NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (The Alliance), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) hosted a webinar, “The Road Ahead: Homelessness and Affordable Housing Policy in 2025 and Beyond,” on December 3.
Albert Townsend, director of lived experience and innovation at the Alliance, moderated the webinar. We were joined by Peggy Bailey, executive vice president at CBPP; Ann Oliva, CEO at the Alliance; and Renee Willis, NLIHC’s incoming interim president and CEO.
Renee opened the webinar with a grounding exercise, acknowledging the stress and fear that many are experiencing in the wake of the elections. Then, Ann provided an overview of the causes of homelessness and the proven solutions. Peggy discussed how a Republican trifecta could impact people experiencing and at risk of homelessness and provided an overview of how we can impact legislation in the coming year, including strategies to block harmful proposals, mitigate harm, and continue to lay the groundwork for future advances. Renee provided an overview of state and local policy trends, including the growing trend of criminalization in communities across the country as well as affirmative policy levers and victories at the ballot box. Finally, the panelists answered questions from the audience and discussed opportunities for advancing equity and justice in both the defensive and offensive work ahead.
We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.
Resources Discussed on the Webinar:
- State and Local Policy Levers to Prevent and Address Homelessness
- Recap of October webinar, Preventing and Ending Homelessness through Innovative State and Local Legislation
- Voters Approve Housing and Homelessness Ballot Measures [NLIHC]
- What Communities Need to Know About the Criminalization of Homelessness [Alliance]
- Emerging Strategies to Combat State-Level Punitive Bills [Alliance]
- Emerging Threats: State Level Homelessness Criminalization [NHLC]
- HUD 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR)
- NAEH’s 2024 State of Homelessness report
- NLIHC’s Tenant Protections Resources
- Housing First Resources
Last year, more than 13,400 people participated in our monthly Homelessness and Housing First webinar series. Given the tremendous interest among stakeholders and the worsening homelessness and affordable housing crises, we decided to continue and expand the series to focus on the solutions to homelessness. On the webinars, we will share more about proven strategies to successfully end homelessness, best practices for state and local advocacy, and actions advocates can take to advance solutions.
Homelessness demands urgent action from all levels of government. We know what works to end homelessness: providing individuals with stable, accessible affordable housing and voluntary supportive services. We hope you will join us in building the political will and congressional support necessary to do so!