No Address: The Power of Compassion

Lisa M. Hendey reviews a film described by its creators as "a raw and unflinching look at the dark realities of homelessness."

No Address, a feature film opening in theaters nationwide on February 28, tackles the incredibly challenging problem of homelessness with charity and care. Moviegoers can find showings of the film via Fathom Entertainment.  

Summary:  

Inspired by true events, NO ADDRESS follows the harrowing journey of Lauren, a young woman pushed onto the streets and forced to survive against all odds. Alongside a makeshift family of outcasts — each with their own haunting story of struggle and loss — Lauren discovers that home is not just a place, but the people who refuse to let you fall. Featuring powerhouse performances from Lucas Jade Zumann, Beverly D’Angelo, Isabella Ferreira, William Baldwin, Xander Berkeley, Ty Pennington, Kristannna Loken, Patricia Velasquez, and GRAMMY® Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter & actress, Ashanti, NO ADDRESS is a gripping journey of living without walls and rising above them.  

View the Trailer for No Address:

I went into my screening of the Robert Craig film a skeptic. I live in Los Angeles County, where the 2024 LA County Homeless Count identified a homeless population of 75,312 souls. That number is probably an undercount and means that the number of folks living on the streets in my community is roughly the population of the cities of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Williamsburg, Virginia. Having volunteered to serve my unhoused neighbors, I am not a fan of media projects that gloss over or simplify the complexities of this issue.  

But I was soon won over by the story, which has now been adapted into a novel of the same name. Isabella Ferreira plays Lauren, a foster child who is kicked out of the only home she has known since the death of her mother when she ages out of the system. Desperate with nowhere to turn, she encounters Jimmy (Lucas Jade Zumann), a runaway with a heart of gold who is dodging his own mother’s attempts to find him after he leaves his abusive stepfather. Singer Ashanti shines as Violet, a street-smart fighter with her own issues.  

We quickly meet and fall in love with the ragtag family Jimmy has assembled around him, which welcomes Lauren into their midst and the only home they know: a series of tent structures under attack from Robert, a real estate developer (William Baldwin), and his hired band of thugs. In time, we learn that Robert has his own demons that will soon land him on the street. 

The Reality Behind the Film 

The bottom line of the film — and reality — is that every unhoused person has a unique and complex set of circumstances. Just as there is no one reason for someone to end up homeless, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The problem is complex and heartbreaking. One great gift of No Address is that for every ticket sold, 50% of net proceeds go to nonprofits impacting local communities nationwide.   

No Address treats those living unhoused with dignity and respect. Often, when faced with an interaction with an unhoused neighbor in my community, this is the only thing I can do. This movie reminds me to live the Gospel invitation issued by Jesus:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)

The incredibly moving film No Address reminds us of the power of compassion and faith. A story of hope, it teaches that God takes care of those who care for others and that God might be working through each of us uniquely to bring small miracles that can save lives.  

Learn more about No Address and find tickets online at NoAddressMovie.com.  

[Editor's note: The MPAA rating for this film was not available at the time of publication. Please check film listings for this information.]

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Copyright 2025 Lisa M. Hendey
Images: copyright 2025 Robert Craig Films, all rights reserved.