This year at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference 2024, I was able to do a workshop on in-the-meantime strategies. It was very informative and transformative if you were open enough. I also was one of the team captains for Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill Day contingent, which I don’t think turned out as well as it could have. I felt like they were open to the advocacy of people with lived experience this year.
I did the workshop with the National Alliance to End Homelessness policy team. We talked about permanent supportive housing, housing first, tiny homes, safe parking, non-congregate shelters, and what we do and what we can provide to encampments while people are waiting to be matched to an organization and voucher.
I attended a workshop focused on returning citizens, and the resources available to them upon release. We learned about the obstacles placed before them once they are back into society and how we can make that transition an easier one.
Overall, the National Alliance to End Homelessness did an amazing job at this year’s conference. The plenaries were so full of energy and inspiration. It rejuvenated my spirit and the advocate in me.
We heard from Helen Cruz of Johnson v. Grant Pass on the criminalization of homelessness. She was very inspiring as she picked up after her friend who brought the suit against the state of Oregon passed away. She didn’t want to let the fight die out so she continues to carry the torch.
The Supreme Court didn’t rule in our favor, but this fight is not over. Advocates all over the world stand arm and arm against to fight against policies to criminalize homelessness across the United States. We will see this decision reversed as an army of advocates stand in the gap for those who haven’t found their voice yet.
Rachelle Ellison is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
I’m looking back on this year’s National Alliance to End Homelessness conference and trying to see a positive way forward as there was so much focus on the Supreme Court and their decision to criminalize homelessness. Along with other decisions made by the court, I believe it had some effect on the overall mood of the conference. There seemed to be a sense of urgency to come together and address the Supreme Court decision while continuing to make common sense decisions based on the available resources for local continuums of care.
Our main focus was on how could we increase participation of those with lived expertise, most of which are members of People for Fairness Coalition and our FACE group at Street Sense Media. In the meantime, we talked about strategies, in the absence of substantial public policies, to address homelessness and move forward the overall advocacy approach to addressing homelessness in communities across the country.
The peer mentoring services offered should have a focus on how they relate to Black men, who have been historically overlooked and underfunded when it comes to housing placements in the Continuum of Care and coordinated entry. It’s outdated when it comes to racial equity and inclusion and Black men are being overlooked, just like every year.
Some very inspirational speakers offered hope to the community through policies and innovation and suggested ways to better service those experiencing housing instability and the trauma that comes with the unhoused community, and those grappling with long-term poverty and the threat of eviction.
Capitol Hill Day was an opportunity for advocates all over the country to visit their elected representatives. This year’s Hill visit was a little chaotic, being an election year. We did get to talk to the legislative aid of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton with the hope to follow up with him in the future.
We were able to raise concerns about several different issues. D.C. is a human rights city and has the Human Right Enhancement Act, which protects unhoused people from being discriminated against. We were also able to raise some questions around a Black boy and men’s summit that was held in 2010 and some of what may have occurred to follow up on that engagement the congresswoman led. We were able to talk about universal housing rights and also other issues like returning citizens, and the scarce resources available nationwide.
Robert Warren is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
This is how I was going to open up at Capitol Hill Day on July 10: “D.C. said people experiencing homelessness are a protected class, so how did we get to Johnson v. Grants Pass? It’s not a slap in the face, more like sitting down in a chair removed and you hit your tailbone hard on the ground. Racism had and has the upper hand. This is new and improved slavery. This tactic looks very familiar, working behind bars for next to nothing. Others will have you think this is not true, going from not having a criminal background to gaining an inmate number, just to get released and repeat the process of horrible treatment all over again. It’s proven it doesn’t work. Are we to believe people’s health will be taken care of behind bars? If this is true, sign me up.” This marks the second year I’ve attended the National Alliance to End Homelessness conference that ends with Capitol Hill Day. Hill Day was a total waste of time and breath. We are disrespected on the streets and now we’re making appointments once a year for people to act like they care about serious issues. We didn’t get to meet with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and she didn’t apologize or acknowledge us but she stood still to take a picture. Where is the hope, if those who are supposed to be advocating for us on a higher level just don’t care or the fire is just gone? We need guaranteed income. We need housing. We need top-notch health care. We need equal opportunity. Everyone needs, but if those who portray themselves as fighting with us don’t believe, get out the way!!
Nikila Smith is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
