HHH Goes to Washington

Twelve members of HHH headed to DC for four days to attend the National Alliance to End Homelessness conference and to meet with our public servants on Capitol Hill. We were especially pleased that HHH was able to present a workshop on personal power at the conference. The trip was informative, inspiring, and team-building.

After a long drive on Sunday, we arrived in DC around 9 pm and settled into our hotel rooms. On Monday morning, we enjoyed prayer and breakfast together in the morning, then split off into two groups - one group partook in a yoga class offered by the conference and the other group went to explore the U.S. Capitol and Botanical Gardens. We met up for lunch, then returned for the opening speech of the conference.

Monday afternoon was spent in various workshops, followed by a reception for the entire conference in the evening.

On Tuesday morning, we continued with workshops and met together for lunch, during which the new HUD secretary spoke. On Tuesday afternoon, we all attended the workshop led by HHH members Tommy Yarborough, Rob Weigle, and Liz Clasen. Tuesday evening we celebrated our hard work with a dinner together out at Union Station. We were pleased to have the new homeless outreach worker for Raleigh and the head of Charlotte's Homeless Services Network join us.

On Wednesday morning, Jerry Gray represented Charlotte in a meeting with Senator Burr's office, then the rest of the group joined him for meetings with Representative Sue Myrick and Representative Mel Watt. With Myrick, the group advocated for the SOAR program, designed to get disability benefits quicker for homeless individuals. With Watt, the group spoke of the HEARTH act, which re-authorizes the primary bill that funds Homeless Assistance Programs. We were pleased with both meetings and in fact, the very next day Watt cast a vote in support of the HEARTH act, just as we had asked him to do.

We headed home on a car ride filled with reflection on our time in DC and engaging conversation. We were able to take such a large group thanks to scholarship assistance from the National Alliance and a successful fundraising dance. Thank you for your support.

See below for some snapshots from the trip:

Monday morning after our prayer and breakfast together.

Rob and Rollon at Myrick's office

The whole crew joined with Susanna from the NC Coalition to End Homelessness

At our celebratory dinner at Union Station
The crew gathered outside Union Station. This year, we rented wheelchairs, which greatly eased our tourism and visits on the Hill.
Jerry outside Burr's office.

Cora and Sara Kay taking on the topiary bear at the Botanical Gardens.
A group gathered outside the U.S. Capitol

The last day of the conference, we also bid farewell to our HHH summer intern Sara Kay.
The group poses with Sue Myrick, showing off her new HHH T-Shirt. (The shirts were a big hit at the conference. We sold 10 of them to groups from around the country)