This morning I went for a walk—nothing out of the ordinary. The sun was rising, the streets were quiet, and I was deep in thought about the work we’re doing. But as I turned a corner, I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.
There, near the edge of the sidewalk, was a young woman—maybe in her late teens or early twenties—curled up in the grass, asleep. She was wearing only light clothes and a hoodie. No sleeping bag. No tent. No protection. Vulnerable. Alone.
I didn’t see her face. I didn’t ask her name. But I didn’t have to. Because I’ve seen her before. Not her specifically—but the story. Too many times.
This is someone’s daughter. And she’s sleeping outside on the ground.
In the richest, most resourceful country in the world—how is this possible?
The Pain of Knowing We Could Be Doing More
The hardest part of seeing her wasn’t just the sadness of the moment—it was the knowledge that we have a solution, and yet still face endless delays.
For years, my team and I have been working on what we call the Housing Incubator Project—a transformative model that doesn’t just house people, it empowers them.
We teach young people how to build their own homes, give them the tools, training, and mentorship to earn trades certifications, and then guide them into home ownership, employment, or business launch within a cooperative community setting.
These homes are affordable.
The process is restorative.
The long-term impact is life-changing.
It’s a program that makes sense economically, socially, and spiritually.
But we’ve encountered more resistance than we ever anticipated—not from the poor or the helpless, but from people and systems that seem more interested in control, compliance, or bureaucracy than real solutions. Some of it is ignorance. Some of it is fear. And some of it, sadly, is sabotage.
Time Is the Enemy Now
We’re not waiting on ideas. We’re not waiting on technology or material. We’re not even waiting on skilled workers—we’re training them ourselves.
What we’re waiting on is alignment.
Conviction. Courage. Support.
Every delay costs another young person their stability, their safety, and sometimes their future.
We have youth ready to be trained.
We have land and floorplans ready for development.
We have business owners lined up to offer apprenticeships.
We have community partners ready to mentor and guide.
What we don’t have is time.
Because every time we hesitate, another daughter sleeps on the street. Another son spirals into depression. Another life slips further away from purpose and toward survival mode.
The Government Won’t Fix This—But We Can
I’m not saying this with cynicism—I’m saying it with clarity. The government is not the answer.
The answer is us.
You. Me. Local leaders. Donors. Builders. Neighbors.
We don’t need more studies. We need action. We need people with resources and conviction to put their names and support behind something that actually works.
We don’t just need checks—we need champions. Partners who see the long game. Who believe that building people is how we rebuild cities. That investing in youth and housing isn’t charity—it’s strategy.
What You Can Do Right Now
If your heart is stirred like mine, then don’t let this pass as just another sad story.
Here’s how you can help today:
Sponsor a home – Fund the materials to build a $85,000 starter home that teaches, trains, and transforms a young life.
Sponsor a trainee – Provide the support for a young man or woman to go through our leadership and construction training, start a career, and never sleep on the ground again.
Connect us – Introduce us to contractors, landowners, mayors, church leaders, or business mentors who care about solving real problems.
Become a partner – Join our coalition of builders, investors, and nonprofits working together for lasting change.
Share this vision – Use your voice and network to amplify this mission.
We will send you the story and progress of the youth you sponsor. You will get to see their transformation. Not just a photo. A future.
The Final Word: We Can Do Better
That young woman sleeping in the grass… I can’t stop thinking about her.
And I don’t want to.
Because we shouldn’t look away from things that break our hearts—we should let them drive us to action.
We are not helpless. We are not without options.
We have everything we need—except the will to act.
But I believe that’s changing. I believe more people are ready.
I believe that if you’ve read this far, you’re one of them.
Let’s stop hoping someone else will fix it.
Let’s build the future we all deserve.
Join us.
👉 Partner With Us Here: http://www.flashlove.org
👉 Sponsor a Youth or Home Here
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