Featured Advocates

Policy Matters: Closing the Education Gap for Homeless Students

Guest blogger Laurel Kirbawy-Grenfell testifies in favor of the Homeless Student Stability Act before a Senate committee. Laurel writes that the act would help ensure that homeless students's basic needs are met. Image credit: TVW

Guest blogger Laurel Kirbawy-Grenfell's job is to partner with school districts to make sure children, including homeless students, are getting the services they need. She explains how the Homeless Student Stability Act would help children across the state achieve their academic potential, and shares what you can do to support this important policy.

A Formerly Homeless Veteran Reflects on Volunteering in the One Night Count

Volunteers look for people sleeping outdoors during an annual Point in Time Count. Photo credit: Todd Bookman for <a href="http://nhpr.org/post/one-day-count-finds-nhs-homeless-population-down-14-percent" target="_blank">NHPR</a>. — Volunteers look for people sleeping outdoors during an annual Point in Time Count. Photo credit: Todd Bookman for NHPR.

Participating in the One Night Count can be an emotional experience for anyone, but it was especially poignant for first-time volunteer Thomas Green because he once experienced homelessness. In a new video, Thomas shares what it was like for him to walk outdoors and count people who were without shelter.

I’m an Advocate: Shelly Cohen

Shelly Cohen has advocated for a number of causes. Here, he holds an advocacy card that customers signed expressing their support for QFC workers during the UFCW 21 Stand With Our Checkers Campaign in 2013. Image credit: Alex Garland.

Happy holidays! We're delighted to regale you with the wise words of yet another inspiring advocate. Shelly Cohen is a Real Change vendor who has a lot of experience advocating at the city and state level for affordable housing, a service animal protection act, and other causes.

I’m an Advocate: Susan Russell

Watch on YouTube.com

Following a debilitating car accident, Susan Russell lost her ability to work as a cement mason and eventually lost her home. During six years of homelessness, she was beaten, robbed and raped. In 2013 she was accepted into transitional housing. Even as she recovers from the traumas she experienced on the streets, Susan is a strong voice in the movement to end homelessness.

I’m Thankful for Our Community of Advocates

This awesome group joined the first of two "listening parties" to review conversations collected by the "Finding Our Way" StoryCorps storytelling project. The group's input will help us decide which stories to produce and share, all in support of our collective advocacy to end homelessness. Clockwise from left: Denise Miller from Firesteel, Lisa Gustaveson and Dominic CodyKramers from Seattle University, Charlie McAteer from Columbia Legal Services, Mike Buchman from Solid Ground, Catherine Hinrichsen and Hannah Hunthausen from Seattle University, Kollin Min from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dawn Stenberg from Union Gospel Mission, and Tiana Quitugua and Haley Jo Lewis from Seattle University.

This Thanksgiving, our advocacy coordinator is grateful for the smart, caring advocates who are working to end homelessness.

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