Register Now | Virtual Agenda
Please note that not all sessions will be available through the virtual attendance option.
In-Person Agenda Overview
Day 1 | May 15, 2025
8:30-9:30 Registration
9:30-10:30 Welcome & Keynote
10:45-12:00 Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
12:15-1:45 Lunch with Remarks
2:00-3:15 Rooted in Reality: How Lived Experience Fuels Systemic Change
3:30-4:45 Breakout Sessions
-Organizing 101
-Piecing It Together: Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices from Micro to Macro Level Systems
-NC Strategic Housing Plan
-Connect to Reconnect for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
-Locked Out: Housing Barriers for People with Legal Histories & How Reentry Programs Can Overcome Them
5:00-6:00 Reception & Vendor Fair
Day 2 Schedule | Friday, March 16, 2025
8:30-9:45 Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:45 Special Breakout Sessions
-Mindfulness Session
-Workshop for People with Lived Experience
-A Conversation with NC Coalition to End Homelessness and NC Housing Coalition
10:00-11:15 Breakout Sessions
-Disaster Recovery Listening Session
-Nonprofit Funding: Diversifying for Sustainability
-Leadership for Change: Building Trauma Resilient Homeless Response Programs and Communities
-Community Organizing 102
-Innovative Solutions in Landlord Engagement and Community Partnerships
11:30-12:45 Boxed Lunch
1:00-2:15 Breakout Sessions
-Back@Home: Successes, Challenges, and Innovative Solutions
-Substance Use Disorders and Disability Rights Laws: Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare and Housing
-Compassion and Care Have No End
-Building Safe Havens: Collaborative Solutions for Housing and Healing
2:30-3:45 Breakout Sessions
-Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
-Pathways to Stability: Empowering Communities Through Affordable Housing Solutions
-Bringing Neighbors Home: A Community-Driven Approach to Ending Unsheltered Homelessness in Raleigh
-Individualized Reentry Plans for Individuals with Disabilities
-Engaging Community Members as Hosts for Unstably Housed College Students
Full Agenda
Day 1 | Thursday, May 15, 2025
Registration | 8:30-9:30am
Welcome & Keynote | 9:30-10:30am
Donald Whitehead, Jr. Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless
Dr. Latonya Agard, Executive Director, NC Coalition to End Homelessness
Samuel Gunter, Executive Director, NC Housing Coalition
Lisa Worth, ESG Homeless Programs Coordinator, Division of Aging, NC Department of Health and Human Services
Begin the conference with welcoming remarks from the conference hosts and a keynote address from Donald Whitehead, Jr., Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.
Donald Hugh Whitehead, Jr. served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Horne as the ship journalist. Following his service, Whitehead struggled to readjust to society for a decade, culminating in homelessness. On August 25, 1996, he entered a substance abuse treatment facility. After completing the program, he began his career as an outreach worker. Whitehead has more than 25 years of experience and has provided direct service and technical assistance with homeless services, Veterans’ services, substance abuse services, and poverty throughout his career. Whitehead specializes in integrating people with lived experience into the planning and governance structures in continuums of care and community-based organizations. He helps to rethink shelter and coordinated entry strategic planning.Whitehead has served on advisory committees for Presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, and Biden. In 2005, Donald received a distinguished service award from the Congressional Black Caucus for his work on homelessness. He received a second award of Special Recognition from Congress in 2008. In 2011, he completed the prestigious American Express Leadership Academy.
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise | 10:45am-12:00pm
Speakers TBA
This panel, featuring members of several state Lived Expertise Advisory Councils (LEACs), will share insights from their experiences of homelessness and the services they received, as well as the history and vision of LEACs to impact policy and governance throughout the state.
Lunch with Remarks | 12:15-1:45pm
Speakers TBA
Rooted in Reality: How Lived Experience Fuels Systemic Change | 2:00-3:15pm
Speakers TBA
True systemic change begins by centering the voices of those directly impacted by broken systems. This workshop will explore how Lived Expertise Advisory Councils (LEACs) create lasting change by influencing policies, funding, and program development at the state, regional, and county levels. Participants will learn about the LEAC structure, how to elevate real experiences into action-driven policy solutions, and practical steps to organize a LEAC in their own community. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, this session will empower attendees to move beyond surface-level solutions and work toward authentic, sustainable transformation.
Breakout Sessions | 3:30-4:45pm
Organizing 101
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, Direct of Housing Policy, NC Housing Coalition
The North Carolina Housing Coalition’s Director of Housing Policy will share strategies for how to effectively organize for more effective and person-centered homelessness and affordable housing policies in your community.
Piecing It Together: Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices from Micro to Macro Level Systems
Emily Lewis, CoC Specialist, LCSW-A, Guilford County-NC 504
Rykiell Turner, CoC Specialist, LCMHC-A, Guilford County-NC 504
In this engaging presentation, we will explore the vital need for integrating trauma-informed practices across all levels of systems, from individual interactions to large-scale organizational frameworks. Whether you’re working directly with individuals or influencing policy and programmatic changes, understanding how trauma affects people’s lives is essential in creating supportive, healing environments. Participants will gain practical insights into applying trauma-informed approaches at both the micro (individual) and macro (organizational/societal) levels, promoting healing, empowerment, and resilience.
NC Strategic Housing Plan
Josh Walker, Olmstead Housing Director, NC Department of Health and Human Services
The NCDHHS Olmstead Housing Director will provide an overview of the statewide Strategic Housing Plan regarding housing for individuals with disabilities in NC. Attendees will learn about the progress that has been made so far and have an opportunity to provide suggestions regarding next steps.
Connect to Reconnect for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Maria Lyons Legrande, Continuum of Care Specialist, Guilford County Government
Cheri Neal, Continuum of Care Program Manager, Guilford County Government
Drennan Paylor, Homeless Services & Community Support Coordinator, Guilford County Schools
This workshop will dive into a critical case study focusing on the rising number of children and youth experiencing homelessness in our community. Through data tracking and collaboration, we’ve identified the growing issue and have taken significant steps to address it. The session will highlight how our community has enhanced its partnership with the Local School District to increase awareness of McKinney-Vento Services and ensure that resources are accessible to those facing homelessness.
Locked Out: Housing Barriers for People with Legal Histories & How Reentry Programs Can Overcome Them
Telesa Jones, Justice Services Coordinator, Leading Into New Communities, Inc. (LINC)
Cooper Mertens, Data & Impact Coordinator, Leading Into New Communities, Inc. (LINC)
This presentation explores the systemic barriers to housing faced by individuals with legal histories, highlighting the policies and biases that contribute to homelessness and housing insecurity. It examines how criminal records impact access to public and private housing, the role of discrimination in tenant selection, and the consequences of restrictive policies. The presentation also discusses how reentry programs can provide critical support, from legal advocacy and policy reform to transitional housing and rental assistance, offering pathways to stable housing and successful reintegration.
Reception & Vendor Fair | 5:00-6:00pm
The Bringing It Home hosts and sponsors invite you to join us for a reception and vendor fair with appetizers, beer, and wine.
Day 2 | Friday, May 16, 2025
Continental Breakfast | 8:30-9:45am
Special Breakout Sessions | 8:30-9:45am
Mindfulness Session
Cristen Bopp, RYT200
Mindfulness instructor Cristen Bopp (RYT200) will lead participants in accessible meditation, mindfulness, and chair yoga exercises that can be incorporated into your daily routine to lower stress and provide self care. Cristen has been teaching mindfulness to the Greater Raleigh Area since 2014. She skillfully utilizes the ancient traditions of yoga and qi gong while offering trauma-informed, grounding, thoughtfully paced private sessions, group classes, conferences, and workshops. Her passion for teaching is fueled by witnessing students cultivate: rest, joy, empowerment, rejuvenation, and trust in their own inner wisdom and physical strength.
Workshop for People with Lived Experience
Donald Whitehead, Jr., Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless
Keynote speaker Donald Whitehead, Jr. will lead an interactive workshop for people with lived experience of homelessness.
A Conversation with NC Coalition to End Homelessness and NC Housing Coalition
Dr. Latonya Agard, Executive Director, NC Coalition to End Homelessness
Samuel Gunter, Executive Director, NC Housing Coalition
Join the leadership of the NC Housing Coalition and the NC Coalition to End Homelessness as we discuss the current state of housing and homelessness policy and how we can chart a path forward together.
Breakout Sessions | 10:00-11:15am
Disaster Recovery Listening Session
Details TBA
Nonprofit Funding: Diversifying for Sustainability
Ruth Peebles, President & Founder, The INS Group
In this session, Ruth Peebles, Founder & President of The INS Group, will explore the importance of diversifying funding sources to ensure long-term sustainability.
Leadership for Change: Building Trauma Resilient Homeless Response Programs and Communities
Ruth Cole Burkaw, Executive Director, City with Dwellings
J. Nelson-Weaver, Vice President, Clinical & Community Services, Family Services, Inc.
This workshop will describe how using trauma-informed leadership and practices can make housing (homeless response) programs safer and more supportive for both clients and staff. We’ll outline efforts made in the NC-500 Continuum of Care to improve trauma resilience, which we believe will help communities better meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness, leading to lasting healing and stability. We’ll explore many of the foundational principles for creating a trauma-informed and trauma-resilient homeless services agency, which focus on embedding trauma care into every aspect of the organization’s operations, from leadership to client interaction.
Community Organizing 102
Billy Cerullo, Housing Advocacy Organizer, National Low Income Housing Coalition
This session will focus on the basics of community organizing and will provide tangible tools for launching organizing campaigns around housing justice at the state and local levels. We will discuss the cycle of community organizing and its five phases: 1) base building, 2) choosing an issue, 3) research, 4) action, and 5) evaluation. Last, we will define key terms, such as power, and draw an important distinction between advocacy and organizing.
Innovative Solutions in Landlord Engagement and Community Partnerships
Marquita Henderson, Lead Housing Resource Coordinator, Charlotte Family Housing
Gregory Jackson, Founder, Heal Charlotte
Latoya Patterson, Regional Property Manager, Ginkgo Residential
Julie Paul, Raleigh Program Director, Lotus Campaign
Through three presentations, this session will explore how NC organizations have successfully integrated community partnerships in order to achieve program goals. Unexpected Allies: Engaging the Private Sector Real Estate Community to Open Doors will share how the Lotus Campaign partners with private sector landlords to provide stable housing for individuals and agencies who work with people experiencing homelessness. Smoothing the Rough Patches: How Resident-Centered Supports Can Keep Clients Housed will explore how Charlotte Family Housing built its reputation as a preferred supportive service partner by making sure clients understand their rights and responsibilities as renters. The Impact of Transitional Housing: Repurposing Buildings to Address Homelessness will explore the transformative impact of transitional housing in reducing homelessness—specifically through the strategic use of existing structures like hotels.
Boxed Lunch | 11:30am-12:45pm
Breakout Sessions | 1:00-2:15pm
Back@Home: Successes, Challenges, and Innovative Solutions
Jackie Lucas, Housing Stabilization Manager, NC Department of Public Safety
The NC Department of Public Safety will provide an update on Back@Home, with the opportunity for Q&A and discussion of next steps.
Substance Use Disorders and Disability Rights Laws: Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare and Housing
Sara Harrington, Attorney, Disability Rights NC
The number of people diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) has significantly increased over the last decade along with the number of reported overdose deaths. Disability rights laws have an important role to play in combatting this crisis. These laws provide people with SUDs equal access to lifesaving medical and rehabilitation services and housing. In this training, you will learn about the background on the opioid epidemic In North Carolina, how to determine whether substance use disorder is a protected class, and examples of SUD discrimination in healthcare and housing.
Compassion and Care Have No End
Abena Bediako, LCSW, Clinical Manager, Durham Community Safety Department
Steven Kersey, CPSS, Peer Support Specialist, Durham Community Safety Department
Natalie Sprague, LCSWA, Crisis Response Clinician, Durham Community Safety Department
At the Durham Community Safety Department, we have learned that compassion and care have no end. There is no quick fix to providing long term care to neighbors in the most need. We recognized that truth and accepted the metaphorical challenge of changing the system in order to better serve and care for our most vulnerable neighbors. We have seen success in our short span of operation and know it can work. We will show through case studies how supportive services, leadership, organizational development and community partnership makes a difference in not just one neighbor’s life but the entire community.
Building Safe Havens: Collaborative Solutions for Housing and Healing
Neisha Himes, Domestic Violence Education Specialist, Neisha Christine Consulting, LLC
The intersection of domestic violence and homelessness has profoundly affected my community, particularly among women and children. Many survivors face barriers such as financial abuse, overcrowded shelters, and systemic inequities, leaving them vulnerable to housing instability. Understanding how domestic violence perpetuates homelessness helps stakeholders recognize the urgency of addressing systemic barriers. By learning from successful community-driven solutions, others can be inspired to create trauma-informed, equitable programs that empower survivors and strengthen their safety nets.
Breakout Sessions | 2:30-3:45pm
Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
Carson Dean, Founder & Consultant, Carson Dean Consulting, LLC
Rev. Dawne Hollis-Custer, Vice Chair, Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP)
Rev. Jim Jones, Board Chair, Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP)
Pastor Arthur Manigault, Riverside United Methodist Church and Spirit & Truth United Methodist Church
Born out of conversations among pastors in and around Elizabeth City (NC), the Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP) is being built as a local nonprofit with a solutions-focused, Housing First foundation. Ultimately, SHIP will serve individuals and families experiencing and at-risk of experiencing housing instability and unsheltered homelessness throughout northeastern North Carolina. Learn how the faith community has led the charge in this rural part of North Carolina to build a community-based nonprofit organization from scratch and how they have brought a diversity of partners to the table to serve on SHIP’s board of directors and as community advisors.
Pathways to Stability: Empowering Communities Through Affordable Housing Solutions
Shakieta Maloye, Chief Executive Officer, Another Chance: House of Refuge, Inc.
This engaging and insightful presentation, Pathways to Stability: Empowering Communities through Affordable Housing Solutions, is designed to shed light on the critical need for sustainable, affordable housing and its impact on community well-being. Presented by Shakieta Maloye, CEO of Another Chance House of Refuge, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing assistance and support services, this presentation will explore innovative strategies to address housing insecurity and create long-term stability for vulnerable populations.
Bringing Neighbors Home: A Community-Driven Approach to Ending Unsheltered Homelessness in Raleigh
Erika Brandt, Assistant Department Director of Housing and Neighborhoods, City of Raleigh
Emila Sutton, Department Director of Housing and Neighborhoods, City of Raleigh
Since 2020, unsheltered homelessness in Wake County has doubled, driven by rising housing costs that force many individuals and families to live on the streets or in encampments on public and private properties. This session will highlight Raleigh’s Bringing Neighbors Home (BNH) initiative, a multi-faceted approach to addressing unsheltered homelessness. The BNH Pilot integrates a low-barrier approach to ending homelessness. The program showcases how tailored support can help participants overcome housing barriers and achieve long-term stability.
Individualized Reentry Plans for Individuals with Disabilities
Wayne Bell, Reentry Specialist/Certified Peer Support Specialist, Alliance of Disability Advocates
Sharif Brown, Director of Reentry, Alliance of Disability Advocates
ADA Reentry will present the importance of an Individualized Reentry Plan for individuals with disabilities in the prison system. This is important due to the high number of individuals with disabilities being released from prison with no home plan which essentially makes them homeless. This is a universal barrier for reentry but even more profound for those with a disability.
Engaging Community Members as Hosts for Unstably Housed College Students
Libby Stephens, Program Coordinator, HOST (Housing Options for Students Today)
HOST is the only nonprofit program in our community that addresses homelessness and housing insecurity among college students. Although this is a growing population, with 14% of college students experiencing homelessness each year, there are very few resources for these students. HOST is a low-cost approach that utilizes existing housing in the community by placing college students with volunteer hosts who offer safe, welcoming, and stable space in their homes. This model could be replicated in other NC communities. Our program evaluation shows positive results on housing stability, educational attainment, and wellbeing.
