Homelessness Committee

The Homelessness Committee at Arise for Social Justice is a powerful group of members—many of whom have personally experienced homelessness—organizing to confront housing injustice in Springfield. Our lived experience drives our commitment to creating a system where everyone has access to safe, stable, and dignified housing.

We advocate for people navigating the complex and often dehumanizing shelter and housing systems, raise awareness about the barriers our communities face, and fight for policies that are rooted in fairness and justice. Whether it’s holding landlords and shelter providers accountable or challenging discriminatory state regulations that deny shelter to families in need, we are relentless in our pursuit of housing as a human right.

Currently, the committee is pushing for systemic change, including revising unjust state shelter policies and urging Springfield policymakers to develop a comprehensive housing plan that meets the needs of all residents. We are actively building a Housing Task Force Coalition to turn this vision into action.

To learn more or get involved, contact our Homelessness Organizer, Johnie Sanders, at johnie@arisespringfield.org or call the Arise office at 413-734-4948. Together, we can build a city where everyone has a place to call home.