As the year draws to a close, it’s a natural time for reflection—on what worked, what didn’t, and where there’s room to grow. For the Amarillo-based organization Bridging the Gaps, reflection brings a strong sense of momentum and purpose. Though still relatively new, the organization has already made a measurable impact by helping men experiencing homelessness move toward stability through jobs, housing, and practical support.
Bridging the Gaps focuses on a straightforward but often overlooked truth: homelessness is not solved by a bed for the night alone. While emergency shelters are critical, lasting change happens when people are given structure, opportunity, and accountability. Since its inception, the organization has helped 30 men secure employment, housing, and access to essential resources. That number may seem modest compared to the scale of the issue, but each success represents a life redirected.
According to Shane Jones, treasurer of Bridging the Gaps, the organization has expanded faster than many expected. “We have grown by leaps and bounds. We have a partner in an apartment complex that is letting us use our apartment complex. We've secured two motels, Charlie's Place over on Amarillo Blvd., and we have currently six or seven guys at the apartment complex and about seven or eight at the motel.” This kind of growth shows what’s possible when local partnerships align around a shared goal.
Still, progress hasn’t come without challenges. Bridging the Gaps works closely with men who often arrive at their lowest point, carrying past trauma, broken routines, and deeply ingrained habits. Board member Brandon Watson emphasized that one of the hardest parts of the work is helping participants believe they can change and then supporting them as they do. “Keeping them on the straight and narrow. You know, not letting them fall back into their own bad habits. The challenge was extremely hard on a few of these people, but we managed to do it, and the outcome is tremendous,” Watson said.
That transformation is what keeps the organization moving forward. Watson added, “You take them from the lowest point and then whenever you get them to graduate the program and that's their highest point.” It’s a reminder that success in this space isn’t just about statistics—it’s about rebuilding dignity, confidence, and self-worth.
Looking ahead to 2026, Bridging the Gaps hopes to expand its reach to help even more men and, eventually, their families. But growth depends heavily on community involvement, especially from local businesses. Jones highlighted the scale of the need and the opportunity for action. “The city of Amarillo has ballpark 800 to 900 homeless men and women roaming our streets,” he said, pointing out that shelters alone can’t solve the problem. “Or us as business owners can step up… and we can wipe out a pretty big chunk of the homeless population in Amarillo.”
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