for sensible, long-term solutions to the crisis of homelessness in New York.
The Bowery Mission founded 150 years ago, this organisation:
Serve breakfast, lunch and dinner each with a short chapel service before each meal (supposedly serving 200 meals each hour!!)
Provide legal and medical help
Provide housing connections and life skills training
Run a rehabilitation program in their building (during the week Gordon visited, they had a graduation service, where 18 people were graduating and moving onto jobs and their own homes)
This challenge is about educating, inspiring and mobilising individuals to reach out to the vulnerable in their communities by raising awareness of the reality that vulnerable people face day-to-day by experiencing it first-hand and sharing back with you.
Remember - everyone has a story that has led them to their present day situation.
Be kind to the vulnerable and give them a chance.
Join the movement.
If you want to donate to the 'Giving the Vulnerable a Chance' Campaign, click here. Your donation will go directly to organisations Gordon witnesses making a difference in vulnerable communities.
Alternatively, if you'd like to sponsor the Campaign itself (i.e. the logistical costs), please reach out to us using the 'Contact Us' form.
Thank you for your support!
