Four advocates attending the conference share a common bond. They’ve all experienced homelessness in the past, and are once again successful members of the community. The advocates serve on the Citizen’s Advisory Council to CSB, a group whose mission is to give guidance and feedback based on personal experience to organizations serving the homeless, in order to improve services and reduce the number of homeless people in Columbus.

"We are very interested in finding ways to bring the best programs and practices across the country home to Columbus," said Owen Bair, one of the advocates attending. "The conference will be worthwhile if we can share ideas locally."

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a federation of concerned organizations and individuals who are advancing practical, community-based solutions to end the cycle of homelessness. This year¹s conference features examples of what works in diverse communities to end homelessness, and how to advocate for solutions to end homelessness at the state and national level.

Mel Martinez, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Linda Chavez-Thompson, Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO will deliver keynote addresses. The conference also includes scheduled time with Congressional Representatives in the House and Senate for advocates to voice concerns about issues of homelessness and affordable housing. The local contingency from Columbus plans to visit Senator Mike DeWine and U.S. Representatives Pat Tiberi and Deborah Pryce. Visits to model programs around the D.C. area are also scheduled.

The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis. The Community Shelter Board allocates $7.0 million annually to support programs at 17 agencies. Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals. The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.