Advocates Travel to DC
Forty-four homeless advocates went to DC for the Annual National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference on July 9-10. Since 2004, NCCEH has organized capitol hill visits with North Carolina’s congressional offices. In 2004, NCCEH was the first homeless advocacy group to hold a reception for all of our delegation, hosted by Senator Burr (then in the house).
This year, Representative Price hosted a reception for NCCEH. Our reception focused on our experiences of homelessness. (We left the policy talk for the next day’s meetings)
Terry Allebaugh
Terry Allebaugh, an NCCEH board member, executive director of Housing for New Hope in Durham and truly effective advocate was the M.C. of our event. Terry welcomed Representative Coble and Representative Myrick to the podium. Both members of the House thanked the participants for our work, shared their personal thoughts on the why ending homelessness is essential and pledged support to help end homelessness in North Carolina.
Tommy Yarbourough
Tommy Yarborough, from Homeless Helping Homeless in Charlotte told of his personal experience of homelessness. Tommy had also traveled with us to DC in March for an advocacy event for the Services to End Longterm Homelessness Act (SELHA). He does a great job of sharing his story and helping congressional members and staff understand how they can help us in ending homelessness. While Tommy was currently homeless during these trips, he was proud to announce to the group that he had been accepted into a Shelter Plus Care unit and would soon be moving in!
Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly is a graduate of Housing for New Hope’s transitional housing program, is a current resident in their permanent supportive housing, and is the Peer Support Counselor for their PATH program in Orange County. Mike shared his story of years of living on the streets before he accepted outreach efforts by Housing for New Hope to come in to their program. When Terry Allebaugh testified before the Senate in May, he told Mike’s story.
Sally Greene
Chapel Hill City Councilwoman Sally Greene shared stories of their process as a local government creating a ten year plan to end homelessness. Sally has been a fantastic leader in her community, urging others to make a commitment to ending homelessness.
Representative Sue Myrick listens to our experiences of homelessness
Representative Myrick is cosponsor of the Service to End Long-term Homelessness Act and has been a champion for homeless programs. We had the pleasure of meeting with her again on Wednesday.
Thanks to all who attended and made the event a success!
Alphonso Williams, Rob Weigle, Liz Clasen
As part of the conference, Alphonso Williams and Terry Allebaugh (from Housing for New Hopea and NCCEH board members) and I presented a workshop aimed at working with the homeless and formerly homeless to use their voices to advocate to end homelessness. Alphonso, Terry and I have worked together as advocates since 2004, so we were glad to share what we’ve learned over the years. Alphonso and Terry are quite the dynamic duo when it comes to advocacy– or just about anything they set their minds too. Alphonso inspired the participants to use their stories to influence legislators.
Also pictured above are Rob Weigle (NCCEH Board Member) and Liz Clasen. Rob and Liz are with Homeless Helping Homeless of Charlotte, a great group who mobilize Charlotte’s homeless into advocacy and action. You can read more about the group’s D.C. experience here.
On Wednesday, July 11th, we again made our way over to Capitol Hill. We had meetings with Senator Burr and Senator Dole. We also met with house members or their staff from all 13 districts.
This year, we focused on three main topics:
McKinney-Vento Reauthorization
Services to End Longterm Homelessness Act
National Affordable Housing Trust Fund
view NCCEH’s legislative guide to learn more about these pieces of legislation
Senator Burr meets Michael Kelly and thanks him for his story as told by Terry in his testimony before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Terry testified at Senator Burr’s invitation. Senator Burr and his staff had gotten great feedback from that testimony and were very happy to meet Mike in person and to see such a great example of permanent supportive housing at work.
Phyllis Glover shares her story of homelessness with SenatorDole. Phyllis was nervous to tell her story for the first time in Washington, DC, but she did an amazing job! It was obvious that Senator Dole’s favorite part of our visit was getting to meet the Housing for New Hope Alumni and hear their personal stories. We need more stories to share! Do you have a story (a personal experience of homelessness or a story of working with the homeless) that you’d like to share? Contact me!
Many thanks to everyone that made this year’s visits such a success!