As Guam continues to grapple with homelessness, the latest Point In Time Count shows fewer people living on the streets but those working closest to the issue say the need is far from over. We headed to the island’s only soup kitchen, where staff say they’re serving more people than ever before.

For the past 14 years, Doris Royal has made it her mission to serve Guam’s homeless. She’s the program director for the Archdiocese of Agana’s Ministry to the Homeless, home to the island’s only soup kitchen, and a lifeline for dozens of people every day. Most of the people she serves stay in Hagatna, close enough to walk in for their next hot meal before finding somewhere, anywhere, to sleep for the night.

"We had indoor dining today. It was BankPacific who was serving," she explained. "This evening we had about 50 homeless that depend on us."

Every day, different community partners step in to cook or order food.  On Wednesday, BankPacific employees served not just hot meals, but drinks, candy, and small treats for the holidays.  "Aside from the meal, we give them a bag to go with non perishables inside like a bottle of water, a can of spam and desserts in there," Royal added.

For many, this meal is the only hot food they’ll get all day. This comes as the Guam Homeless Coalition’s Point-In-Time Count shows a 31% drop in homelessness, from 1,249 people in 2024 to 861 this year.

But Royal says what she sees on the ground tells a different story, as she said, "It’s actually growing. When I first started here a while back, we were only feeding about 30 people. 30 people was our max. Now on a regular basis, we start catering to about 60 to 70," she said. "It even goes up to as high as 90 people we feed."

Royal knows every person by name, something that surprises many, but the reason, she says, is simple. "I really feel for them and that’s what keeps me motivated. I’ve been doing this for so long that I’ve gotten close to a lot of these homeless," she said.

"I just treat them like family."

She’s also watched administrations come and go, with promises to fix homelessness, while many of the same faces remain. "Even if it’s just a simple overnight stay for them, at least give them somewhere safe to lay their head and offer them breakfast. Because some of these homeless when they do come here, this is the only hot meal they have for the day," she said.

Royal says the biggest issue remains a lack of shelter and affordable housing, noting, "We’re the only soup kitchen here...and as far as shelters, no we don’t have enough resources."

As the year comes to a close, Royal says she’s grateful for the community donations that keep the ministry going, and worries about what would happen if they ever stopped. "If we were to close down," she worried, "I mean, where else would they go?"

The need remains visible across the island and Royal says the work continues, one meal at a time.