Listening Without Limits
When Just Love - Greater New Orleans began in January 2024, we knew we wanted to love our neighbors holistically—body, mind, and soul. The big question is where do we begin? And with who? And how? Over the past year, we’ve begun to answer those questions by developing relationships with the folks of New Orleans. At the heart of every thriving relationship is a simple yet profound truth: being “for” one another. Being "for" someone starts with listening, which flows into loving, and culminates in a relationship built on mutual support and trust. For the remainder of 2024, we’ll explore how we’ve been #ForThe504 in 2024 and how we’re building on that to create even more healing and wholeness in the year ahead. Let’s start with the first step for being "for" someone: listening.
Truly listening goes beyond hearing words; it’s about understanding the heart behind them. It’s the foundation of any strong relationship, paving the way for trust, love, and meaningful connection because it shows folks that we are FOR them. Did you know there’s more than one way to listen? We’ve learned that listening isn’t just about nodding along while someone talks (although, hey, nodding is a good start). It’s about tuning in, being present, and sometimes hearing what’s not even said out loud. So, here are a few types of listening we practiced.
Listening to Understand: This is the "secret sauce" of listening. It’s when you sit down, lean in, and say, “Tell me what’s going on.” No interruptions, no “I have the answer for that,” just pure I’m-here-for-you vibes. The impact? People feel seen and heard—like their story matters (because it does). Whether it’s a neighbor struggling with food insecurity or recovering from a natural disaster, this type of listening creates trust.
Listening for Needs: Sometimes, people don’t know exactly what they need—or they don’t feel comfortable saying it. That’s where listening between the lines comes in. Maybe it’s someone casually mentioning they’re worried about their kids having enough to eat, or a neighbor talking about their car troubles when they really mean they’re struggling to get to work. This kind of listening helps us connect the dots and offer real, practical support.
Listening Without Judgment: This one’s huge. Everyone needs a safe space to share without fear of side-eyes or unsolicited advice. When we listen without judgment, we create a place where people can be honest about their struggles—whether it’s housing insecurity, job loss, or anything else. When folks judgement-free listening, they feel empowered to take the next step, knowing someone’s got their back.
Listening to Celebrate: Yes, listening isn’t just for heavy conversations! Sometimes, it’s about soaking up the good stuff—like hearing a neighbor share how they finally got a a real place or reconnected with a long-lost family member. Celebratory listening helps us share in the joy and build deeper, more authentic relationships.
These are just a few of the ways we have listened to the folks of New Orleans. When we truly listen, it transforms relationships. It’s no longer “us helping them.” It’s neighbors helping neighbors...it's being "with" and "for" one-another. It’s building a community where everyone feels valued and supported. And that? Well, that’s the kind of magic that begins healing and wholeness in a person's life. Read on to see where (and to who) listening has led us in 2024 and where (and to who) we think it's leading us in 2025.
2024.
This past year, Just Love-Greater New Orleans focused on being with and for our neighbors, not by assuming what they needed, but by listening. Listening allowed us to hear the real stories behind the news headlines and led us to take meaningful, tangible steps forward.
In New Orleans, if you are listening at all, the challenge of folks experiencing homelessness and all the challenges that come with that experience, are in the news almost every day. We listened beyond the headlines and began to connect with numerous organizations and individuals who are impacted (or making an impact) with this challenge. Through listening, we were led to our friends at the Good Samaritan Collab in Central City.
According to the most recent data, 65% of individuals living on the streets were located in the 70112, 70113, 70116, and 70130 zip codes, which encompass neighborhoods such as the French Quarter, Seventh Ward, Central City, and the Central Business District. One of the several organizations actively working to support individuals experiencing homelessness in Central City and the broader New Orleans area is actually a collaboration of five communities of faith known as the "Good Samaritan Collab". Started by Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, in partnership with Rayne United Methodist Church, Munholland Methodist Church, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and the Salvation Army, the GSC cares for and works with folks in the Central City area who are experiencing housing, food, and clothing insecurity. Every Tuesday, a healthy meal is provided, gently used clothing are made available, and a voucher for housing at the Salvation Army, along with plenty of love, support, and community. After getting to know every one, Just Love - Greater New Orleans became an official part of the collaboration. In 2024, the GSC has served over 2,000 folks with a healthy meal, good clothing, a warm, safe place, and more love, support, and community than can be calculated.
Our mission at Just Love is to love our neighbors holistically—body, mind, and soul. And that work starts by tuning in, being present, and responding with care. We are just beginning to listen intently to the women and men we serve on Tuesday afternoons and deepening our relationships to see how we can be with and for them, so they may experience further healing and wholeness. There are so many ways YOU can be a part of this wonderful collaboration.
Join the GSC Team: Whether it's meal prep, cloths sorting, or people-loving, there is a spot for YOU on the team
Clean out your closets: Don't throw those old clothes away...we have a place for them. The GSC offers both women's and men's clothing, but has a big need for men's clothing. Check your closets and reach out to us to arrange pick-up.
Invest in the Movement: Small investments make big differences. $25 provided five healthy meals, $50 provides five housing vouchers, and $100 provides five sanitary kits.
Together, we can continue to bring healing and wholeness to these women and men we love body, mind, and soul.
2025.
The experience of being homeless affects people of all ages, but two groups face unique challenges: older adults and youth. For elders, it’s often about navigating health issues or isolation without the stability of a home. For youth, it’s about building a future while carrying the weight of uncertainty and survival. In New Orleans, the numbers are growing, with older adults making up nearly one-third of the homeless population, and youth and young adults among the most vulnerable.
As we look to 2025, it’s clear that caring for these groups requires understanding their specific needs and stepping up as a community. For older adults, homelessness can feel like a cruel twist in what should be a time of rest and stability. For youth, it can feel like their future is slipping away before it even starts. The first step to helping both is listening—not just to their words but to the deeper stories their circumstances tell us. By understanding their struggles more fully and developing deep relationships, we can be for and with them more fully.
In 2025, we are focusing on these areas for our sisters and brothers experiencing homelessness.
Health and Wellness Support for Elders: Many older adults experiencing homelessness struggle with chronic conditions like diabetes or mobility challenges. Partnering with clinics and mobile health units can bring medical care directly to those who need it. Mental health services tailored to aging adults can also help address feelings of isolation and despair.
Stability and Guidance for Youth: Young people without homes often lack the support networks needed to navigate adulthood. Mentorship programs can provide guidance, while job training and educational opportunities help them build a brighter future. Safe spaces like Covenant House New Orleans offer not just shelter but a place for youth to feel cared for and empowered.
Housing That Fits Their Needs: Transitional housing programs can address the unique needs of both groups. For elders, this means spaces that accommodate mobility issues and provide stability. For youth, it means environments where they can grow and feel safe. Partnering more deeply with the Salvation Army and other organization can expand access to emergency and long-term housing solutions.
Building Connections: Both groups face isolation, though in different ways. Community meals, social events, and peer support groups can help older adults and youth feel less alone. Pairing seniors and young people through intergenerational programs can foster mentorship and mutual support.
Caring for our elders and youth means more than providing shelter or meals—it’s about restoring dignity, hope, and belonging. In 2024, partnerships like the Good Samaritan Collab served over 2,000 individuals with food, clothing, and housing support. This work shows what’s possible when a community comes together. As we move into 2025, let’s build on this momentum. Whether it’s through joining the team, investing, or advocating for systemic change, each of us has a role to play in ensuring New Orleans becomes a place where everyone—young and old—feels valued and supported. Together, we can be #4the504, making a difference one story, one connection, and one act of kindness at a time.