Welcome

Chronic homelessness in California is skyrocketing, and Salinas is no exception. Closer Walk works among the tents in Chinatown, where the largest percentage of chronically homeless live. There are no easy solutions. Beyond the lack of housing, the chronically homeless have a much higher rate of drug addiction and mental illness. Overlain on this is a deep spiritual problem: a lack of hope, sense of worth, and community.

Relational, not transactional

At Closer Walk, we believe that outreach must be relational, not transactional. We sit outside on the Soledad Street sidewalk each day with a pot of coffee and some snacks. We share stories and get to know the people in Chinatown. We have a clothing closet that serves 30–40 people weekly. We provide hospitality to 40–60 people daily and dinner to 70–100 people each Saturday night. We also refer community residents to service providers for housing, jobs, drug rehab, and more. Just as importantly, we are building a sense of community where every resident feels welcome. People come back, day after day, because they feel safe, valued, and heard.

We believe this is especially true among the homeless. Time and again people talk of “being invisible.” There is a despair that goes deeper than the day-to-day. Everything we do at Closer Walk — whether it is prayer, handing out clothes, or laughing over coffee — is geared towards making everyone feel welcome and wanted. Slowly, they start sharing with us their deeper needs, and change is possible.

We share the love, joy, and peace that we have received on our own journey. We also understand, however, that many of the residents have been hurt by “religion,” and our conversations often take the form of mutual sharing of journeys. If folks want more, they let us know.

"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
— Micah 6:8