For the first time in its 30-year history, researchers have taken a serious look at who uses Toronto’s volunteer, informal, faithbased system of overnight shelters known as Out of the Cold.

Winter was settling in and it was a blustery, cold evening as I walked around the streets with Tracey, a survivor of the street who for 14 drug-addled years had called the alleys and drug dens of the downtown area “home.” 

WASHINGTON – While driving to work with his son, Eric Von Gay Sr. noticed a homeless man walk out of his tent to look for food in the grass. That's when Eric Gay Jr. got the idea to "keep what Father Bill started."

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Many couples spend thousands of dollars on their dream wedding. But what happens when you have to call it all off?

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – For many people, a warm meal is a way to come together, celebrate, and spend time with friends and family. For homeless people living on the streets of Montevideo, Uruguay, it’s an experience that’s rare. But about 500 young people in the city are working to change that.

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin, Texas, like any hipster city worth its organic, non-GMO salt, is known for its food trucks.

Ontario’s Jesuits are using retreats as a way to help homeless people build a caring community of support among themselves.

A nine per cent jump in overnight guests has pushed Toronto’s Out of the Cold system dangerously close to turning people away, according to a new report from Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services.

The Good Shepherd Ministries is finding yet one more way it can help the homeless and vulnerable.

VATICAN CITY – On Monday the latest Pope Francis-inspired initiative for the poor opened up in Rome – a new laundromat, with washing, drying and ironing services for those without a home or a fixed living situation.

WASHINGTON – Almsgiving is a Lenten tradition and Washington resident Ron Van Bellen says his volunteer work feeding the homeless honours his Catholic faith as he prepares for Easter.

PORTOVIEJO, Ecuador – Almost one year has passed since a devastating earthquake struck Ecuador on April 16, 2016: more than 660 died and many thousands lost their homes and livelihoods.

The parable of the poor man, Lazarus, lying at the rich man’s door, was at the heart of Pope Francis’ homily at the Santa Marta Mass on Thursday morning. The Pope warned of the risks we run if we have the same uncaring attitude towards the poor and homeless people we see around us today.

VATICAN CITY – People who don't give money to the homeless because they think it will be spent on alcohol and not food should ask themselves what guilty pleasures they are secretly spending money on, Pope Francis said.

When the Second Harvest truck arrives at Margaret’s Toronto East Drop-In Centre, the homeless are the first ones out the door, crowding around the truck to ask driver Hektor Habili what he’s delivering.