By Jeff Devine
Homelessness is a complicated and harrowing issue—one affecting a growing number of people in our community. While the challenges can feel overwhelming, local organizations such as the Roberta Rose Foundation continue working to confront the problem at its roots, with a strong focus on offering treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, which remain two of the main causes of homelessness in our area.
Although no two stories are alike, conversations with several local individuals currently living without stable housing revealed a recurring theme: many people experiencing homelessness face long-standing mental health challenges and significant barriers to accessing treatment. Their stories also serve as a sobering reminder that most of us are just one tragedy—such as a house fire, job loss, or medical crisis—away from facing similar circumstances. To protect their identities, I agreed not to reveal their names.
“I wake up every day wondering how I’m going to get out of this mess.”
A 53-year-old man, whom I call the Peace Keeper, has been homeless for two years and described a life that unraveled after years spent caring for his disabled brother and mother. Disagreements with relatives eventually left him homeless.
Peace Keeper was friendly as we spoke of his current living conditions, and I call him Peace Keeper because he seems to look after the others in his community of homeless individuals. Today, he lives in a tent in the woods with a group of friends who depend on one another for food, water, and safety, and Peace Keeper seems to care deeply about making sure his homeless community has the basics to survive. However, he wants a better life.
“I wake up every day wondering how I’m going to get out of this mess. How can I get something better than this life?” he said.
Peace Keeper said he occasionally finds work from local hotels in exchange for a warm bed for the night, but those opportunities are becoming rare as rules tighten. As the temperatures drop, staying warm is a major concern. He expressed gratitude for warm clothing, blankets, and socks that John Dasinger of Explicit Customs, a local car club known for its community outreach, recently provided. In fact, it was Dasinger who helped introduce me to the individuals I spoke to for this article.
Peace Keeper also shared that he was recently banned from a local store while trying to escape bad weather and simply be around people. According to Peace Keeper, the manager told him, “You’re bad for business, and you look like forest creatures.”
“That hurt,” he said. “I just needed a place to be.”
Although he acknowledges struggling with mental health, he says substance use is not part of his story. “My main problem is figuring out how to get my life back together and find a stable living arrangement,” he said.
“Just staying out of jail and having food is a positive.”
Army Veteran is the nickname for another homeless person I met recently. A 32-year-old Army veteran, he has also been homeless for two years. When we met at an Ozark fast-food restaurant, he was guarded at first, but eventually agreed to share his experiences when he realized I wanted to help him share his story so people might better understand what he and others face daily.
“Just staying out of jail and having food is a positive,” he said plainly.
Army Veteran bravely described his struggles with severe mental health challenges that led him to self-medicate with opioids and other substances. He has been through rehabilitation twice, but without health insurance, he feels stuck now.
“I don’t know where to even start…,” he said when I asked what resources could help him get back to a more stable life.
He also spoke about the stigma surrounding homelessness. “Some people are scared of us. They assume the worst right away,” he said. “I just wish people would give us a chance and not judge a book by its cover.”
Though the veteran recently found farm work, the wages are not enough to afford housing. The farm’s owner has allowed him to stay outside on the property temporarily, offering at least some stability while he tries to rebuild his life.
“I’m not homeless—I’m nomadic.”
A third man, whom I call The Nomad, has a different perspective. He does not consider himself homeless, but “nomadic.”
“The way people are viewing me is from the wrong perspective,” he said.
The Nomad acknowledged ongoing struggles with substance use, adding that he began using to make his daily life more bearable. The Nomad also said the barriers to rebuilding his life—lack of identification, no Social Security card, and no access to essential services—feel insurmountable.
“It’s more trouble than it’s worth,” he said.
These are just three of the many stories of real people battling the homelessness crisis in our community right now. There are many more homeless individuals living in the area, but they have been pushed to live in the wooded areas out of sight most of the time.
Local organizations aim to change the community’s approach
Despite the challenges, there is hope. The Roberta Rose Foundation, along with the Ozark Counseling Center and other community partners, is working to shift both how homelessness is viewed and the resources available to those experiencing it.
Foundation president Jason Varney is spearheading a new coalition made up of nonprofits, community leaders, and concerned residents. Their mission is to address the underlying causes of homelessness—particularly mental health struggles and substance use—and create long-term, sustainable solutions.
The coalition’s goals include expanding access to mental health treatment, securing more stable shelter options, providing consistent food and hygiene resources, and offering pathways to identification, employment, and recovery.
“These are people, not problems,” Varney emphasized during a recent conversation about the effort. “They deserve dignity, support, and a community willing to help them rebuild.”
While the road forward is undeniably challenging, the voices of Peace Keeper, Army Veteran, and the Nomad highlight both the complexity of the crisis and the urgency of compassionate, community-driven action. Their stories remind us that homelessness is not a distant issue—it lives here, among us, and we simply cannot ignore it. This demands solutions grounded in empathy, community partnerships, and perseverance.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help the Roberta Rose Foundation in it’s mission to provide solutions, you may do so by using their Cash App $RRCFS. You may also reach out to the president of the foundation at (334) 733-4925. If you or someone you love is in need of counseling services, Ozark Counseling Center can be reached at (334) 733-0594.
*Featured Image included with this article is of Dasinger working with one local homeless individual after providing blankets and clothing. .
