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Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness
On any given night, more than half a million Americans and Canadians find themselves sleeping on the streets, in shelters, cars, and other places not meant for human habitation. Yet as this crisis continues to grow, it remains one of the least talked about--especially in churches. Even where compassion and empathy exist, the complexities around homelessness can make us feel stuck, overwhelmed, or numb to the existence of unhoused people in our cities and neighborhoods. Reporting back from his work in homeless services, minister and advocate Kevin Nye introduces readers to the Christ he's met in tents, shelters, and drop-in centers. He demystifies homelessness by journeying into complex issues like affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, and more, while reimagining our theological approach to these matters and educating us on how they intersect with homelessness. This thorough and intimate book shows us that from the margins, Jesus has something to teach us all about grace--something that could change the landscape of homelessness entirely if we're ready to hear it.
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2022
40 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 25, 2024
This is a book that needs to be read by everyone.
February 12, 2023
This book changed my life
August 10, 2022
With a Masters of Divinity and a job in homeless services at The Center in L.A., Kevin Nye is ideally suited to lead us on this journey of the Christian response to homelessness. Indeed, Grace Can Lead Us Home combines the heart and theological wisdom of a pastor with the empathy and trauma-informed perspective of a social worker. Throughout Nye's book, he cites research and statistics while interweaving public policy and his personal stories of working with unhoused people. Nye always brings it back to the words and example of Jesus.
Nye concisely describes homelessness as a problem of unaffordable housing. He connects God's grace of undeserved good gifts to the grace we must extend to those experiencing homelessness. "If grace means that God gives us good things because of who God is, not because we deserve it, then who are we to base our approach to homelessness on whether or not those on the streets have earned or qualified for our help?" Regardless of how people end up in homelessness, Nye argues that they are deserving of help, resources, and ultimately, housing.
The first chapter challenges readers to "see and be seen" by unhoused people. I am guilty of averting my eyes whenever I see a homeless person on the sidewalk. As a psychologist who previously worked in community mental health serving many unhoused clients, I am also guilty of seeing myself as the "helper" and them as the "recipient" of help or services. I have labeled many clients "treatment resistant" or "help rejecting" without considering the reason why the services or skills I offered them did not meet their needs. Nye really challenged me to consider my biases and assumptions about homelessness and the connections I make or avoid with those experiencing homelessness.
The chapter on housing contrasts merit-based models of ending homelessness (the typical models) with housing first models. This makes so much sense and exacerbates my frustration with our crisis-based, reactive (instead of prevention-based, proactive) model of care in our country. "For people experiencing homelessness, housing itself is the most meaningful intervention for virtually all other ailments." I have observed this in my own work as a therapist; I often lamented that it was difficult to assist people with their depression, alleviate their symptoms of PTSD, or get their substance use under control when they were homeless. Nye also points to research that shows that offering housing first would actually save money in reduced hospitalizations, incarcerations, and other social services.
Nye's next chapters describe isolation and connection and the importance of community and solidarity. He answers the most common question he receives: "what do I do when a person experiencing homelessness asks [me] for money?" Nye encourages readers to consider their boundaries and assumptions and offer human interaction no matter what our response.
As a psychologist, I was very interested in the chapters on mental health, substance use, addiction, and recovery given my previous work in community mental health settings. Nye explains severe mental illness, the problems with deinstitutionalization, trauma, and offers suggestions on how the church can be trauma-informed. Several of his stories about people with substance addiction and his recommendation to focus on harm reduction rather than substance abstinence challenged what I have previously learned and practiced. He has given me new points to consider and continue to explore.
Grave Can Lead Us Home ends with a celebration of abundance and beauty in spite of suffering and brokenness. Nye writes not in a preachy, holier-than-thou way but in a way that challenges us to reconsider homelessness and our Christian responsibility to end it. All Christians should read this book as we learn how to show God's grace more compassionately to people who are unhoused.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of this book through Net Galley.
Nye concisely describes homelessness as a problem of unaffordable housing. He connects God's grace of undeserved good gifts to the grace we must extend to those experiencing homelessness. "If grace means that God gives us good things because of who God is, not because we deserve it, then who are we to base our approach to homelessness on whether or not those on the streets have earned or qualified for our help?" Regardless of how people end up in homelessness, Nye argues that they are deserving of help, resources, and ultimately, housing.
The first chapter challenges readers to "see and be seen" by unhoused people. I am guilty of averting my eyes whenever I see a homeless person on the sidewalk. As a psychologist who previously worked in community mental health serving many unhoused clients, I am also guilty of seeing myself as the "helper" and them as the "recipient" of help or services. I have labeled many clients "treatment resistant" or "help rejecting" without considering the reason why the services or skills I offered them did not meet their needs. Nye really challenged me to consider my biases and assumptions about homelessness and the connections I make or avoid with those experiencing homelessness.
The chapter on housing contrasts merit-based models of ending homelessness (the typical models) with housing first models. This makes so much sense and exacerbates my frustration with our crisis-based, reactive (instead of prevention-based, proactive) model of care in our country. "For people experiencing homelessness, housing itself is the most meaningful intervention for virtually all other ailments." I have observed this in my own work as a therapist; I often lamented that it was difficult to assist people with their depression, alleviate their symptoms of PTSD, or get their substance use under control when they were homeless. Nye also points to research that shows that offering housing first would actually save money in reduced hospitalizations, incarcerations, and other social services.
Nye's next chapters describe isolation and connection and the importance of community and solidarity. He answers the most common question he receives: "what do I do when a person experiencing homelessness asks [me] for money?" Nye encourages readers to consider their boundaries and assumptions and offer human interaction no matter what our response.
As a psychologist, I was very interested in the chapters on mental health, substance use, addiction, and recovery given my previous work in community mental health settings. Nye explains severe mental illness, the problems with deinstitutionalization, trauma, and offers suggestions on how the church can be trauma-informed. Several of his stories about people with substance addiction and his recommendation to focus on harm reduction rather than substance abstinence challenged what I have previously learned and practiced. He has given me new points to consider and continue to explore.
Grave Can Lead Us Home ends with a celebration of abundance and beauty in spite of suffering and brokenness. Nye writes not in a preachy, holier-than-thou way but in a way that challenges us to reconsider homelessness and our Christian responsibility to end it. All Christians should read this book as we learn how to show God's grace more compassionately to people who are unhoused.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of this book through Net Galley.
November 11, 2025
As a theology text, it’s weak. As practical experience, very helpful. Solving homelessness is systemic: requires building a lot of housing that people can afford and offering the permanent support some will need. But we all can have a part in creating communities where people are known, loved, and cared for
November 11, 2023
Grace Can Lead Us Home is a must-read that will challenge your assumptions about homelessness, its causes, and potential solutions. Author Kevin Nye is the assistant director of programs at The Center in Hollywood, a non-religious non-profit providing services and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.
Nye argues that homelessness is a problem of unaffordable housing, and no matter how they end up homeless, all people deserve the resources they need, including housing. He explores the complex and interconnected issues that contribute to homelessness, such as affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, trauma, and systemic injustice. Nye does not shy away from the hard questions or the messy realities, but he also offers hope and grace to both the unhoused and the housed. He writes, "By drawing readers back to the biblical vision of justice, Kevin Nye gives readers a new lens for seeing their unhoused neighbors."
In chapter four Nye talks about the disproportionate number of LGBTQ youth who are unhoused, in large part due to being kicked out of their homes. Sadly, even if they go to shelters, they aren’t always safe, especially trans women. Many faith-based shelters are explicitly non-affirming and trans women are forced to sleep in rooms with cisgender men “puts them at direct risk for targeted violence.”
I also appreciate the emphasis on harm reduction in chapter five. “Harm reduction” generally is about minimizing harm to people instead of demanding perfection. When it comes to substance abuse, Nye writes: “Harm reduction” is a set of beliefs for approaching substance use and addiction that highlights users’ choice, autonomy, and safety.” Therefore, the response to substance abuse shouldn’t be about punishment, but first about reducing the harm to people and communities impacted.
This book is not only informative but also transformative. It will challenge you to rethink your theology, your politics, and your relationships. It will also inspire you to join God's work of restoring dignity, healing, and community to those who are often overlooked and ignored. Grace Can Lead Us Home is a timely and prophetic call for Christians to end homelessness in our world.
Table of Contents
-A Note On Language
-Introduction
1. Seeing And Being Seen
2. Housing
3. Isolation And Connection
4. Community And Solidarity
5. Mental Health
6. Substance Use and Overdose
7. Addiction And Recovery
8. Abundance, Beauty, and Celebration
-Conclusion
“We must push for solutions that actually end homelessness, rather than ones that simply push it out of sight and out of mind.”
Nye argues that homelessness is a problem of unaffordable housing, and no matter how they end up homeless, all people deserve the resources they need, including housing. He explores the complex and interconnected issues that contribute to homelessness, such as affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, trauma, and systemic injustice. Nye does not shy away from the hard questions or the messy realities, but he also offers hope and grace to both the unhoused and the housed. He writes, "By drawing readers back to the biblical vision of justice, Kevin Nye gives readers a new lens for seeing their unhoused neighbors."
In chapter four Nye talks about the disproportionate number of LGBTQ youth who are unhoused, in large part due to being kicked out of their homes. Sadly, even if they go to shelters, they aren’t always safe, especially trans women. Many faith-based shelters are explicitly non-affirming and trans women are forced to sleep in rooms with cisgender men “puts them at direct risk for targeted violence.”
“As the battles over LGBTQ+ affirmation rage on in Christian institutions, we cannot lose sight of the physical and psychological harm we are inflicting on people whom God loves. Our limited theological imaginations, which prioritize how we think and feel about sexuality and gender identity over how we value the actual lives of fellow bearers of the divine image, is driving LGBTQ+ people to homelessness and all its subsequent harms.”
I also appreciate the emphasis on harm reduction in chapter five. “Harm reduction” generally is about minimizing harm to people instead of demanding perfection. When it comes to substance abuse, Nye writes: “Harm reduction” is a set of beliefs for approaching substance use and addiction that highlights users’ choice, autonomy, and safety.” Therefore, the response to substance abuse shouldn’t be about punishment, but first about reducing the harm to people and communities impacted.
This book is not only informative but also transformative. It will challenge you to rethink your theology, your politics, and your relationships. It will also inspire you to join God's work of restoring dignity, healing, and community to those who are often overlooked and ignored. Grace Can Lead Us Home is a timely and prophetic call for Christians to end homelessness in our world.
Table of Contents
-A Note On Language
-Introduction
1. Seeing And Being Seen
2. Housing
3. Isolation And Connection
4. Community And Solidarity
5. Mental Health
6. Substance Use and Overdose
7. Addiction And Recovery
8. Abundance, Beauty, and Celebration
-Conclusion
“We must push for solutions that actually end homelessness, rather than ones that simply push it out of sight and out of mind.”
December 22, 2025
10/10 must read. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Everyone is an Image Bearer, who deserves dignity regardless regardless regardless
April 2, 2024
It’s hard to even say how much I loved and appreciated this book! As someone who grew up in a Christian family/context and now works with unhoused folks and survivors of sexual violence, I’ve been disappointed over and over again by how Christians approach and talk about these issues. I am no longer a part of the Christian community partially because of how I have observed Christians continually do the opposite of what they taught me Jesus wanted for the world and how they uphold wealth and their perceived safety in insulated communities over interacting with the people Jesus loved to spend time with. Kevin Nye not only expertly shines a light on the current issues in his community and illuminates tangible paths forward but he does so in a way that is kind, compassionate, and so, so hopeful. Reading this was a breath of fresh air as a service provider but it was deeply healing as someone who has been hurt and confused by Christians who who approach this work from a pedestal and end up doing more harm than good. This book is a beautiful vision for what could be when we work in community and the unique opportunity that Christian communities have to be a part of that work when they imitate Jesus. I truly believe that everyone, regardless of faith, should read this.
October 4, 2022
"Above all else, homelessness dehumanises. It isolated, it discards, and it amplifies fear and anxiety. In your daily interactions with people experiencing homelessness, their homelessness is not truly at stake. Their humanity, though, is."
While reading this book, ideas and perceptions of homelessness that I had developed were brought into the light, challenged and ultimately changed. Although Kevin writes to Christians, I believe everyone should read this book and take on the call to end homelessness. Imagine what we could do, the lives we could impact if we saw those experiencing homelessness as our neighbours, as humans deserving of housing and community and tied their destiny to ours.
January 4, 2023
I have a small personal effort to encourage and help homeless people. Kevin Nye's expereience with homeless is vast, and his recommendations are just right. I recommend this to anyone who would like to see governments, and especially God's people take this practical, biblical and truly helpful approach to our unhoused situation.
November 28, 2022
such an amazing book. Kevin is such a good writer and speaks with such kindness and grace throughout the book. i cannot recommend this book enough !
October 22, 2022
I saw a photo the other day of a police officer writing a person experiencing homelessness a citation for experiencing homelessness while the tagline “SERVE AND PROTECT” was prominently emblazoned on the police cruiser in the background. And I wondered, “Who is this serving? Who is this protecting?” I flashed back to a short stint I spent in Philadelphia, where I was part of a protest that broke into an abandoned church with the goal of setting it up as a homeless shelter. We protested. We had a church service. We invited in the homeless. And the police arrested everyone and cleared out the facility in the middle of the night. Americans, in particular, seem to believe that criminalizing activities will stop them—or at least show that they are being “taken care” of. Homelessness is often seen as something incapable of being solved within the nation’s capitalistic economic system. (A belief that ignores that the governmental cost of providing a home is less than the amount spent on provides services to control homelessness.) But we can do better. In Grace Can Lead Us Home, activist Kevin Nye invites us into a firsthand account of homeless advocacy and makes the case—in terms of faith, economics, healthcare, justice, and more—that we can and should end homelessness.
Grace Can Lead Us Home is memoir/call to action. Relying on Nye’s personal story and movement into being a homeless services activist, the book offers a personal and intimate look into how we can work against the forces causing homelessness. Along the way, he humanizes the homeless by sharing their stories
The practical hear of Nye’s thesis is that homelessness is caused by a lack of affordable housing. Simple as that. Homelessness is an economic concern. There are subsidiary causes—lack of jobs that pay a living wage, for example, or the inability of the poor to access services—but Grace Can Lead Us Home pinpoints the theological need for affordable housing. I love that Nye presents this is a theological problem. Rising house prices and rents have priced many people out of the market. The economy is increasingly tilting to place wealth in the hands of the already wealthy, leaving the poor little opportunity to do much more than survive. Nye presents our economy as standing in opposition to our theology and says clearly that our faith requires us to do something about it.
Second, Grace Can Lead Us Home highlights mental illness is a primary contributing risk factor to homelessness and examines how poverty/homelessness can lead to addiction and other factors that make obtaining housing more difficult. This is also important, because some of the unhelpful narratives of homelessness are that they are homeless because they are drunks/addicts/mentally ill. In fact, the reverse might be true. Give someone the stability of a home and they may never slip into addiction or have a stabilizing base from which to fight their addiction.
Nye doesn’t portray the fight against homelessness as easy, but insists it is necessary. Work must be done in the present to combat homelessness as it is while work must be done into the future change the systems that help cause the experience of homelessness. Grace Can Lead Us Home calls readers into the work to resist the systems that create homelessness while caring for those experiencing it. The picture Nye paints is dire and urgent, but colored with hopefulness.
Grace Can Lead Us Home is memoir/call to action. Relying on Nye’s personal story and movement into being a homeless services activist, the book offers a personal and intimate look into how we can work against the forces causing homelessness. Along the way, he humanizes the homeless by sharing their stories
The practical hear of Nye’s thesis is that homelessness is caused by a lack of affordable housing. Simple as that. Homelessness is an economic concern. There are subsidiary causes—lack of jobs that pay a living wage, for example, or the inability of the poor to access services—but Grace Can Lead Us Home pinpoints the theological need for affordable housing. I love that Nye presents this is a theological problem. Rising house prices and rents have priced many people out of the market. The economy is increasingly tilting to place wealth in the hands of the already wealthy, leaving the poor little opportunity to do much more than survive. Nye presents our economy as standing in opposition to our theology and says clearly that our faith requires us to do something about it.
Second, Grace Can Lead Us Home highlights mental illness is a primary contributing risk factor to homelessness and examines how poverty/homelessness can lead to addiction and other factors that make obtaining housing more difficult. This is also important, because some of the unhelpful narratives of homelessness are that they are homeless because they are drunks/addicts/mentally ill. In fact, the reverse might be true. Give someone the stability of a home and they may never slip into addiction or have a stabilizing base from which to fight their addiction.
Nye doesn’t portray the fight against homelessness as easy, but insists it is necessary. Work must be done in the present to combat homelessness as it is while work must be done into the future change the systems that help cause the experience of homelessness. Grace Can Lead Us Home calls readers into the work to resist the systems that create homelessness while caring for those experiencing it. The picture Nye paints is dire and urgent, but colored with hopefulness.
August 9, 2022
Most calls to end homelessness feel hollow, whether because they're given by politicians with no lasting plans or because they're simply a call to give money to sponsor a meal. This doesn't mean that politicians and nonprofits aren't doing good work, because some certainly are, and Nye addresses those cases in his book. Yet reading this book made me recognize what many of these pleas lack: dignity.
Those who are unhoused are still people. They have hopes and dreams and likes and dislikes and friends and loved ones. They deserve the dignity of being treated as such people. Nye challenges us to honor their dignity by making them part of the conversation around homelessness, and he leads the way with personal stories, explanations of the systems creating and contributing to the problem, and visions of a path forward.
This book invites us to reconsider our biases and re-evaluate the ways we've been doing outreach, both in church and secular contexts. It's challenging and thought provoking, and it brings necessary nuance and perspective to the issues at hand while remaining an engaging read.
Although this is primarily written for Christians, I firmly believe it holds great value for anyone, regardless of religion, race, gender, or political stance. If we want to see our society become a safe space for everyone, we need to have these discussions now, and this book is an excellent place to begin.
Those who are unhoused are still people. They have hopes and dreams and likes and dislikes and friends and loved ones. They deserve the dignity of being treated as such people. Nye challenges us to honor their dignity by making them part of the conversation around homelessness, and he leads the way with personal stories, explanations of the systems creating and contributing to the problem, and visions of a path forward.
This book invites us to reconsider our biases and re-evaluate the ways we've been doing outreach, both in church and secular contexts. It's challenging and thought provoking, and it brings necessary nuance and perspective to the issues at hand while remaining an engaging read.
Although this is primarily written for Christians, I firmly believe it holds great value for anyone, regardless of religion, race, gender, or political stance. If we want to see our society become a safe space for everyone, we need to have these discussions now, and this book is an excellent place to begin.
August 9, 2022
This book challenges and overturns so many of the assumptions and preconceived judgements society and churches in particular hold about homelessness and the people who experience it. The author invites the reader into the experiences and challenges of the unhoused and extends an invitation to look at one of society’s most pervasive and troubling issues with a new, compassionate perspective. Not only that, the reader will come away informed and encouraged to support real solutions within the community.
August 28, 2022
Kevin Nye has caught a glimpse of the grace of God, and allows that to powerfully impact his life and work with the unhoused. This book humanizes those who have been dehumanized through story, aims to correct the narrative with facts, and offers practical changes that Christians can seek to care for those experiencing homelessness both on a systemic and individual level. "Grace means we never give up on our neighbors, just as God never gives up on us" (181).
August 26, 2022
The five-star review system is not sufficient for rating this book. Reading it is enlightening, educational, and hopeful. Kevin Nye's gift of sharing experience and explaining things we thought we knew is perspective-changing. This is not only a call to action, but guidance to effective change. Read this book. Let your heart be moved. Let's love our neighbors.
June 30, 2022
“Grace means we never give up on our neighbors, just as God never gives up on us. “-Kevin Nye.
The author understands the basic worth of all human beings from a Christian perspective. He leads the reader through different root causes, and frames how we are to think of solutions- all through the compassion of Christ. There’s a piece of
government care that’s missing- the safety net of housing and consensual treatment for addiction and mental illness. However, waiting for unhoused to enter into these programs is not infinite. Towns and cities do not have infinite time to allow people in crisis living in the streets to seek care. That’s when our cities and towns need to stay functional, and that time is now. Illegal activity must be prosecuted, or else the general population becomes at risk. Local government needs to be accountable to people who are paying taxes, expecting basic services to keep normal life functioning. I understand it’s essential to have compassion of all unhoused people. It is also essential to keep high functioning people safe so they can go to work, their children are not stepping over hypodermic needles, and business owners are not washing feces off the streets in a city center. With the ever higher cost of living, it’s even more important to maintain access to health services and housing for all, but not at the cost of an already stressed, functioning society.
Overall, the thesis of the book, caring for the uncared, and valuing people even though they have unsolvable situations, is a basic tenet of Christianity. In the book of Job, he has hope that God will see his agony. This book made me see the agony of the unhoused. I want to help, not just cast a blind eye at this situation. We are all creations of God. Not us vs them. The Appendix has many resources to help. Note: I serve a God who is the father of the fatherless and the defender and friend of widows and orphans (Psalm 68:5, James 1:27)
The author understands the basic worth of all human beings from a Christian perspective. He leads the reader through different root causes, and frames how we are to think of solutions- all through the compassion of Christ. There’s a piece of
government care that’s missing- the safety net of housing and consensual treatment for addiction and mental illness. However, waiting for unhoused to enter into these programs is not infinite. Towns and cities do not have infinite time to allow people in crisis living in the streets to seek care. That’s when our cities and towns need to stay functional, and that time is now. Illegal activity must be prosecuted, or else the general population becomes at risk. Local government needs to be accountable to people who are paying taxes, expecting basic services to keep normal life functioning. I understand it’s essential to have compassion of all unhoused people. It is also essential to keep high functioning people safe so they can go to work, their children are not stepping over hypodermic needles, and business owners are not washing feces off the streets in a city center. With the ever higher cost of living, it’s even more important to maintain access to health services and housing for all, but not at the cost of an already stressed, functioning society.
Overall, the thesis of the book, caring for the uncared, and valuing people even though they have unsolvable situations, is a basic tenet of Christianity. In the book of Job, he has hope that God will see his agony. This book made me see the agony of the unhoused. I want to help, not just cast a blind eye at this situation. We are all creations of God. Not us vs them. The Appendix has many resources to help. Note: I serve a God who is the father of the fatherless and the defender and friend of widows and orphans (Psalm 68:5, James 1:27)
August 13, 2022
I’ve been following Kevin Nye on Twitter for at least a year now, a relationship that started because I was blown away by the real work he was doing for people experiencing homelessness and the faith he did it with. As he calls out in this book, Christians should be the ones on our society at the frontlines of housing people living on the streets, but mainly we’re the ones making it worse for them. So, I was inspired to see someone with my convictions actually living them out.
When he tweeted about this book, I knew instantly I had to get it. Preordered it a few months ago and was so happy to get it last week that I started reading it immediately.
Dear reader, you will not be disappointed.
This book delivered everything I wanted from it. A subtle blend of theology with facts, Nye advocates for people experiencing homelessness fearlessly. He addresses a lot of the issues faced by these people and the common stigma surrounding these issues of addiction, mental illness, and poverty. He truly has transformed how I view the person on the median asking for money and offers a lot of good advice for people surrounded by a large unhoused population.
I also think this book is incredibly accessible to non-Christian’s. At best, you could learn about Christianity at its brightest through Nye’s use of scriptures. This book is incredibly helpful for people wishing to learn more about homelessness in America from a compassionate, experienced voice. You can’t leave it’s pages unconvinced of the great need to house your neighbors.
I seriously will probably be buying multiple copies of this book as Christmas presents for people this year!
When he tweeted about this book, I knew instantly I had to get it. Preordered it a few months ago and was so happy to get it last week that I started reading it immediately.
Dear reader, you will not be disappointed.
This book delivered everything I wanted from it. A subtle blend of theology with facts, Nye advocates for people experiencing homelessness fearlessly. He addresses a lot of the issues faced by these people and the common stigma surrounding these issues of addiction, mental illness, and poverty. He truly has transformed how I view the person on the median asking for money and offers a lot of good advice for people surrounded by a large unhoused population.
I also think this book is incredibly accessible to non-Christian’s. At best, you could learn about Christianity at its brightest through Nye’s use of scriptures. This book is incredibly helpful for people wishing to learn more about homelessness in America from a compassionate, experienced voice. You can’t leave it’s pages unconvinced of the great need to house your neighbors.
I seriously will probably be buying multiple copies of this book as Christmas presents for people this year!
October 23, 2022
Kevin Nye has done an excellent job tackling a subject that often breeds divisiveness within church circles. He begins right away with a clarification on both language and white saviorism, acknowledging his own privilege and complicity within a larger system that continues to marginalize folks who don't fit the mold impressed upon us here in the United States. This book is a very good primer for anyone looking to learn more about issues facing those in our society who experience homelessness, and takes a delicate yet critical look at how the Church tends to respond to those people. I enjoyed reading this one as part of a book group with friends.
August 9, 2022
This book is for any Believer who is feeling troubled by the way we treat those who are unhoused in America. It starts with basic and sometimes startling facts about homelessness and then shows how our theology should shape our responses to those in our communities who need housing. At a time when so many seem to be throwing up their hands in dispare, it is full of hope and solutions that have been proven to work. The book moved me to tears more than once - not just because of the level of dehumanization that we've come to accept in our culture, but also because of the small victories portrayed in these pages. Finally, the most surprising aspect of Grace Can Lead Us Home is the appendix which provides clear information that the reader can use to become active in making improvements in the way their own community serves the unhoused.
August 10, 2022
This book has an excellent balance of being easy to digest, while challenging your bias' and preconceived notions on how you view the unhoused. Nye offers practical solutions paired with groundbreaking strategies to encourage us to put on a lens of grace, radical inclusion, and out of the box thinking. All people of faith should care about seeing the imago dei in their unhoused neighbor, and this book will help us get there.
July 31, 2024
Stellar book that reimagines what it means to love our neighbors and digs into the heart of age old issues. One of the standouts for me is the note on language at the beginning which I use to illustrate the importance of word choice in some of my high school classes.
June 5, 2024
A short book that's well worth reading. The author is honest about his experiences. I appreciated his interpretation of God's grace inspiring our actions towards others.
July 25, 2022
In the final chapter of his book, *Grace Can Lead Us Home,* Kevin Nye writes "Homelessness will be ended not because a few politicians have epiphanies and make new polices. It will be because communities, housed and unhoused together, force change because they won't tolerate the status quo any longer." Nye uses the language of being housed or unhoused, which, I think, is a good shift in the language when speaking of those who we call homeless. Of course, as with any shift in language, this is not, as Nye states, "a replacement for actually acting for good on their behalf." This is one of the reasons Nye has written this excellent "Christian call to end homelessness."
Nye bases the Christian call to end homelessness within a theological framework. As someone shaped by Wesleyan theology, he sees this initially in the *Sermon on the Mount* and in the judgement scene in Matthew 25 in which Jesus speaks of doing to the least of these as ministering to him. I find his question about how much would change if we took the claim that every unhoused person is a reflection of Jesus seriously as a challenge to shift thinking on those who are unhoused.
Within this book, Nye gives an overview of the many root causes of homelessness and the various approaches to solving the unhoused crisis. The difference in what Nye discusses versus the many discussions within evangelical Christian circles is that Nye rejects the behavioral model which insists upon change before working to solve the actual issue of not having a place in which one is housed. This is really no different from the core truth of the Gospel that we are called to come and receive forgiveness as a first step in discipleship with Jesus. We are not called to be perfect or fit a checklist before our encounter with Jesus. Why would we require the same for those without homes? I connect Nye's explanation with my own previous experience in food insecurity. We gave food out without regard to any requirements for personal responsibility, as the need for food must be solved before the person needing food can process any other changes.
Nye also shows how the traditional models of homeless work is often not based in the areas in which the unhoused find themselves. This requires those already struggling with multiple barriers to receiving help to expend effort and energy which they may not be able to muster. Thus, to solve homelessness is to go to where those who require solutions are found. Once again, this is not unlike the Gospel and the grace of God. Which Christians are to be spreading. Within Nye's discussion, trauma, drug use, and the many issues facing those who are unhoused must contend with. Nye shines a fresh light upon the realities of these issues, and provides grace filled approaches which shift the ways in which they are typically dealt with. In other words, he uses a thoroughly Wesleyan approach to life and the struggles we may face in life.
This book has challenged and excited me as it is a fresh look at a problem which is always with us, but can be solved. As we enter what may be another period of economic instability, Nye's work will be key to the Church finding ways to embrace the truth of Matthew 25. I echo Nye's prayer at the conclusion of this excellent book, "that grace can lead us all home."
Nye bases the Christian call to end homelessness within a theological framework. As someone shaped by Wesleyan theology, he sees this initially in the *Sermon on the Mount* and in the judgement scene in Matthew 25 in which Jesus speaks of doing to the least of these as ministering to him. I find his question about how much would change if we took the claim that every unhoused person is a reflection of Jesus seriously as a challenge to shift thinking on those who are unhoused.
Within this book, Nye gives an overview of the many root causes of homelessness and the various approaches to solving the unhoused crisis. The difference in what Nye discusses versus the many discussions within evangelical Christian circles is that Nye rejects the behavioral model which insists upon change before working to solve the actual issue of not having a place in which one is housed. This is really no different from the core truth of the Gospel that we are called to come and receive forgiveness as a first step in discipleship with Jesus. We are not called to be perfect or fit a checklist before our encounter with Jesus. Why would we require the same for those without homes? I connect Nye's explanation with my own previous experience in food insecurity. We gave food out without regard to any requirements for personal responsibility, as the need for food must be solved before the person needing food can process any other changes.
Nye also shows how the traditional models of homeless work is often not based in the areas in which the unhoused find themselves. This requires those already struggling with multiple barriers to receiving help to expend effort and energy which they may not be able to muster. Thus, to solve homelessness is to go to where those who require solutions are found. Once again, this is not unlike the Gospel and the grace of God. Which Christians are to be spreading. Within Nye's discussion, trauma, drug use, and the many issues facing those who are unhoused must contend with. Nye shines a fresh light upon the realities of these issues, and provides grace filled approaches which shift the ways in which they are typically dealt with. In other words, he uses a thoroughly Wesleyan approach to life and the struggles we may face in life.
This book has challenged and excited me as it is a fresh look at a problem which is always with us, but can be solved. As we enter what may be another period of economic instability, Nye's work will be key to the Church finding ways to embrace the truth of Matthew 25. I echo Nye's prayer at the conclusion of this excellent book, "that grace can lead us all home."
July 4, 2022
First- this book will be among my top books of 2022.
Second- I had a *lot* of trepidation before reading this book. Here's why...
"Christians are more than twice as likely as the general population to associate poverty with a lack of effort, as opposed to difficult circumstances." That's a quote from the introduction of this book, and it's exactly the reason that I didn't have much faith in a book about solving homelessness that was by and for Christians. Every discussion that I've ever had with Christians about this issue paints those who are homeless as lazy addicts who would *have* housing if they would get clean and get a job!
But I underestimated this book and this author. Kevin Nye has presented us with an eye opening look at what works, statistically, and what doesn't. He offers a clear call to churches (grace, or unmerited favor, is a key tenet of this book) and practical advice for both individuals and organizations. He addresses the importance of community and connection, and writes about mental health and addiction in ways that were truly revelatory for me. Nye is clearly passionate about serving those who are unhoused "with dignity and mutuality", and that is evidenced throughout. Fun fact- Before I had even finished this book I had talked to at least 4 friends about it. Definitely recommend.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
#GraceCanLeadUsHome
Second- I had a *lot* of trepidation before reading this book. Here's why...
"Christians are more than twice as likely as the general population to associate poverty with a lack of effort, as opposed to difficult circumstances." That's a quote from the introduction of this book, and it's exactly the reason that I didn't have much faith in a book about solving homelessness that was by and for Christians. Every discussion that I've ever had with Christians about this issue paints those who are homeless as lazy addicts who would *have* housing if they would get clean and get a job!
But I underestimated this book and this author. Kevin Nye has presented us with an eye opening look at what works, statistically, and what doesn't. He offers a clear call to churches (grace, or unmerited favor, is a key tenet of this book) and practical advice for both individuals and organizations. He addresses the importance of community and connection, and writes about mental health and addiction in ways that were truly revelatory for me. Nye is clearly passionate about serving those who are unhoused "with dignity and mutuality", and that is evidenced throughout. Fun fact- Before I had even finished this book I had talked to at least 4 friends about it. Definitely recommend.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
#GraceCanLeadUsHome
July 18, 2022
“…the experience of homelessness entails a disconnection from more than just physical resources; it is isolating, dehumanizing, and traumatizing.“
“…if each unhoused person I meet is Christ…I am called in many ways to sit at their feet—to listen, to learn, and to change.”
“Lack of affordable housing causes homelessness. The connection is definitive, provable, and irrefutable.1”
“This new approach continues to be proven effective at ending homelessness on a large scale, demonstrates success in housing and stabilizing people who were deemed unhelpable, with dignity and mutuality, and actually saves us money in the long run. We call this the Housing First model.”
“To give away for free something normally thought of as a luxury is to take a posture of abundance. It is an audacious, biblical truth to an unbelieving world: You deserve more than mere survival. Your humanity amounts to more than the sum of your basic needs.”
I had the honor of reading an advance copy of this book, due to release 8/9, and I can’t recommend it enough! Kevin Nye draws on his years of experience working with the unhoused population in Los Angeles to shine a light on the problem of homelessness, address common myths, and help us to see our unhoused neighbors as fellow image bearers deserving of the radical grace of Christ. I was impressed with Kevin’s ability to combine a rich and sound theology of biblical justice and grace with trauma-informed care and evidence-based practices. I learned so much from this book, which left me feeling better prepared to have a more compassionate, informed dialogue about this important topic. Kevin writes with humility and thoughtfulness and shares engaging stories from his personal experiences and relationships. This is a powerful read!
“…if each unhoused person I meet is Christ…I am called in many ways to sit at their feet—to listen, to learn, and to change.”
“Lack of affordable housing causes homelessness. The connection is definitive, provable, and irrefutable.1”
“This new approach continues to be proven effective at ending homelessness on a large scale, demonstrates success in housing and stabilizing people who were deemed unhelpable, with dignity and mutuality, and actually saves us money in the long run. We call this the Housing First model.”
“To give away for free something normally thought of as a luxury is to take a posture of abundance. It is an audacious, biblical truth to an unbelieving world: You deserve more than mere survival. Your humanity amounts to more than the sum of your basic needs.”
I had the honor of reading an advance copy of this book, due to release 8/9, and I can’t recommend it enough! Kevin Nye draws on his years of experience working with the unhoused population in Los Angeles to shine a light on the problem of homelessness, address common myths, and help us to see our unhoused neighbors as fellow image bearers deserving of the radical grace of Christ. I was impressed with Kevin’s ability to combine a rich and sound theology of biblical justice and grace with trauma-informed care and evidence-based practices. I learned so much from this book, which left me feeling better prepared to have a more compassionate, informed dialogue about this important topic. Kevin writes with humility and thoughtfulness and shares engaging stories from his personal experiences and relationships. This is a powerful read!
December 15, 2022
Choosing to read this book knowing I am probably not the intended audience (not religious, not a lot of knowledge of Christianity or the Bible in general, etc) was a little bit of a leap of faith for me. After reading this book, I am very grateful that I took that leap.
Grace Can Lead Us Home presents a very complex topic accessibly, clearly, and thoughtfully. It explores the topic holistically and beautifully. I am thankful that this book exists to help people new to the topic of homelessness think about and grapple with how it shows up in our lives and may be reflected in their faith.
But this book gave me something a little different: it gave me a better frame of reference and more compassion for people who don’t see homelessness through the same lens that I do. Viewing an issue that I care so much about through a lens that I have always considered very different from my own gave me the space to think about people with different beliefs than me in a more compassionate, holistic way. This book reminded me that we are more alike than we are different and that, as long as love is at the forefront of what we do, we can all thoughtfully and graciously support the people in our communities who need it most.
Grace Can Lead Us Home presents a very complex topic accessibly, clearly, and thoughtfully. It explores the topic holistically and beautifully. I am thankful that this book exists to help people new to the topic of homelessness think about and grapple with how it shows up in our lives and may be reflected in their faith.
But this book gave me something a little different: it gave me a better frame of reference and more compassion for people who don’t see homelessness through the same lens that I do. Viewing an issue that I care so much about through a lens that I have always considered very different from my own gave me the space to think about people with different beliefs than me in a more compassionate, holistic way. This book reminded me that we are more alike than we are different and that, as long as love is at the forefront of what we do, we can all thoughtfully and graciously support the people in our communities who need it most.
August 9, 2022
Homelessness has few easy answers -- pretty much none. A Christian response should go beyond tossing change out the window at the person holding a cardboard sign.
The book delves into the issues that people usually have not considered, including "Hi, I'm from a church and I'm here to help you with these rules" not being an effective formula. In situations where a family member is facing a variety of elements, the book provides insight into a truly compassionate response.
The book is recommended for small groups seeking to make changes and outreach committees and programs. Rural, suburban and urban libraries can meet the needs of people who are struggling with what to do about a family situation -- or the situation involving strangers who need assistance.
A handful of books on related ideas for interacting with a compassionate response have come across my feeds since reading this title. I look forward to future learning and growth in this area. Meanwhile, my copy is probably going to be passed around to several people.
The book delves into the issues that people usually have not considered, including "Hi, I'm from a church and I'm here to help you with these rules" not being an effective formula. In situations where a family member is facing a variety of elements, the book provides insight into a truly compassionate response.
The book is recommended for small groups seeking to make changes and outreach committees and programs. Rural, suburban and urban libraries can meet the needs of people who are struggling with what to do about a family situation -- or the situation involving strangers who need assistance.
A handful of books on related ideas for interacting with a compassionate response have come across my feeds since reading this title. I look forward to future learning and growth in this area. Meanwhile, my copy is probably going to be passed around to several people.
September 4, 2022
I’ll reread this one.
In “Grace Can Lead us Home”, Kevin Nye draws from his personal experience working in homeless services and a theology grounded in grace to deliver a hopeful perspective on ending homelessness for good.
The reader will leave this book better informed, challenged, inspired, and possibly grieved by the stories contained in its pages. So often we perceive societal issues like homelessness as permanent and unsolvable. But if you’re like me, you’ll underline ideas and take notes in the margins, start thinking of ways you can help, and recommend it to friends and family.
Take your time and find people to talk through these concepts with. Look into how your community addresses homelessness. It won’t be difficult to imagine yourself as part of the solution, and you’ll find yourself with strong opinions about what can be done better locally and nationally.
I look forward to returning to this one again, and expect its words will remain relevant as I continue to learn more and advocate for laws and initiatives that allow grace for those who most need it.
In “Grace Can Lead us Home”, Kevin Nye draws from his personal experience working in homeless services and a theology grounded in grace to deliver a hopeful perspective on ending homelessness for good.
The reader will leave this book better informed, challenged, inspired, and possibly grieved by the stories contained in its pages. So often we perceive societal issues like homelessness as permanent and unsolvable. But if you’re like me, you’ll underline ideas and take notes in the margins, start thinking of ways you can help, and recommend it to friends and family.
Take your time and find people to talk through these concepts with. Look into how your community addresses homelessness. It won’t be difficult to imagine yourself as part of the solution, and you’ll find yourself with strong opinions about what can be done better locally and nationally.
I look forward to returning to this one again, and expect its words will remain relevant as I continue to learn more and advocate for laws and initiatives that allow grace for those who most need it.
August 31, 2024
This booked changed how I understand the failed response to homelessness in less than a week. Working for a faith based Christian advocacy organization that works in dozens of issues, I have always wondered about a deeper theological and praxis-oriented approach to housing from a Christian perspective, and the author delivers. The stories are impactful and the message clear - we have failed the most vulnerable in our society and we can do so much better. It is mostly up to us (though in partnership with our governing systems) to transform the way we understand and interact with homelessness and the people who experience the problem firsthand. Community must triumph isolation. We must build a bigger table to share our abundance of goods and food. We must deny individualism and recognize that the lack of affordable housing can be combatted strategically together. We shouldn’t establish artificial barriers - because Christ never did. Moving, factual, powerful, and one I must now buy the physical copy of to share with someone else.
July 29, 2023
I'm writing this review from inside a pallet shelter he describes after the conclusion.
Everything he says about them is my experience, though I'm in Oakland rather than Los Angeles.
His experiences over the years and acute attention to them paint a very clear, very real system that must change. And he approaches it from the recognition of Christ in All.
A truly beautiful book for a truly disturbing problem. His personal stories of triumph and tragedy bring hope.
We can overcome.
We will overcome.
And Kevin can help us see and bring change.
This book makes a perfect gift for anyone curious about homelessness or social services, and should be mandatory in every non-profit and church library!
Everything he says about them is my experience, though I'm in Oakland rather than Los Angeles.
His experiences over the years and acute attention to them paint a very clear, very real system that must change. And he approaches it from the recognition of Christ in All.
A truly beautiful book for a truly disturbing problem. His personal stories of triumph and tragedy bring hope.
We can overcome.
We will overcome.
And Kevin can help us see and bring change.
This book makes a perfect gift for anyone curious about homelessness or social services, and should be mandatory in every non-profit and church library!
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