Leroy Bailey left the Oceanfront on June 30, 2014, with one goal: walk the perimeter of the continental United States and raise money to build homeless shelters across the country.

On Saturday, November 26, 2016, Bailey arrived home, 29 months later after walking more than 11,500 miles, the circumference of the continental United States. His goal was to bring awareness to the plight of homeless people. He originally planned on finishing in 18 months, but the trek took 11 more than that having to stop and return to home to take care of his wife. Bailey would return right where he had left and start walking again. In all, Bailey has raised between $9,000 and $10,000 which will go towards building a shelter in Virginia Beach, calling it the Hope Center.

Bailey himself was homeless as a teenager, when he left his foster home in upstate New York. For several years before his country-circling walk, Bailey volunteered at PIN Ministry, an Oceanfront nonprofit that serves the homeless.

He received less than welcoming receptions during his trek; many churches wouldn't let him sleep inside and he was stopped repeatedly in Florida by the police. During his walk, he slept under bridges, behind churches and on top of picnic tables.

"If you look homeless, they don't want you there," Bailey said.

Along the way, his backpack was stolen in San Francisco, his wallet disappeared in Washington, and his glasses broke somewhere in southern California and he walked through 10 pairs of shoes.

Upon entering his hometown, Bailey still carried the Warrior Flag that was given to him by a local Akwesasronon when he walked through Akwesasne during the summer.

Bailey said, "The flag was given to me to watch over me, that's an honor."