The goal of the MHSA Speakers’ Bureau is to raise awareness of homelessness in Massachusetts, expand understanding about personal experiences of homelessness, and educate about the need for permanent housing, to inspire people across the state to take action to end homelessness in their community. The Speakers’ Bureau accomplishes this by engaging diverse voices and perspectives of people who have experienced homelessness through personal story-sharing, leadership development, and advocacy opportunities.
Becoming a Speaker
The Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance Speakers’ Bureau is seeking new participants! Anyone who has experienced homelessness is eligible to join. You will have the opportunity to:
• Share your story with communities across Massachusetts
• Develop public speaking and leadership skills
• Advocate for housing and other solutions to homelessness
• Receive a stipend after presenting
• And more!
The process to join is flexible, starting with a 1:1 introductory meeting, a public speaking and personal story training, and shadowing a presentation.
Email speakersbureau@mhsa.net with any questions, and fill out this link if you’d like to start the process!
Hosting a Presentation
MSHA Speakers’ Bureau engages people who have experienced homelessness in advocacy and education around homelessness, using personal stories to effect systemic change and end homelessness. We present to audiences like community organizations, schools, and congregations across the Commonwealth to bring more people in to our effort to end homelessness with a Housing First approach. The MHSA Speakers’ Bureau includes people with diverse experiences of homelessness and housing, all coming to this experience with their own stories and their own message to our communities.
The Speakers’ Bureau presentations provide personal stories about homelessness to educate about the realities of homelessness and to educate about advocacy and policies that put us on the path of ending homelessness.
If you are interested in hosting a Speakers’ Bureau presentation at your organization, please fill out the presentation request form linked below and email it to speakersbureau@mhsa.net.