Clothed in Compassion: Eva Slagle’s Mission to Serve Alliance’s Homeless

In the heart of Alliance, Ohio, Clothed in Righteousness, led by Eva Slagle and her husband, Mike, stands as a beacon of hope for the homeless and underprivileged. What began eleven years ago on a cold Christmas Eve, serving meals from the back of a U-Haul in Canton, has grown into a vital ministry addressing the rising tide of homelessness in their community. Inspired by a profound encounter with a homeless individual and driven by a divine calling, the Slagles have dedicated their lives to providing clothing, hot meals, and a judgment-free environment for those in need. In 2024 alone, their ministry served over 10,000 individuals, with 60% experiencing homelessness—a stark reflection of the increasing economic pressures and social challenges facing families, women, and men in Alliance. In this interview, Eva shares the inspiring origins of Clothed in Righteousness, the urgent needs of the community, and the power of compassion in building trust and hope for those they serve, join me as I go one on one with Eva Slagle of Clothed In Righteousness.

Can you share the story of how Clothed in Righteousness began and what inspired you and your husband, Mike, to focus on serving the homeless and underprivileged in Alliance? Hahaha, let me share the short version of our story. Eleven years ago, on Christmas Eve, my husband and I served the homeless for the first time at Hall of Fame Park in Canton as part of a grassroots organization. We operated straight out of the back of a U-Haul truck. During that time, we heard the story of a homeless gentleman, which deeply moved us and sparked our love for the homeless community. In the years following our initial efforts to serve the homeless, we gained a great deal of knowledge. We started by collecting socks, then expanded our efforts to include new underwear, and eventually began gathering clothing. We remained committed to God's calling by sorting and organizing the clothing in our pole barn. Meanwhile, Crossroad Ministries served meals every Sunday in the basement, and we contributed by distributing seasonal clothing items, socks, underwear, and occasionally hygiene products every quarter. Additionally, we continued serving on Christmas Eve with “Share the Warmth” in Canton until 2018, when God directed us to Alliance. Five years before we opened in downtown Alliance, we felt a strong calling to establish a free clothing closet. Still, that opportunity was abruptly closed when the ministry we were with suddenly shut down. This left us feeling broken and questioning our calling, but God had a much larger plan in store for us. In 2019, my husband and I sensed a strong calling to Alliance, even though we didn’t understand why, as we didn’t think there were any homeless people in the area. Encouraged by our close friends, we signed a lease on August 27, 2020, for our current location, which we shared with our friends for the first few years. It’s interesting how God works; we had no idea what we would be doing, but look at where we are now.

Your ministry has reported a significant increase in demand, serving over 10000 individuals in 2024 alone. What factors do you believe are driving the surge in homelessness in Alliance, particularly among families and women? First, I want to share some CIR statistics: 60% of those we serve are homeless. In March 2025, we transitioned from a 45-50% homeless rate to a 60% rate. 47% of our homeless are women, 10% are children, leaving us with 43% of them being men. Since 2022, our serving numbers have increased by 45%, and yes, those are mostly individuals experiencing homelessness. The cost of living has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the cost of living has increased by 24.3%. For single mothers or families living paycheck to paycheck, an unexpected few hundred dollars in expenses can lead to eviction notices, food insecurity, and difficulties in providing basic necessities for their families. Last winter, we had more single working mothers than ever trying to maintain a roof over their heads but unable to afford utilities, which left many without heat during the coldest months. Another troubling trend we are witnessing is an increase in women experiencing domestic violence. Some seek refuge and end up homeless to survive. I can share a few specific cases: one young woman is currently living with her abuser because the domestic violence shelter is full. At the same time, another has chosen to become homeless to escape her abuser. We stay in contact with both women and remind them that we are here, regardless of their needs.

Clothed in Righteousness provides a range of services, from hot meals to clothing and homeless packages. What specific needs are most urgent among the people you serve, and how do you prioritize your resources to address them? Most of our homeless individuals prioritize a hot meal and a bag of food over clothing, shoes, and hygiene products. Our focus remains on keeping the pantry stocked with non-perishable, easy-to-eat foods and bottled water. However, I will tell you that handing out 67 bags of food to people experiencing homelessness each night we are open quickly drains the pantry. I get excited when I don’t have to buy food one week because the donations have kept up with the need. You’ve described Clothed in Righteousness as a “judgment-free zone.” How do you and your volunteers build trust and relationships with the homeless community to create a supportive environment? We strive to create a loving and judgment-free environment with clear boundaries. All of our volunteers understand that our expectations are high, and it is essential that no one feels unloved. If a client opens up to us, we must never gossip about them. Or share their stories with anyone outside of CIR unless it’s to retain services. When we need to say no to a client, we should do so in a gentle manner, providing a clear explanation and a viable alternative solution. However, there are times when we must be firm with a client to ensure the safety of all clients and team members. Every night, we work to build relationships. If it is a homeless individual's first time seeking the services of CIR, we learn their name as soon as they step through the door and help them navigate the available services. Our goal is to ensure that no one ever feels embarrassed due to their current life situation. If one of our homeless individuals hasn’t been in for a few weeks, we begin to reach out to the entire community to locate them and ensure their safety. We want to be there for them like family, even if they’re in jail, rehab, or the hospital. God sees them, and so do we! The lack of emergency shelters, especially for men, has been highlighted as a challenge in Alliance. What are your thoughts on the current shelter options, and what solutions do you think could help address this gap? The nearest men’s shelter is located in Canton. If this shelter is full, individuals have no other option than to couch surf or sleep outdoors. I would greatly appreciate the establishment of a men’s shelter in Alliance. Many of our homeless men prefer to remain in the Alliance area rather than moving to the men’s shelter in Canton or Akron. They would rather endure the cold outside than relocate to another city. My solution, of course, would be a men’s shelter, but a large percentage of our clients would be okay with a safe area to pitch a tent without being asked to leave. An accessible porta-potty, dumpster, and access to showers a few times a week. We must understand that what works for one homeless person may not work for the rest. When working with the homeless, it is essential to tailor your program to meet the unique needs of each individual. This is where the relationship building comes to our benefit. We know their story, personality, and their needs. We will never force anyone to do anything that they don’t want. However, loving that person for who they are will often bring about change, communication, and results. It takes a little longer, but it works. Your ministry relies heavily on donations and volunteers. What are the biggest challenges you face in securing enough resources to meet the growing demand, and how can the community get involved to support your efforts?

We are incredibly grateful for the support from the churches, small businesses, and the community. Whenever we have an urgent tangible need, it is met within a week. Our biggest challenge is finding enough volunteers to help with cooking hot meals, providing desserts, or serving on Monday and Thursday nights. We’re not asking any one person to cook for 100; if that feels too overwhelming, we have the option to prepare meals for just 50 people. Many individuals experiencing homelessness rely on CIR for a hot meal every Monday and Thursday. Some will even wait until the end of the night to see if there are leftovers available, as they are truly hungry. We need volunteers every night to fill various positions. If you are an introvert, working in the pantry, filling food bags, or stocking shelves might be a good fit for you. If you love Jesus and enjoy interacting with people, then joining the friendship team or becoming a personal shopper could be a great fit for you. If you're not an introvert but prefer not to engage closely with others, yet still have a passion for serving, then helping behind the counter or in the kitchen might be the right opportunity for you. We offer a variety of other ways to serve, so please don't hesitate to contact us. We will help you find a place to contribute. Our second most significant need is financial support. We don’t partner with the food bank or receive any government funds. Individuals and church congregations fund everything. We are grateful for every monetary donation, regardless of its size. The community is such a blessing to us. Looking ahead, what is your vision for Clothed in Righteousness, and how do you hope to expand or adapt your services to address the ongoing homelessness crisis in Alliance and surrounding areas? First, we require a significantly larger building with a dining area that can accommodate 150 people.

Our vision for the future encompasses several levels. Currently, we outline our vision through the 4 C’s: a space for counseling, a small on-site clinic, an office for the caseworkers, and a small chapel. Nevertheless, our vision extends far beyond that, and we enjoy discussing our broader plans. In the future, we would love to include a warming and cooling center, along with access to a 12-step, Christ-focused inpatient rehabilitation program. We also envision providing Christ-centered sober living, career coaching, on-site life skills training, and financial literacy programs, all of which will be available on-site. Additionally, if God calls us to provide shelter for the homeless, we will be ready to do so. We want to be obedient to whatever God calls us to. God’s heart is broken for those suffering from addiction, struggling to get their footing, battling mental illness, fighting to escape the abuse and trauma of the past, and our homeless. He sees them and loves them! All we can do is love like Jesus and be obedient to where he wants us.