A Year in Review

A Special Message from Kim Crawford, Executive Director
of the Raleigh Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness

The month of March marked the two very different one-year anniversaries: the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and my joining the Partnership as Executive Director. To say it’s been a year of change would be an understatement.

The COVID crisis has changed the way the world works, and the Partnership was no different. The “usual” approach no longer was applicable, and we needed to respond, adapt and change to better support our homeless community.

These challenges created a unique opportunity for the Partnership to evolve our programming to make meaningful change to better serve during COVID and beyond. As the backbone of our homeless crisis response community, we responded by integrating services and building capacity throughout the entire community.

As we navigated these difficult times, we engaged with our partners in Wake County, creating remarkable new opportunities and relationships that will mean a more unified ability to serve our homeless population with dignity and respect on their path to housing stability.

The past year has been overwhelming for everyone, but devasting to our community’s most vulnerable. That is why the Partnership exists, to lead the efforts of our community in making homelessness rare, brief, and not reoccurring, even in the most difficult of times.

To that end, in the last year, we:

Kim Crawford, Executive Director
Raleigh Wake Partnership
To End and Prevent Homelessness

 

        • Hired a new staff, growing from a team of 3 to 13.
        • Created the  Access Hub, a call center designed to help connect those who are experiencing homelessness with the most appropriate services.
        • Formed the Housing Navigation Unit, a best practice service that engages private landlords with housing service providers to strengthen our housing opportunities for those moving out of homelessness.
        • Led efforts to establish a Governing Board for the Wake County Homeless Crisis Response System.
        • Increased communication flow throughout the homeless response system.
        • Provided numerous trainings, responding to the increased demand from homeless service providers.
        • Revisited a focus on Wake County data integrity.
        • Stepped in to fill critical gaps in the community, including the implementation of the Severe Weather “White Flag Shelter” response.
        • ….. and so, so, so much more!

The Partnership team has evolved with these unprecedented times to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors, but our work is far from over.  We are sustained through the generosity of this community. Your time, talent, and treasure, are what makes the quality of life here in  Wake County remarkable!

Ending Homelessness as we know it here in Wake County is possible. Here are three easy options for you to be part of the solution:

    1. Make a donation to support our ongoing work!
    2. Do you have a vacant rental? Advertise to our Homeless Service Providers for free!
    3. Spread the Word! Like and follow us on all our social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube!

Pick one, two, or three. What are you waiting for? Join us, together we can end homelessness.

Peace and abundant blessing in 2021!
Kim Crawford, Executive Director
Raleigh Wake Partnership to End Homelessness