More than 60 people signed up to talk with Wolford and others walked in. Burnette said he joined the event because he wanted to give back to the mission and tell those experiencing homelessness to not give up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can help one person, it\u2019s worth it,\u201d Burnette said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/COAB2_MYG.jpg\")
Charles Wolford, Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County president and CEO, talks with Greg Burnette on Oct. 9, 2025, during the nonprofit\u2019s Conversations on a Bench event. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
This year marked the first time Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County participated in the event, Wolford said. The Fort Worth nonprofit was one of 70 missions across the U.S. facilitating discussions about homelessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oftentimes homelessness is a hidden issue, but \u201cit\u2019s becoming more part of the conversation at the forefront in our neighborhoods,\u201d Wolford said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a point in time where I think we have to bring attention to this matter, with the economy having some challenges, with individuals dealing with inflation, individuals who may have lost their employment during this time,\u201d Wolford said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Homelessness increased by 11% from 2024 to 2025 in Tarrant and Parker counties, according to a State of Homelessness Address<\/a> in May from Partnership Home, the lead agency in both areas\u2019 homelessness response.\u00a0<\/p>\n The agency reported 2,637 people experiencing homelessness in Tarrant and Parker counties, with 2,289 of those individuals \u2014 or 86.8% \u2014 located in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n Executive director Lauren King noted during the address that Fort Worth typically has the highest homeless population of Tarrant-area cities because it offers the most services.<\/p>\n The data comes from the annual Point in Time Count conducted in January<\/a> as part of a federally mandated count designed to be a snapshot of the number of people and families experiencing homelessness on a single night.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are asking, \u2018Why are so many individuals living under the bridges? Why are so many individuals living in their vehicles?\u2019\u201d Wolford said. \u201cIt is imperative that we bring attention to the matter now, because what may seem as a common stereotype of individuals who are typically homeless, now we\u2019re seeing more people who may not fit the traditional homeless stereotype.\u201d<\/p>\n During Conversations on a Bench, interested participants signed up for a 30-minute chat with Wolford to discuss homelessness in Tarrant County. Participants also could submit questions on the mission\u2019s Facebook page.\u00a0<\/p>\n District 7 council member Macy Hill and District 8 council member Chris Nettles both visited Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County on Thursday to talk with Wolford.<\/p>\n As a Christian, Hill said she has always had a calling to help the homeless. Before being elected to public office, she worked at Presbyterian Night Shelter and would take her sons to serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to people in shelters.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Fort Worth continues to grow and homelessness becomes more visible, Hill said it\u2019s important for the city to partner with organizations to help people in need with dignity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t do this job on our own,\u201d Hill said. \u201cIt really takes an entire team and community to come together and address homelessness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n A pastor in east Fort Worth<\/a>, Nettles said he felt called to get involved in city politics in 2017 because \u201cpolitics at its core value is ministry\u201d realized through taking care of community needs and improving people\u2019s quality of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nettles\u2019 district includes the mission\u2019s shelter as well as the Presbyterian Night Shelter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many people are just one paycheck away from hardship, he said. Having Conversations on a Bench in Fort Worth is important because it helps address misconceptions about homelessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about somebody that doesn\u2019t want to work or somebody that\u2019s on (a) substance,\u201d Nettles said. \u201cIt\u2019s really about people who probably have fallen on hard times, and they need not a handout but a help up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n By hour 19 of the event, the 50 conversations Wolford had welcomed represented a \u201cbeautiful mosaic\u201d of people coming together to talk about homelessness, addiction and mental health.\u00a0<\/p>\n While he still had six hours to go, the conversations he\u2019d already had felt \u201cnothing short of a miracle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He hopes to participate in the national event every year moving forward, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI really get a chance to see the weaving of God, of how he\u2019s doing this beautiful thing right here at Union Gospel Mission, right before us,\u201d Wolford said. \u201cIt\u2019s so distinct. It\u2019s so unique. But what I do see is the hand of God over all of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSCF0101.jpg\")
Volunteers Amy Bush, Madison Owen and Brandon Molina survey an unsheltered person living in a tent during the Point in Time Count, Jan. 25, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lancaster-e1744828209128-1024x627.jpg\")
A stop sign at the intersection of Poplar Street and East Lancaster Avenue sits in front of one of Union Gospel Mission\u2019s buildings in 2023. (Matthew Sgroi | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
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