Bringing It Home

Our leadership team spent two days in Raleigh for “BRINGING IT HOME” — the conference to end homelessness in NC, hosted by North Carolina Housing Coalition, North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness, and NC Department of Health and Human Services! We enjoyed two days of connection, camaraderie, and continuing education!

Opening remarks by Governor Josh Stein and NC DHHS Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai led to an inspirational keynote address by Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of National Coalition for the Homeless.

Being together, enjoying our amazing hotel, Hyatt House Raleigh Downtown/Seaboard Station, and delicious rooftop restaurant High Rail Rooftop would be plenty but of course there’s more. Here are some day one highlights from our team:

• Todd Carter (Chief Development Director): Governor Josh Stein “Homelessness is an issue facing 11 million North Carolinians -- that’s ALL of us. No one benefits when just one of us is homeless."

• David Nolen (DV/ Transitional Housing Coordinator) : Governor Josh Stein; it's so refreshing to hear a governor that ‘gets it.’ — “No one should be forced to live outside.”

• Harley (Permanent Supportive Housing Lead Service Coordinator): Dr. Dev Sangvai NC Department of Health and Human Services “Housing IS Healthcare!”

• Misty (DV / Transitional Housing Coordinator): networking and new ideas.

• Tori (Emergency Housing Coordinator): networking; met someone who inspires me.

• Kennedy (Leadership & Intake Coordinator): networking and connections — kismet, no coincidences.

• Graham (Rapid Rehousing Coordinator): networking; women’s empowerment program

• Sean (Street Outreach Coordinator): keynote speaker Donald Whitehead Jr. National Coalition for the Homeless “Let us be dissatisfied.”

• William (Street Outreach Coordinator): keynote speaker Donald Whitehead Jr; “Today I am your tangible evidence, homelessness is solvable."

• Tina (Executive Director): keynote speaker, “$25.21 per hour is the required wage to afford housing in North Carolina."

• Jake (Permanent Supportive Housing Coordinator): Rooted in Reality, Sean’s impromptu speech.

• Tom (Disaster Recovery Housing Navigator): Lived Experience Panel, Jeffrey Rawlings City of Durham, “I am not my situation, I have merit.”

• Ethan (Director of Grant Funding): Samuel Gunter North Carolina Housing Coalition - “Although we are facing unprecedented challenges, we never know how our innovations and work might create unique solutions”

We just can’t emphasize enough how wonderful it was for our leadership crew to get out of town for a couple of days — being together, learning and commiserating with other folks across North Carolina doing the same work that we do to move people out of homelessness and into housing. As far as highlights from Day 2 - the final day of the conference - it was no contest!

Having local homies and heroes RiverGirl Fishing Company - Kelly and Renata - at this year’s conference for a panel discussion and showing of their impactful documentary “We Begin Again at 9:30” by Beth Davison felt correct. A tear or two may have been shed as we watched and relived some of the horror and heartache of Hurricane Helene — but there were also smiles of pride and resilience all around for these two amazing humans! Just having the opportunity to share the saga and continuing needs and struggles of our mountain communities was a gift.

Finally - a reminder that “Homeless is NOT a person, it's an experience, so be KIND to your unhoused neighbors.

Thanks to North Carolina Housing Coalition, NC Department of Health and Human Services, and North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness for a wonderful event. We are already looking forward to next year.

#bringingithome2025 #bringingithome #endhomelessness #housingfirst #housingfirstworks #hosphousestaff #hosphousenwnc #morethanshelter