On Going

The hardest part isn't starting. It's staying.

You showed up. You answered the call, attended the meetings, and stepped into the complexity of homelessness with urgency and heart. But now the early momentum has faded. Progress stretches across years instead of weeks. Gratitude is not always immediate. The work feels heavier, quieter, and more demanding than you ever expected. You are no longer asking "Can we do this?" You are asking "Can we stay?"

On Going, the third book in Carol Hollowell's homelessness trilogy following Get Going and Keep Going, is written for the long middle. Drawing from years of experience at Switchpoint, one of the nation's most innovative nonprofit organizations, Carol explores the internal and organizational qualities that make lasting change possible. Through real stories of transformation built not on single breakthroughs but on hundreds of ordinary, faithful moments, she reveals how trust is built slowly, systems are redesigned with proximity, and accountability becomes a pathway rather than a threat. This is a book about sustaining meaningful work when recognition fades, when setbacks erase weeks of effort, and when presence matters more than progress.

Inside, you will discover:

• How to balance gentleness with accountability, and grace with expectation, so encouragement becomes structure rather than empty reassurance

• Why staying close to the process changes everything, from the stories you see to the systems you build

• Practical wisdom on resilience, forgiveness, motivation, compassion, pace, and return for anyone committed to creating lasting community change