The Intersection of Addiction and Homelessness

In this episode, hosts Chad and Victor sit down with Pastor Micah Tucker, Senior Director of

Local Outreach, Water of Life Community Church, to unpack the tangled web of addiction and

homelessness. Micah drops hard-hitting truth, like how 80% of unhoused individuals are locked

in long-term homelessness, often wrestling with addiction’s grip. But there’s a way out. We hear

Victor’s raw story, a father who landed in a San Bernardino shelter, determined to stay

connected to his son. In under 30 days, he broke free from that dark season, fueled by God’s

grace.

Micah emphasized that relationships are key, knowing someone’s name and showing care can

be a lifeline. At CityLink in Fontana, outreach technicians learn every unhoused person’s name,

living out the idea that “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you

care.” He highlighted their transitional housing program, currently supporting over 15 families,

and noted CityLink’s daily services, hot meals, showers, groceries, for hundreds. Despite

challenges like curfews, criminal records, and drug tests, Micah believes real connection paves

the way forward.