We started with a handful of people who cared. Today we are churches, pantries, kitchens, neighbors, and people who have lived through homelessness themselves, all at the same table. Our goals are big: functional zero homelessness in Putnam County and, one day, a shelter of our own.

A strong board helps us keep our heart and our mission steady while we grow. We are not looking for people to sit at the head of a table. We are looking for people who will listen, ask good questions, and help us do right by the people we serve.

We already have a founding board in place, and we’re growing it. We’re adding a few more seats for people who share our heart for this work and bring fresh perspective, skills, and energy. You wouldn’t be building this alone. You’d be joining a team that’s already at work.

We want to be upfront with you. The Coalition is not yet a registered nonprofit. We are in the process of preparing to file.

We have grown quickly since we started, and we have reached a point where we feel it’s time to formalize so we can keep expanding and growing. That is why we’re beginning the process now, and why we’re looking for a few more people to help guide us through it.

If you search for us in nonprofit registries and don’t find us yet, that’s the reason. We would rather tell you plainly than have you wonder.

You do not need a perfect résumé. Here is what matters most to us:

• Dedication. You show up, follow through, and care more about the mission than the title.
• Passion for the cause. You want to see homelessness end here at home, and you treat every person with dignity and respect.
• A skill or perspective to share. Finance, record-keeping, law, healthcare, faith leadership, business, education, or plain good common sense are all welcome.
• Lived experience is a strength, not a requirement. If you have been through homelessness or recovery, your voice is especially valuable. If you have not, you are just as welcome.

• The board meets at least quarterly, and we will work around your schedule whenever we can. We know people have real lives and real calendars.
• Board terms are two years, and you are welcome to serve more than one.
• Helping guide the Coalition’s direction, policies, and growth as we prepare to formalize as a nonprofit.
• No dues and no fees. Like everything here, board service is volunteer, and we do not expect anyone to carry fundraising on their own shoulders.
• We keep our structure simple on purpose. The work matters more than the paperwork, and we will never leave you to figure it out alone.

• Meaning. The chance to change lives in your own county.
• A real voice. This is a young organization, and the people who join now help shape it from the ground floor.
• A network. You will work alongside churches, food pantries, soup kitchens, businesses, service providers, and neighbors from across Putnam County.
• A team. You will be welcomed, respected, and supported by people who share your heart.

There is no formal application to start. Just reach out and let’s talk. We will tell you about the Coalition, share how we are set up, answer your questions, and see together whether a seat is a good fit for you. If it is not the right time or the right seat, there is still a place for you. We read every message and will get back to you as soon as we can.

Email Us About a Board Seat

Volunteer Staff are the people who help plan and run the Coalition’s work. They serve across the whole Coalition, guided by our leadership, and they run our events and programs. Staff are unpaid volunteers, and they may also bring in other volunteers to help.

There is a place for almost any gift, from outreach, events, and supply drives to our Housing Network, our growing transportation network, and things we have not even thought of yet. If you have a skill, we will find a way to use it. If you only have a willingness to learn, that is plenty.

You do not need experience. You need heart. We hope you will bring:

• Dedication. You show up and see things through.
• A passion for the cause and respect for every person we serve.
• An open mind. We are all learning together.

Lived experience with homelessness or recovery is valued, and never required.

• It is free. There are no dues or fees to join.
• You choose your level. Start small, give what you can, and grow at your own pace.
• A simple background check. Individual volunteers complete one to help keep everyone we serve safe. Volunteers who come through an organization with its own screening policy may be onboarded under that policy.
• A friendly first step. We’ll pair you with someone on the team who will walk you through your first event, so you never have to figure it out alone.
• A warm welcome. Everyone who shows up is part of the Coalition.

If you would rather help as needed, such as emergency shelter shifts, events, or supply drives, our Rapid Response Team may be a better fit. It is a separate, on-call way to serve, and you can sign up on our Volunteer page.

We prefer Putnam County residents. Neighbors who live here understand the services our county has, the services it still needs, and where the gaps are, and that insight is invaluable. If you’re not sure whether you fit, send us a note and let’s talk.

Absolutely. Board members are more than welcome to serve in their board role and also take part in events run by the Coalition or our partners. In fact, we love it when they do.

No. You do not need to belong to a church or any faith group. All we ask is that you have a passion for helping the people who need it most.

Then you may have exactly the experience that inspired this Coalition in the first place. We need your lived experience to help guide our programs and services and to help us find and fill the gaps. You are welcome here, and your voice matters.

Board terms are two years, and directors may serve more than one term. The board meets at least quarterly. We’ll share the schedule with you when we talk, and we’ll work around yours wherever we can.

That is up to you. The more time you have to give, the more we can do together, but there is no required number of hours, other than attending board meetings if you serve on the board. All we ask is for your passion and dedication, and that when you say you’ll be there, you show up.