Dear Steve,

Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could end someone’s homelessness as soon as they walked through the doors of Key Campus? With your help, this is possible through Keys to Change’s Diversion Program.

Diversion is the reunification of an individual with a friend or family member, paid and coordinated by Keys to Change and our amazing Welcome Center team.



It’s a unique program that harnesses the power of love and human connection to prevent homelessness, or stop it in its tracks. For the price of a Greyhound ticket, a care package, and staff time, the Diversion Program saves our community tens of thousands of dollars per client per year, by avoiding the need for emergency shelter and related services. Diversion is a low-cost, low-barrier intervention that has a remarkable 85% success rate.

*Note: All names have been changed for privacy purposes

Sometimes, a successful diversion marks the end of a painful family search for their missing loved ones. Like with Sheryl,* whose brother in Texas cried at the sound of her voice, having gone over a year without contact, fearing the worst. He agreed to take her in and requested “the fastest bus you’ve got.” 

Other times, a diversion can make way for healing. Like with Darren* – a star employee at a big box store who continued to work full time after an eviction rendered him homeless. Through the stress of it all, Darren developed ulcers. During a surgery to remove the ulcers, doctors discovered a cancerous mass and recommended bed rest – to a man without a bed. Thanks to the diversion process, Darren is now residing with his godparents in West Virginia, where he can recover and plan next steps surrounded by the warmth and safety of family.

Sometimes, a diversion represents a fresh start in a life marked with tragedy and sorrow. Like with Elena,* a victim of domestic violence and sex trafficking who broke free after five years of abuse, only to fall into drug addiction living on the streets. Through diversion, she finished a detox program then travelled to live with her sister in Washington.

In still other cases, diversion is the disruption needed in a troubled young life to chart a brighter future. Like with Isaac,* 18 years old, who spent four months on the street after his parents kicked him out due to behavioral issues. Even after a diagnosis confirmed severe mental illness – and explained his erratic behavior – his parents were unwilling to take him back. Isaac was diverted to his grandmother’s home on the east coast, where he was welcomed with open arms, and the promise of a better tomorrow.