Join Continuum of Care to make a kinder society

I joined the Lenawee County Continuum of Care (CoC) a few months ago as a member with lived experience. I was very excited to learn that one of the goals of a CoC is to share information about housing between groups in an attempt to effectively and efficiently provide housing and meet the needs of the homeless population.

I have been volunteering and working as an activist and advocate for many years now locally. My motivation is to help others so they do not have to go through the difficulties I personally experienced. I believe we are all worthy of having our needs met while being treated with the kindness and dignity we all deserve. I have attempted to get organizations to better communicate and support each other’s unique work during my years as a helper and I am very hopeful about the supportive sharing I see within our CoC.

There are numerous local organizations involved in the CoC doing the work to alleviate housing insecurity and homelessness in Lenawee County. A few ways in which we work to do this is through advocacy, activism and education. Some examples of this are community outreach and education, staying current on and advocating for changes in laws and ordinances, and providing services to those in need of housing.

This work is more important than ever today. Many of us are struggling to survive and our mental, emotional and physical health are being adversely impacted. The societal divisions are worsening, and our entire country is suffering across the board. Now is the time to open communication and come together as a whole to address the myriad of issues impacting us all.

I hope to be able to assist in my small way to make our society a kinder, safer place where we can all feel heard and cared for. I believe participating in the CoC is one way to work toward this goal. It will take all of us doing our part, in order to realize a better future for us all. We owe the children we have brought, and will bring, into this world a better system and a kinder tomorrow. I firmly believe we can accomplish this if we can set our preconceived ideas aside and learn and grow together.

I understand change is difficult and messy, and that it can be very painful. I have a lot of personal experience in this and a long way to go still. I promise you it is worth the work it requires and I hope every person reading this knows they have the power to help make the changes necessary to improve this life for every one of us. When we lift up those with the least it can do nothing besides be a benefit to us all individually and to society in general.

I implore you to join the CoC in making a more equal and equitable society so we can build a better world than the one we were born into. Please reach out if you have any interest in learning more about the CoC and being part of the solution. We will welcome you no matter your availability or skills, any help is a step in the right direction.

The Continuum of Care meets at 3 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information or to become involved in the Lenawee County Continuum of Care contact chair Lynne Punnett at Housing Help of Lenawee, lpunnett@h2lenawee.org, or vice chair Clint Brugger of Community Action Agency, cbrugger@caajih.org.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Join Continuum of Care to make a kinder society