Homelessness is one of the most talked-about issues in America.

But how much do we actually understand about it?

In this episode of Inside Ava Health, we sit down with leaders working directly on the front lines in Grand Junction, Colorado to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes. No politics. No headlines. Just real conversations.

Here’s what we explore:

• Why 75 to 90 percent of people living on the streets do not actually want to be there • The real barriers beyond “mental health and addiction” • Why “housing first” isn’t the full solution • What happens when hope gets crushed over and over • Why funding structures are creating unintended barriers • The loss of resource centers and what that means for communities • How innovative models like “Stand Down” changed lives • What communities must understand if we want real change

One powerful truth from this conversation:

“Hope hurts.”

When people try, and try, and try again only to hit closed doors, long waitlists, rising rents, and shifting funding priorities, eventually they stop believing anything will change.

And that’s when we lose them.

This episode is about restoring dignity, rebuilding trust, and rethinking how communities show up for the people who need us most.

If you care about homelessness, mental health, addiction, or the future of your community, this is a conversation you need to hear.

— Guests this episode include Chris Masters with Homeward Bound of Grand Valley and Philip Masters with United Way Mesa County.

Ava Health is a full continuum behavioral health and addiction treatment provider serving Colorado. If you or someone you love needs help, call us. Recovery is possible.

📞 Learn more: www.HelloAvaHealth.com 📍 Grand Junction, Colorado

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