Homelessness continues to be a rampant problem in the United States. During COVID, homeless shelters across the country were shut down, which led to an influx of tent cities. Then, in late 2022, New Haven, Connecticut began tearing down the tent cities, leaving already vulnerable people with nowhere to go. A local couple who had been feeding the homeless for decades decided to add providing a safe place for people to sleep to their mission. Mark and Luz Colville began using their home, Amistad House of Hospitality, 30 years ago as a refuge for people who were without homes. They provided them more than just hot meals; they also provided companionship when they’d leave their tent city to visit the Colvilles. Tent CityPhoto Credit: Canva A poor solution to a growing problem In response to complaints about the unsightliness of tent cities, New Haven took action to remove them, which sent its residents into a panic. People don’t always realize that when tent cities are destroyed, all of the people’s belongings are tossed into dumpsters. This isn’t just clothing and blankets, which are expensive to replace on their own. These tents also include things like birth certificates, ID cards, pictures, and memorabilia from a lost loved one. It’s the equivalent of someone coming into a subdivision, going from home to home, and throwing everything inside into a dumpster. The experience would leave anyone reeling. So, when the couple heard that tent cities were being torn down, they wanted to find a way to stand in the gap. That’s when they opened up their backyard for people to “camp” before the city forcibly removed their tents. It quickly turned into a community effort that involved the erecting of tiny homes to replace tents, a resident leader, weekly visits from volunteer medical staff, and eventually a fight with the city. Homeless people outside of tentPhoto Credit: Canva Filling in the gap Erik K. Swanson, a documentary maker who shares his videos on YouTube, visited the backyard village multiple times over seven months. He shared about everything in a mini-documentary titled, They Let Homeless People Live in Their Backyard. The documentary covers how the Colvilles got started and why they now only have two residents left. The backyard community has been around for three years, but the strategy was piecemeal. Still, the project born from a passion for helping thy neighbor was thriving. One of their new residents, Beau, tells Swanson through tears, “It made me think that there is people that care, and don’t look at a homeless person like, ‘Oh that’s one of them people, or there’s the scum of society.'” Other backyard residents have been there for more than two years, which has proved to be a complicated position for the homeowners. According to Luz, the tiny village was supposed to be a soft landing place while people got on their feet. She expected the residents to stay temporarily while continuing to look for work and a permanent home, making room consistently for new people who needed a hand up. But that’s not what happened, and it began to cause a strain in her multi-decade marriage. A difficult decision had to be made. Person giving homeless person stew.Photo Credit: Canva Looking Ahead All of the residents, except the two new residents, were given notice to vacate. They weren’t expected to leave right away, but were given 30 days—which was then extended an additional three months. In the end, all of the long-term residents left, leaving only two people in the Rosette Neighborhood Village. Luz and Mark are not planning to close the village permanently, but are hoping to create a structure that still provides much-needed assistance with a plan for residents to find permanent housing. The backyard community never claimed to be perfect. Mark and Luz Colville were filling an overlooked need for the homeless population. For now, the couple plans to continue, but their doors are closed to new residents until the details are worked out. The post Connecticut couple lets homeless people sleep in their backyard. The community chipped in to make it a village. appeared first on Upworthy.

It’s not every day that you’ll find Upworthy celebrating break-ins and arrests, but this is one of those truly exceptional times.  Ridglan Farms, based in Wisconsin, has bred beagles to supply research laboratories for nearly 60 years. Tragically, the very thing that makes this breed such wonderful pets (their sweet and peaceful nature) is also what makes them the number one breed of choice for testing.  When a grassroots effort became impossible to ignore A decade ago, animal rights lawyer and activist Wayne Hsiung began fighting to rescue these creatures. Sometimes that meant trying to raise awareness online. Other times, things took on a more hands-on flavor.  View this post on Instagram In March 2026, Hsiung and seven other activists, including Baywatch’s Alexandra Paul, broke into Ridglan and managed to get a portion of the beagles out of the facility before being arrested. This drew national attention to the issue.  Then the following month, Hsiung was arrested a second time when a larger group of activists attempted a second breach. This time…it wasn’t pretty. The group was met with tear gas and rubber bullets. Some were beaten. One member lost a few teeth.  View this post on Instagram Persistence (and press) paid off But their efforts ignited a “movement,” as Hsiung called it. One that would end up getting Ridglan shut down for good and 2,000 beagles freed.  Big Dog Ranch Rescue negotiated an agreement with Riglan for the transfer of the 475 remaining dogs by August, after which Riglan would be “winding down” operations. Hsiung credits the “faith” shared by members of his organization, especially when “so few believed,” as well as the thousands of everyday people who joined the fight by protesting, sharing, and signing the petition.  View this post on Instagram What’s next for the movement While Hsiung and other lead activists still face trials for multiple felonies including burglary, criminal damage to property, theft, and attempted theft, he feels optimistic that this victory is only the beginning,  “If we ride the momentum, we can rescue every one of the 40,000+ dogs destined for torture or death in labs across the U.S. by the end of 2026,”  Hsiung said, according to Animals 24-7.   As for the next fight, Hsiung and his Save The Dogs organization is aiming for the “biggest abuser” of all:  New York’s Marshall BioResources (MBR),  where 20,000+ beagles are bred for laboratories every year.  View this post on Instagram “And the MBR dogs are victims of chemical warfare,”  Hsiung alleged, as reported by Animals 24-7. “[They’re] trained to breathe phosgene gas that will drown their lungs in pools of blood. Despite decades of abuses such as these, and a long list of legal violations,  the government has refused to protect the MBR dogs. So we must.” If you’d like to get involved with this cause, click here. Alternatively, many of these beagles from Ridglan Farms are still in need of help or homes. You can learn more about how to help or adopt them here. The post After 10 years of legal battles, break-ins, and arrests, a lab that breeds beagles fort testing is shut down for good appeared first on Upworthy.

Kevin Bacon is one of the most loved and well-connected people in Hollywood. He’s had an incredible acting and music career, a loving marriage, and raised two children. He’s a very lucky man. Kevin also does his best to fight for causes he believes in. The veteran performer is so dedicated to animals that he partnered with the Humane World for Animals for something huge. Kevin Bacon is now Kevin Beans. “Happy #Beansday! Today, and every Wednesday, we swap meat for beans to make the world a more humane place for animals. And to show you I mean business, I’m wearing a suit made entirely of beans! Heck, I’m even changing my last name from Kevin Bacon to Kevin Bean!” He shared on Instagram. “It’s a small action that makes a big difference for animals everywhere. Join me and get your bean on!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) Kevin Bacon Transformed into Kevin Bean Kevin Bacon wore a custom bean-covered suit to announce that on Wednesdays, he’s Kevin Bean. The idea is very simple for all of us to follow. All you have to do to be like Kevin is swap your bacon for beans one day a week. Fans love it, and they are all in. “Love this! Beans are the best Thank you @kevinbacon for this fun take on a really vital matter,” a fan shared. Healthy eaters praised Kevin for spreading the word about the nutrient-dense powerhouses. “Beans and lentils!! Can’t beat em. Protein, fibre, nitrogen fixers for the soil! I love them!!” One fan wrote. This person agreed writing, “Absolutely FANTASTIC! We LOVE this so much! Thank you Kevin Bean!!!!!” This story’s featured image is by Robby Klein/Getty Images for IMDb

In a valuable milestone for the conservation of the Sumatran tiger subspecies, 3 cubs born to a UK zoo have grown old enough to venture out from the maternity den into the enclosure. It’s thought there are less than 400 Sumatran tigers remaining in the wilds of Indonesia, and they are considered Critically-Endangered by the […] The post Sumatran Tiger Cubs Born in the UK Is Huge Win–with Only 400 Left in Wild appeared first on Good News Network.

After a family of six had their van stolen during a vacation, an unexpected stranger stepped in to help during their time of need. The generous act transformed a stressful ordeal into a powerful reminder of human kindness.