Housing for New HopeJanuary 2026 Webinar – A Community Conversation
January 28, 2026 – A Timely and Critical Discussion
Community leaders and service providers gathered for an open conversation, moderated by HNH’s ED Russell Pierce, on homelessness in Durham and how we can work together to prevent and end it. Over 200 people attended the discussion, which centered on aligning data, strengthening coordination across systems, and identifying meaningful ways community partners can engage in the months ahead. The PowerPoint slides from the event are attached for your viewing here.
Building a Shared Framework City and county leaders outlined Durham’s emerging strategic framework to prevent and end homelessness. The focus is on improving stability for individuals and families, strengthening prevention efforts, and ensuring responses are coordinated across public agencies and nonprofit partners.A new “One Number” dashboard was introduced as a tool to help the community track progress and better understand trends over time.
Using Better Data to Drive Action Participants discussed why Durham did not conduct a traditional unsheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) Count this year and how the community is adapting. While HUD requires unsheltered counts every other year, Durham is expanding its use of HMIS and other data sources to gain more frequent and accurate insight. In 2026, quarterly unsheltered counts will be conducted, with the full PIT Count resuming in January 2027. These changes are designed to improve data quality, deepen understanding of household needs, and strengthen coordinated responses.
Roles of City and County Government City and county leadership reaffirmed their shared responsibility in addressing homelessness, emphasizing cross-department collaboration, investment in prevention and stabilization, and partnership with nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Ending homelessness is not the work of one sector alone—it requires sustained cooperation across government, service providers, and the broader community.
How Community Partners Can Engage Now The conversation concluded with a call to action focused on practical, near-term engagement:
- Support expanded shelter and stabilization efforts through financial contributions.
- Join rapid-response volunteer efforts to meet urgent needs as they arise.
- Help spread accurate information about shelter availability and community resources.
- Stay connected with local agencies and nonprofits to align efforts and reduce duplication.
Moving Forward Together This conversation reinforced that Durham has a strong foundation to build on—and that progress depends on shared commitment, clear data, and active partnerships. Community partners play a vital role in turning strategy into impact, and continued collaboration will be essential in the months ahead.
