As Rowan Vansleve walked along a highway in Kern County on the 13th day of a 17-day journey to raise funds for Hope the Mission, which serves unhoused people in the Los Angeles area, he was hot, achy and exhausted.
“My legs are cooked [and] my feet are swollen and bruised, but I recognize this is a lot easier than what so many of the people [are going through] who are trying to end their homelessness – living on the streets, trying to overcome addiction, trying to overcome mental health issues,” said Vansleve, president of the North Hills-based nonprofit Hope the Mission, speaking with the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol during his 12-hour walking shift.
When Vansleve arrives at each day’s official stop – on that day, it was in Delano, California – he rests for half a day while Hope the Mission founder and CEO Ken Craft begins the next 12-hour leg of the fundraising walk. The pair began the “Long Walk Home” over two weeks ago in Seattle, Washington, with the goal of walking 1,300 miles to Hope the Mission’s headquarters, in memory of the estimated 1,300 people who die every year in LA County due to homelessness.
It’s a tag-team effort, with one of them on the road at all times, day or night, explained Vansleve. Along the way, they have met with community leaders working to combat homelessness in multiple cities. Vansleve said they hope to increase awareness about the homelessness crisis, with the goal of raising over $200,000 to help support the services Hope the Mission provides to assist unhoused individuals and families across the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.
“We want to put a spotlight on homelessness, especially at this moment in time, where we’re under a financial crisis in the city, and the policies of the federal government are changing, and everything seems to be in limbo,” said Vansleve. “We want to make sure that we don’t forget those who have been forgotten so often, which are those who are marginalized on the streets.”
With so many changes happening – such as tariffs, which he expects to increase prices on many of the items the nonprofit routinely needs to purchase – Vansleve said he realizes that rising inflation and stock market fluctuations are impacting everyone, including their regular donors. But he hopes that those who can will continue to provide support for society’s most vulnerable.
“This isn’t just a charity that we’re asking people to chip in to; we’re in the middle of a humanitarian crisis,” said Vansleve, noting that the crisis stems from multiple contributing factors, including a drug epidemic, a mental health crisis and lack of affordable housing. “It has all manifested in homelessness, so we’re asking people not just to help [support] a charity, but to be part of solving the humanitarian crisis of our time.”
Vansleve and Craft expect to finish the “Long Walk Home” with a celebration at Hope the Mission’s main office at 16641 Roscoe Place in North Hills on Saturday, April 26 at 6 p.m.
To donate to Hope the Mission’s “Long Walk Home” campaign, go to: support.hopethemission.org/campaign/the-long-walk-home/c663395.