As we begin 2021, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us.

Going into 2020, none among us could have anticipated that we would face a global pandemic, the human and economic damage of which has yet to be fully realized and will likely shape our work for years to come. We also faced a cultural reckoning regarding deeply entrenched racist policies in our country highlighted by the murder of George Floyd.

In the wake of these events, we did not simply wring our hands. We rolled up our sleeves. We asked ourselves, “How can we best serve those most vulnerable among us: people experiencing homelessness? How can we make sure their needs are accounted for as our community’s leaders plan a response to the challenges that face us? How do we become an anti-racist homeless response system?”