Good Trouble

Good Trouble! Just a few short weeks ago, HomeAid’s leadership from across the country gathered in Atlanta for HomeAid’s National Leadership Conference. During our time together, we learned, laughed, and shared with each other, not about only our work with HomeAid but discussed the future and impact that we can have as we collectively work together.

Much of our time together was captured on the shirt that Mandy Crater, Executive Director of HomeAid Atlanta wore one day with the simple words “Good Trouble”.   

This is in reference to Congressman John Lewis who despite his youth, became a recognized leader in the Civil Rights Movement and by 1963, was recognized as one of the "Big Six" leaders of the Civil Rights Movement that included Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer and Roy Wilkins.  

In his book Across That Bridge, John Lewis wrote: 

“Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on the planet.”  

The work of HomeAid is accomplished by a truly committed and determined set of individuals leading our affiliates and their respective board of directors, volunteers and supporters.  We saw the direct impact of this in Atlanta when we visited The Drake House who is bridging hope and opportunity for women and children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

The Drake House's mission is to empower women and their children experiencing homelessness to thrive through economic independence, well-being, and long-term stability. Their approach is to provide families with the necessary resources and tools to make permanent life-altering decisions. Their programs are designed to provide stability for the children and assist the family in working toward housing self-sufficiency through housing, education, after-school care, career counseling, and case management. 

The partnership between HomeAid Atlanta and The Drake House though numerous and future developments are truly changing lives and was an inspiration for us to bring Good Trouble to communities across the nation.

Scott Larson, HomeAid CEO

HomeAid Hosts National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia

HomeAid had its Annual Leadership Conference in Atlanta the week of February 27 to March 2. This conference is an opportunity for all HomeAid staff across the country to collaborate and spend time together.

There were so many honest and great discussions that took place, and a lot of fun and laughter as well, said HomeAid Chief Expansion Officer Robin Arnett. The national leadership conferences are so important to the culture of our organization, she said.

Thank you to the HomeAid Atlanta team for being such amazing hosts: Mandy Crater, Cecily Stevens, Karen McLane, and Jennifer Pallas. A huge shout-out to the conference task force, Gina Cunningham, Mandy Crater, Lynne Williams, Taylor Booth, Monique Waddington, Cindy Bell, Russ Beymer, Mary Lydon, and Brenda Ketah, for making this conference full of great conversations and memorable times together.

Also, a special thank you to HomeAid's longtime partner Ashton Woods for sponsoring this year's Annual Leadership Conference.

HomeAid Affiliates off to a Great Start in 2023

HomeAid has gotten off to a busy start in 2023. Throughout our 19 Affiliates across the country, we have already had several project groundbreakings, frame ceremonies, and dedications. Below are some pictures from recent HomeAid project Dedications.

For more detailed information on how the affiliates are building a future without homelessness, please click here.

The Promise House

HomeAid Houston

The Family Support Center

HomeAid Utah

Communities of Trust Community Center

HomeAid National Capital Region

The New Morning Project

HomeAid Sacramento

Essential Drives Beginning Soon

The spring is a busy time for HomeAid. A majority of affiliates host essential drives to collect diapers and other essential baby items. Last year, HomeAid through its affiliates collected over 4 million diapers distributed directly to those in need.

To find a HomeAid Essential drive near you please click the button below.

HomeAid Affiliates

HomeAid Welcomes New Executive Director at HomeAid Hawaii

Welcome our new Executive Director of HomeAid Hawaii, Kimo Carvalho.

We are excited to have Kimo join the HomeAid family and can't wait to see the impact he and HomeAid Hawaii will make on Hawaiian communities and the lives of those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

HomeAid WORKS program was Showcased at Luncheon in San Diego this Month

HomeAid San Diego's WORKS Construction Training Program Showcase in partnership with Mutual of America hosted a luncheon on March 13, 2023. With over 70 attendees at UCSD Park & Market Education Center, we were thrilled to showcase our program that addresses the critical labor shortage in the home building industry.

As a recent recipient of Mutual of America Financial Group's Community Partnership Award, HomeAid is proud to offer several communities, technical construction training, education, and job opportunities for at-risk youth, men, women, and veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Special Thank you to HomeAid San Diego's Executive Director Mary Lydon for coordinating this wonderful event.

The Yearly Point-In-Time Count is an Essential Tool Used in the Fight Against Homelessness

There are nearly 600,000 people who experience homelessness in the United States but where does that number come from?

The Homeless Point-in-Time Count (PIT) is completed in many cities and counties across the nation every January and reflects a snapshot of those experiencing homelessness in our communities. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens.

Obtaining an accurate count of families and individuals experiencing homelessness is critical to helping communities throughout the country attract state and federal funding and support HomeAid and other organizations in local planning efforts to address the growing public health crisis of homelessness.

On January 25th & 26th, HomeAid Inland Empire (HAIE) participated in the Riverside County and San Bernardino County Homeless Point-In-Time Counts. Executive Director Matt Friedlander was joined by HAIE Board President Brian King and HAIE Board Affiliate Jennifer Johnson. Each day, the teams met up at local community centers at 5:00 AM for a quick training session and then were dispatched to designated areas. Over the course of the two mornings, they encountered more than 20 individuals experiencing homelessness and were able to interview 15 of them.

After the interview, these folks were given backpacks filled with essentials such as personal hygiene items, socks, snacks, water, and a blanket as well as information on where they could receive services such as food, clothing, healthcare, and shelter.

“Going out there those mornings was an eye-opening experience, and it really brings the issue of homelessness front and center. If given the opportunity, I highly recommend volunteering to take part in this effort when the next one comes to your community in January 2024”, Friedlander said.

The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. Continuums of Care also must conduct a count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness every other year (odd-numbered years). Each count is planned, coordinated, and carried out locally. The Housing Inventory Count (HIC) is a point-in-time inventory of provider programs within a Continuum of Care that provide beds and units dedicated to serve people experiencing homelessness (and, for permanent housing projects, where homeless at entry, per the HUD homeless definition), categorized by five Program Types: Emergency Shelter; Transitional Housing; Rapid Re-housing; Safe Haven; and Permanent Supportive Housing.

HUD provides PIT count reports of sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness, by household type and subpopulation. This data is available at the national and state level, and for each CoC. HUD also provides HIC reports, which provide a snapshot of a CoC’s inventory of beds and units available on the night designated for the count by program type and include beds dedicated to serving persons who are homeless as well as persons in Permanent Supportive Housing.

The 2023 PIT numbers should be available soon and for more information on previous numbers, please see these links:

View CoC Homeless Populations and Subpopulations Reports, Based on PIT Count Information

View HIC Data and Reports

View PIT and HIC Data Since 2007

Thank you to HomeAid

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