The Humanity of Homelessness

Church at the Park•www.church-at-the-park.org

Discover The Humanity of Homelessness, a podcast from Church at the Park that brings you honest, heartfelt conversations with people experiencing homelessness, community leaders, and staff.

Last refreshed: August 20th, 2025 at 5:38 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Connection & Belonging: Kyle Dickinson on Leading With Heart

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness , we sit down with Kyle Dickinson, the executive director of Salem Leadership Foundation. Kyle shares his personal journey—from his roots in Redding, California to his roles in ministry, fundraising, and community leadership. He reflects on formative moments that shaped his vision of community, belonging, and stewardship, weaving together stories of sports teams, the lessons learned from his father, and deep experiences with faith-based service. Ky...

Aug 06, 2025•51 min•Ep. 5

Rekindling Hope: Stories of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption with Paul Fairchild

In this heartfelt episode of The Humanity of Homelessness podcast, host John Marshall sits down with Paul Fairchild, a case manager at Church at the Park’s family shelter in Salem, Oregon. Paul bravely opens up about his journey through homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and recovery. He shares personal stories from his upbringing in Tacoma, the instability he faced as a youth, and the hard lessons learned through substance use and incarceration. Paul discusses the challenges of building a ...

Jul 17, 2025•54 min•Ep. 4

Building Bigger Tables: Ben McBride on Belonging, Empathy, and Community Healing

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness , host John Marshall sits down with internationally recognized peacemaker, faith leader, and activist Ben McBride. As co-founder of the Empower Initiative, Ben has dedicated his life to fostering radical belonging, building bridges across lines of difference, and guiding communities through conflict and polarization. Ben shares stories from his upbringing in San Francisco, his early days in theater and church, and his transformative journey into ac...

Jun 29, 2025•44 min•Ep. 3

Forgiveness, Family, and Finding Your Place: Lessons from Maria’s Journey

In this powerful episode of The Humanity of Homelessness , John Marshall sits down with Maria Madariaga, Director of Programs at Church at the Park, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about resilience, healing, and the transformative power of community. Maria shares her journey from a childhood marked by domestic violence and instability in Los Angeles, through years of navigating the foster care and juvenile justice systems, to becoming a young mother facing homelessness and adversity...

Jun 14, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 2

A Table for Everyone: DJ Vincent and the Origins of Church at the Park

In our inaugural episode of "The Humanity of Homelessness," we sit down with DJ Vincent, founding pastor and CEO of Church at the Park in Salem, Oregon. DJ shares the remarkable journey from humble beginnings-hosting monthly potlucks in Cascades Gateway Park-to becoming a multimillion-dollar operation providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and comprehensive services to neighbors experiencing homelessness. Through powerful stories about Steve, Juanita, Kay, and Randy, DJ reveals how rel...

May 15, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1

Podcast Trailer

Welcome to The Humanity of Homelessness, a podcast from Church at the Park in Salem, Oregon. In each episode, we hear from a member of our community who is experiencing or has experienced homelessness. We invite them to share their story in their own words so that they and we, might remember their goodness, their courage, their hope, and their humanity.

May 07, 2025•1 min

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