Disciples in the Desert

Our Mission:
Bring the Hope of Jesus Christ to those who are Homeless and Alternatively Housed.

Our Vision:
There are numerous excellent homeless programs, where we can refer and we prefer working with these organizations.

Programs, no matter how excellent, can without staff noticing lack the compassion and individual community support those that are homeless need to get off the streets. These programs also leave out a larger community of the physically disabled and working homeless. Physically disabled and working homeless is a rapidly growing group according to our Executive Director, that is not being tracked.

In 2018, due to a health condition, our Executive Director Esther Kobernic repeatedly lost employment due to unreasonable accommodation. Leaving in an ambulance, or via life flight from work repeatedly has led to her favorite comment of "apparently, the ability to remain breathing is a work requirement!" She ended up homeless. Confused as well, as homeless people are "lazy, not working, on drugs are mentally ill." She sought help, as well as Social Security with 5 Doctors in 4 States claiming she cannot work. Help consisted of, where to get drug treatment, mental health counselor suggestions or laughter when she explained due to scented items she could not actually come into the building
She was told her situation was unique.

It isn't. Within a yer, Ms. Kobernic was finding people with cancer, autoimmune diseases, autonomic diseases, heart conditions, and a plethora of other issues in the streets, national parks, state parks. Some with Social Security, part-time jobs or in the 3-10 year fight for social security. Some living homeless till Hud housing is available (2-8 years) and others that adjusted to basically "van-life" and have no more interest in housing.

*Major note here: Mast Cell Activation Syndrome unless married to a spouse willing to do 100% of the out of home working, shopping, and everything else leads to homelessness, van-life, apartments are not an option, your neighbors will hospitalize you often.

She started developing a three part program.

1. Mission work, set up similar to overseas missions. Living amoung thoce in the streets building community, resources and sharing the Gospel.

2. Where and when funding allows, helping individuals maintain reasonable comfort through tents, vehicle repairs and hopefully in the future where needed, vehicle replacement.

3. Finally, dreamed of a vision, safe parking areas near major Cities. Most 'accidentally' van-life individuals know how to legally use public land. Due to some in the homeless demographic trashing land, near cities, safe parking is disappearing. Some members of this demographic work, and cannot leave the cities they reside in.