Whose People Are These? A Housing Justice Framework

Homelessness has reached record levels nationwide, yet it is often misdiagnosed as a social-service challenge rather than what it truly is - a housing and systems failure. This presentation reframes the issue, equipping planners with a practical framework for moving communities from misconception to action.

Using Johnson City, Tennessee, as a case study, presenters talk through a five-phase process: reframing homelessness as a housing-market failure; diagnosing systemic barriers through data-driven research; translating findings into political will and investment; co-creating a collaborative, community-wide strategic plan; and moving from planning to implementation.

Learn how a rigorous, mixed-methods study built consensus, secured the city's first-ever investments in homeless coordination, and directly led to tangible outcomes, including the launch of a multi-site inclement weather shelter. By demonstrating how evidence-based planning can be transformed into life-saving action, the presentation provides a replicable roadmap for planners seeking to address one of today's most urgent challenges.
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