Local Outreach

The economy is cruel. Deep cuts to food programs is cruel, the resulting food insecurity is the manifest of cruelty. The price of groceries is cruel. Housing insecurity is cruel. Homelessness is concentrated cruelty. Displacing the displaced is cruel. And watching the news feels like cruelty is winning.

We can go on and on, and that's the point. It feels like a battle to keep our hearts tender and to stay encouraged. That's why it's so important for us to fight together so that kindness prevails; in a very real way.

Big and small gestures made in the light matter. Our goal isn't to silence suffering. It's to examine and disrupt the causes of suffering. We do that with faith, hope, love, generosity, and action.

𝒟𝑜 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸𝑒, 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝑒𝓇𝒸𝓎, 𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓀 𝒽𝓊𝓂𝒷𝓁𝓎. Be Encouraged Inc serves the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our community. Our outreach program includes delivering hygiene, food, and above all, kindness to our unhoused neighbors with the goal of fostering hope through dignity and encouraging them towards stable housing.

𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝒾𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝒾𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒. It's our desire to meet people where they are at, build deep trust and connections, offer support, and reinforce dignity.

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓅𝓁𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁. We rely on volunteers and financial donations to do what we do. All Jesus followers are needed, whether you are a lawyer, housing expert, bible teacher, mother, father, sister, brother, baker, barber, chef, hair stylist, trauma experienced social worker, wealthy or financially challenged.

Join us on this journey of compassion and transformation. Let's make a difference in the lives of Sacramento's unhoused community.

Facts and Stats: The Least of These (Matthew 25)

While 7% of California's population identifies as Black, Black Californians represent more than a quarter of the state's homeless population. The overrepresentation of Black communities in the homeless population is a direct result of racism in housing, employment, criminal justice and economic systems.

Young Black people have an 83% higher risk of becoming homeless than their white counterparts. Young Hispanic people have a 33% greater chance of experiencing homelessness than their white counterparts. LGBTQ youth are more than twice as likely to become homeless than other young people.

7% of homeless adults in California are veterans (10,000 in 2022).

72% of homeless adults in California have experienced physical violence.

44% of homeless women in California report their homelessness is a direct result of domestic violence.

70% of homeless adults in California have been incarcerated.

66% of homeless people in California report having a mental health condition.

82% of homeless people in California have had a mental health or substance abuse condition at some time in their life.

25% of homeless people in California have a serious mental health condition.

65% of homeless people in California report using illicit drugs regularly.

37% of homeless people in California used in the preceding 6 months.

Some individuals reported that drug use decreased after becoming homeless, potentially due to factors like worries about children or simply "reaching that point" to cut back.

A significant portion of individuals who regularly used substances (20%) wanted treatment but were unable to access it. This was attributed to various barriers including lack of insurance, long waitlists, transportation challenges, and dissatisfaction with program structure.

42% of those who used drugs regularly began using regularly after experiencing homelessness, suggesting that the challenges of living on the street can exacerbate or initiate substance use as a coping mechanism.

In Los Angeles County specifically, a 2020 report found that 27% of all homeless adults had a long-term substance use disorder.

The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.' Matthew 25:40