Ellie Lambert, Yakima County VISTA Supervisor

When I think about the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance’s upcoming Conference on Ending Homelessness, I think of the quote, “Great minds think alike.” From my personal experience, the conference is a great place to meet new people and talk about the latest ideas in ending homelessness. I also catch up with folks I work with from afar and take the opportunity to (finally) talk in-person about our challenges and successes.

This will be my third conference, and I can always count on being educated, energized and encouraged to go out into the world and make real change! For instance, I have been working to get more board members involved in advocacy. Past conference workshops about advocacy presented real world examples and really clarified for me the role of advocates versus lobbyists. I felt more confident encouraging advocates’ participation in Olympia when I gave them helpful information about the rules of what they could do and say to their legislators. And it came in very handy when I prepared our busload of advocates for their legislator meetings during this year’s Advocacy Day back in January.

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I also enjoy the Conference on Ending Homelessness because I always see new faces and hear new ideas. I LOVE my local community of service providers and nonprofit people, but knowing that we are not alone in really helps. I know people everywhere are working towards the same goal of ending homelessness as I, but I don’t always get to hear about it. I also like the opportunity to have spontaneous conversation instead of relying on emails and phone calls (if I can catch anyone at their phone these days). Face-to-face interaction means creating possible support outside of my community. It means hearing fresh ideas and a new perspective. (It is also a new audience for that joke that everyone is sick of me telling at every meeting.) I always make time to catch up with old friends on the other side of the mountains and meet new ones. I get to expand my horizons all in one place.

The conference is in Yakima this year, and I couldn’t be happier. The Homeless Network of Yakima County will be celebrating their tenth anniversary with everyone at the conference. Folks will have an opportunity to check out the housing and homelessness world in Yakima and meet the hardworking people who address these issues every day.

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Also, I just found out that 22 workshops have been approved by the National Association of Social Workers-Washington Chapter for continuing education units! You can go to the conference program page to see which ones have been approved. Basically attending this conference will have a triple benefit for some of you. You'll meet some amazing people from around the state who are just as committed as you towards ending homelessness and increasing more affordable homes. You'll get to experience the sites and sounds of (hopefully) sunny Yakima. And you'll be able to earn CEUs!

I will most definitely be going to this year’s conference, and luckily it is in my backyard. But I would go anywhere in Washington to attend this conference! I hope to see you there!

P.S. If you haven't yet registered, you should do it now! The early bird discount rate ends April 15. Also, you may receive additional discounts if your organization is a Housing Alliance member. Go here to register.