Register Now | In-Person Agenda
Virtual Agenda Overview
Day 1 | May 15, 2025
9:30-10:30 Welcome & Keynote
10:45-12:00 Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
2:00-3:15 Rooted in Reality: How Lived Experience Fuels Systemic Change
3:30-4:45 Breakout Sessions
-NC Strategic Housing Plan
-Session TBA
Day 2 | March 16, 2025
8:30-9:45 Special Breakout Sessions
-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
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
2:30-3:45 Breakout Sessions
-Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
-Pathways to Stability: Empowering Communities Through Affordable Housing Solutions
Full Virtual Agenda
Day 1 | Thursday, May 15, 2025
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.
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
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.
Second Session TBA
Day 2 | Friday, March 16, 2025
Special Breakout Sessions | 8:30-9:45am
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.
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.
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.
