On a recent trip east of the mountains, I had the chance to speak with a new arrival to Washington State. In our conversation, she spoke about the hardship of coming to a place that was unfamiliar at a pivotal time and moment of crisis in her life. She had
recently given birth to a beautiful baby while also having a mental health crisis. She shared her story with me, and while it pained me to hear about another family experiencing trauma and homelessness, I was inspired by her strength and how she spoke about this region—her new home—with a sense of optimism. At the time, I was feeling distracted and pressured by a mounting to do list. I couldn’t see past today, but she was able to look toward all the possibilities that lay ahead.
While 2025 looks daunting with all the uncertainty and turmoil that surrounds us, I’m holding onto this thought that with the new year comes opportunity for fresh perspectives and reimagining the future. The new year helps us see our work through a different lens and shape the path ahead. At Building Changes, we have a theme for 2025: Leveling Up Our Collective Impact. Our path ahead means two things:
- We are going to lead a movement focused on leveling up solutions to homelessness. This means that we will improve what we know is working and innovate to tackle new challenges that arise.
- We must forge the connections and mobilize communities to change public policy. We cannot sit by and wait for a single leader to come and save us. We can ask leadership to stand by our efforts, giving us time and resources, but the task of addressing homelessness is our collective work to do.
I am excited for the year ahead because it is an opportunity to deepen our work alongside you and in community. We believe that we are stronger together. That connection is inspiring. As the year unfolds, I know it will become harder and harder to hold onto this feeling of renewed perspective and promise. My hope is that we as a community will not lose sight of why this work matters, what connects us, and all that is possible when we are united in purpose and determination. Our children, youth, and families deserve nothing less.
For information about our 2025 State Policy Priorities and to learn how you can help build change, please visit our Take Action page.
