homeless camp under a bridge. Mattresses, pot- ted flowers in an urn, and couches could be seen from the road. Dean sternly told the crew to stay put while he walked up the paved slope to greet the men and women living there. With his confi- dent and unwavering gait, Dean met up with a man who started coming toward him. They talked and laughed as Dean looked around. After a few minutes, Dean got back into the outreach van and told the crew that no one was going up there today. JR, a buddy Dean used heroin with 20 years ago, was the man he was talking with. Bright red blood was running down JR’s arm because he’d just shot up and Dean, always the protector, kept the crew away. But true to the compassionate heart he has for people still in the lifestyle of addiction, Dean promised to bring back water for JR and his friends. Along with water, Dean will inevitably bring the hope that he can’t help sharing as a result of his recovery and relationship with Christ. Offering hope T here is hope…because there are people like Dean going out to the camps, and staff in rescue missions across the coun- try who are ready to welcome in the broken down, hopeless, weary, and hurting people who walk through the doors every day. Dean continues to fight the battle against addiction on the front lines. On a Friday in November, Dean was outside the mission with his hands behind his back. He took a few steps to talk with a man in a green hooded sweatshirt. After the brief conversation, Dean walked over to a street sign near the corner and leaned against the thin metal pole, his eyes scanning the area to see if he needed to step in anywhere. Another guy walked up to Dean—it was someone he knew who’d been out on the streets, using heroin and hating how out of control his addiction has gotten. “Stop running,” says Dean. “You don’t have to keep living like this. You can come in.” And so it continues with the Wall, a man who goes out of his way to offer safety and protection to those who are still out living where he has been. Ĩ WWW.AGRM.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 25 Kate works in public relations and aftercare/mentoring at Light of Life Rescue Mission in Pittsburgh. You can reach her at kwadsworth@lightoflife.org. Many hours of interviews with people living in homeless camps, people who are addicted and homeless in downtown Pittsburgh, a suburban woman who lost her beloved sister to a heroin overdose, an Allegheny county police officer, an EMT, and, of course, with Dean, are edited into an 11-minute docu- mentary called Eye of the Needle. The stories shine a light on the opioid crisis and the destruc- tion it is causing in the city of Pittsburgh. Since its launch, Eye of the Needle is doing what the producers hoped it would by raising the level of discussion and lessening the stigma of opioid addiction. Watch the video at lightoflife.org/eyeoftheneedlepgh. To address the multiple needs associated with addiction and homelessness, Light of Life also created a new helpline called Light Line to assist anyone who is either in the throes of addiction, is experiencing difficult times, or is actively searching for ways to help loved ones or friends. Callers receive encouragement and are offered prayer. A new page on Light of Life’s website is a complement to Light Line and includes frequently asked questions and answers, contact information for dozens of community partners and organizations, and direct links to resources. See it at lightoflife.org/lightline. Meeting Needs Where They Are Light of Life produces resources for local individuals struggling with addiction