COG is back with another episode of Collaboration in Action, taking you behind the scenes into the many ways in which we work with our members and partners to support a better DMV region. The region has made a lot of progress in the 25 years of conducting the annual Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness. And, despite substantial challenges, providers across our region are reaching more people than ever before, connecting those in need with life-changing, and life-saving, services. That’s why our new collaborations are so important — bringing together regional partners to take a data-driven, human-centered approach to ending the experience of homelessness — so we can know everyone who is experiencing homelessness in our region and have a clear understanding how to return them to permanent housing as quickly as possible.
Learn more about these efforts as COG Executive Director Clark Mercer chats with Elisabeth Young, Deputy Chief of Policy and Programs at The Community Partnership, Christy Respress, CEO of Pathways to Housing DC, Stefan Caine, Continuum of Care lead for the City of Alexandria (and Chair of COG’s Homeless Services Committee), and Reggie Black, appointed lived experience representative housing policy liaison for Serve Your City and peer mentor with People for Fairness Coalition.
Guests:
- Elisabeth Young, Deputy Chief of Policy and Programs at The Community Partnership
- Christy Respress, CEO of Pathways to Housing DC
- Stefan Caine, Continuum of Care lead for the City of Alexandria and Chair of COG’s Homeless Services Committee
- Reggie Black, appointed lived experience representative housing policy liaison for Serve Your City and peer mentor with People for Fairness Coalition
Resources:
- Read COG's Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report, which analyzes the yearly results from the Point-in-Time count. The 2025 edition covering the count chronicled in the video is scheduled for release in May.
- Read more on COG's partnership with Community Solutions' Built for Zero movement, which provides technical assistance for our region to develop the infrastructure needed for effective interagency information sharing and collaboration