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24-Hour ‘Conversations on a Bench’ Livestream Unites 70+ Missions to Humanize Homelessness

Organizers sought to reframe perceptions through candid, public dialogues led by local CEOs and program graduates.

Overview

  • From Thursday to Friday, Oct. 9–10, mission leaders sat on public benches for continuous in-person and online conversations marking World Homeless Day.
  • Citygate Network coordinated more than 70 rescue missions nationwide to livestream the discussions on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
  • Participants stressed that homelessness stems from intertwined factors such as addiction, mental illness, poverty and job loss, calling for individualized support rather than one-size-fits-all fixes.
  • Local coverage highlighted community engagement and fundraising efforts, including Springs Rescue Mission’s $24,000-in-24-hours goal and testimonials from recent program graduates.
  • Organizers reported greater visibility and dialogue across communities, while consolidated national results such as total donations or service enrollments were not available.