Episode Summary:

Homelessness is often viewed only through the lens of what we see on the surface—tents on sidewalks, individuals holding signs, or people who seem lost in the crowd. Yet behind every face is a story marked by trauma, loss, survival, and a longing for dignity. Today we are pulling back the curtain to look deeper into the emotional, psychological, and spiritual factors that contribute to homelessness, and more importantly, the pathways that lead toward healing, restoration, and lasting hope.

Our guest, Baron King, serves on the front lines, offering trauma-informed care, emotional support, and compassionate advocacy to individuals fighting their way out of crisis. You’ll hear what truly makes a difference, how healing begins, and how we can each play a role in restoring hope to those who feel forgotten. Whether you’ve experienced instability yourself or want to better understand how to support those who do, this conversation will open your heart and strengthen your faith in the God who sees, knows, and redeems every story.

Quotables from the episode:

• Too often, homelessness is reduced to statistics, stereotypes, or oversimplified assumptions about personal choices. But for many individuals, homelessness is the culmination of unhealed trauma, mental health challenges, broken systems, and overwhelming life circumstances.
• Yet, every face is a story, sometimes marked by trauma, loss, survival, even a longing for dignity.
• To every complex problem, there's a simple answer and it's always wrong.
• It's rare that somebody presents themselves to our agency and the only reason that they are unsheltered or homeless is because of lack of housing.
• Perhaps they have physical or psychological disabilities or challenges.  Perhaps they're a caregiver of somebody that's dependent and they lack some of these social safety nets that other people have and they don't have.  So, it's usually very multifactorial.
• But I would propose that if any of us were unsheltered for 6, 8, 12 months, that we would be demonstrating signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and despondency.
• What I've realized is they can't sleep at night, and they come into our facility because they won't get assaulted and they can get sleep.
• I think one of the things that people really struggle with, and I think that most people probably wouldn't realize this, is a loss of identity.
• You know, dignity is the first thing people lose when they become homeless.
• No one, no one chooses to be unsheltered.  No one chooses to be homeless. 

Scripture References:

• Isaiah 58:10 “If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
• Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”

Recommended Resources:

• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue

Social Media Links for Host and Guest:

Connect with Baron King:

Website CHATT Foundation / Facebook / Instagram / Podcast

Connect with Dr. Bengtson:

Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book  Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /   Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple

Guest:

Baron S King, LPC, NCC, is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of The CHATT Foundation, formerly the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, a non-profit corporation serving the homeless community in the greater Chattanooga region.  Prior to that Mr. King served as the CEO of Liberty Ministries, Inc., a large non-profit serving men and women inside state and county prisons of Pennsylvania and those upon release in residential transition programs.

Prior to that, Mr. King served as the Director of Health and Counseling services, Clinical Director, and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Cairn University in southeastern PA.  Mr. King holds a BS degree in Theology, a MS in Clinical Psychology, and has an extensive background in Organizational Leadership and Development.  Mr. King is passionate about providing services and support to underserved people groups and providing pathways to self-sustainability.

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson