The issue of homelessness is a major epidemic. In 2017, an estimated 554,000 individuals were living on the streets, that is, just in the United States alone. Being homeless can occur for a plethora of reasons ranging from poverty or unemployment to drug or mental health problems. Regardless of the reason(s), it’s unfortunate for anyone to not have a place to call home.
Although there are homeless shelters available in many cities, often, these shelters are more dangerous than living out on the streets, even when the facility has strict rules for residents and is frequently cleaned and sterilized. While a more adequate solution for a homeless individual would be to get a job and eventually move into a place of their own, unemployment is high in some regions, and not to mention, many places of employment refuse to hire individuals who are homeless.
But things are different at one of Indianapolis, Indiana’s pizzerias, Agape Pizza, owned by Chicago residents Tom and Angie Wilhelmi. Standing out from other pizza shops in the area, the couple only hires ex-homeless who are in transitional housing.
While transitional housing is helpful for many individuals who are homeless, it is a temporary place of residence that gives people the education, training, and support they require to get back on their feet. The goal is to prepare them for employment, and thus, life back in the “real world.”
Even with transitional housing, homelessness does not get easier if one does not have a job and future plans set in place as they leave their temporary home. Thus, some folks in transitional housing are likely to have a high homelessness relapse rate.
To our surprise, Tom shares that there are 15,000 homeless people just in Indianapolis alone. “There are not enough people to love and help them back,” he says. However, with a number that large and few employers willing to hire homeless individuals, the Wilhelmis are taking a different approach to things.
The duo began Agape when they decided to merge their two biggest passions: helping those who are homeless and making fresh pizzas. The combination seemed to work out well, and the Wilhemis are pleased with what they have come up with.
“Every other weekend we were making 12-inch individual pizzas for each homeless person,” Angie explains.
In fact, owner Tom was once living on the streets himself. “For a couple of weeks, when I was transitioning from selling d***s and running a gambling operation to trying to go legit, I was homeless myself,” Tom admits. But, going through struggles of being homeless himself, Tom better understands the issues surrounding homelessness and how tough it is for one to get back on their feet. That’s where Agape Pizza comes in.
So far, Agape Pizza is making a big impact on its employees. For one of Agape’s employees, Milford Weeks, before working at the pizzeria and getting the chance to live in transitional housing, he was residing in a tent city near the White River in Indianapolis.
“Being on the street, it really is nasty. Get them back up to where they feel human again,” Milford says.
Besides helping employ the homeless, another thing that makes Tom and Angie’s restaurant stand out is that 100 percent of the tips they receive go directly to an Indianapolis-based Christian ministry called “Tear Down the Walls.” This ministry is dedicated to giving the homeless and impoverished a better life.
As Agape Pizza grows larger, Angie and Tom will continue looking for more volunteers.
Learn more about the pizzeria owners in the video clip below!
