How Running is Helping the Homeless One Step at a Time [Q&A]

Back on My Feet is a national non-profit organization that combats homelessness through the power of running, community support and essential employment and housing resources. We currently operate in 11 major U.S. cities coast-to-coast. Later this year, we will open our 12th chapter in San Francisco! Our unique running-based model demonstrates that if you first restore confidence, strength, and self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to tackle the road ahead and move toward jobs, homes, and new lives.

Other nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping homeless individuals tend to focus solely on finding people employment or housing, but how are you ever supposed to believe in yourself enough to make the transition out of homelessness and stay there?

Back on My Feet's programmatic approach first brings individuals from the community together with individuals experiencing homelessness. It starts very simply with a one foot in front of the other, running as a group three times a week in the early mornings – no-one running alone. This gives our members a sense of community, support and hope for the future, which grows into a belief that anything is possible.

Dedicated, accountable and determined.

Our members and our volunteers. Our members for their sheer dedication to the program – despite everything they’ve been through. This is not a handout, but a hand up and every one of them works hard to achieve their dreams. Our volunteers – because without them we are nothing. They give their time, energy and resources to make our organization and our members flourish. Their passion is constantly inspiring.

I can only have one?? Sorry, but it’s the whole of the BoMF Staff! Every single one of our staff is so dedicated to our members. They work extremely hard. Probably harder than most would ever think when you hear the word ‘nonprofit,’ but trust me this isn’t a job to us, this is a passion and a mission so it never stops. We’re definitely more of a ‘for purpose’ organization than traditional nonprofits and won’t quit until we completely revolutionize the way society approaches homelessness.

Without a doubt seeing the members succeed. Their faces as they cross the finish line of their first race, their excitement when they get that first job with one of our employment partners and their joy at moving into their own place. I also love the variety of people I get to work with – staff, members, donors, senior business leaders on our Board, volunteers and other supporters. We work with some many different corporations (large corporations like Marriott and AT&T to smaller more local based restaurants and companies).

There are multiple measures of success for Back on My Feet. To begin, we have served more than 5,500 individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our members have run a collective 500,000 miles and obtained more than 3,500 jobs and homes. What’s more, every $1 invested in Back on My Feet returns nearly $2.50 to the local community through increased economic output from employment and reduction in costs for shelter, medical services, incarceration, and drug and alcohol treatment.

You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter.  We are constantly updating people on the latest runs they can join, successes, and how to get involved.

It only takes one run to feel the power of what we do. You come away from a run with our members feeling changed too - your day is just so much brighter. You feel energized. Whether you join us for a morning run, fundraise for us, support our members in job skills training, every little bit helps. It takes a village to transform a life.

The easiest way to get involved is to visit www.backonmyfeet.org, look for your local chapter, and start running. You can also run with us, run for us, offer corporate support, help employ members, buy merchandise, or simply donate.

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