7 Steps to Ending Homelessness
By Charles W. Holman
"Home is a notion that only nations of the homeless fully appreciate and only the uprooted comprehend." - Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose
Based on the actual manuscript and the author’s clear passion for the community, here is a revised, honest, and compelling description for 7 Steps to Ending Homelessness. This version removes the overly repetitive/cliché phrases (“exhibits his master plan”, “straightforward and simple solution”) and focuses on the real substance of the book: the data-driven approach, the author’s decades of observation, and the call to action for the city of Albuquerque and beyond.
Are we doing enough to end the homelessness epidemic, or are we simply managing it?
For decades, Chuck Holman has watched the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico, transform. What was once a rare sight has become a daily reality, with the homeless population growing and vulnerable individuals left exposed to the elements, addiction, and despair. But in 7 Steps to Ending Homelessness, Holman argues that this is not an inevitable or unsolvable crisis.
Drawing on years of personal interviews, community observation, and vital data—including the surprising reality that it costs less to house chronically homeless individuals than to leave them on the streets—Holman presents a comprehensive, actionable 10-year master plan. “The ABQ Plan” is not about empty political promises; it is a step-by-step strategy to bridge the gap between the secluded homeless community and the residents of the city.
Inside this compelling and compassionate book, you will discover:
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The Real Causes: A deep dive into the traumas, financial crises, and systemic failures that push individuals—from veterans to teenagers—onto the streets.
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The Cost of Inaction: Why the current models are failing, and how ignoring the problem is financially and socially draining our cities.
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The Power of “Housing First”: An exploration of successful models, like the Oxford House system, and why immediate shelter is the mandatory first step to addressing addiction and mental health.
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A Call for Community: A practical blueprint for how local governments, businesses, churches, and everyday citizens can unite to provide immediate beds, expand rental assistance, and build affordable housing.
Homelessness is a crippling affliction to a city’s infrastructure and its soul, but indifference will be the death of our society. We have the data, and we have the plan. All we need is the willingness to step forward.
If you care about the future of your city and the lives of its most vulnerable residents, 7 Steps to Ending Homelessness is your guide to turning compassion into concrete action.
Note: Proceeds and initiatives tied to this book directly support Hope in Action / The ABQ Plan in the fight to provide a bed and shelter for every homeless person on the streets of Albuquerque.