Putting Mission First: Lessons from the Legislature to Project HOME

When I served as a state legislator here in Pennsylvania, I quickly learned that progress doesn’t always come with public recognition. In fact, some of the most meaningful legislation I helped pass never carried my name. But it carried my voice, my values, and the voices of the communities I represented.

One piece of advice I always shared with new legislators- and one I continue to carry with me - is this: “We can get a lot more done if we didn’t care about who gets the credit.”

That mindset shaped my time in public office, and it continues to guide my work here at Project HOME. Whether we’re fighting for affordable housing, access to healthcare, or economic opportunity, we put our collective mission first, not ego.

The same principles I practiced in the legislature- listening deeply, building bridges, and putting mission over recognition, are the foundation of advocacy at Project HOME-and there are examples of this throughout the organization. For years, residents and staff locked arms to fight for resources.

Since 1999, we convened the Vote for Homes Coalition, a nonpartisan advocacy and voter registration effort comprising dozens of service providers and partners. Members of our leadership team contribute to local and statewide strategies, by serving on the Continuum of Care (CoC) Board, the Philadelphia Health Federation Board, the Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, and many other committees. We regularly join provider-led roundtable discussions with City Council and other public officials, ensuring that frontline voices are heard in policy decisions. 

Our residents have mastered the art of storytelling, sharing their lived experiences with the media, and in public forums to inspire change. And hundreds of our supporters have already signed on to our newest campaign “Homelessness is Not a Crime”, amplifying our collective call for justice in response to a shift in national policy.

At Project HOME, we believe homelessness is solvable — and it will take all of us—residents, staff, and community partners. Together, we can shape policies that have the ability to change, if not save, lives. We can inform government budgets that subsidize affordable housing, provide accessible healthcare, and prioritize quality afterschool programs. Whether you share a social media post, tell your story to an elected official, or give a donation to a campaign, we can all be a part of Project HOME’s advocacy work. Every effort to raise awareness and every act of compassion will help someone on their journey home.