On May 27, Council for the Homeless CEO Sesany Fennie-Jones joined the Housing for All panel hosted by the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA). This event brought together local leaders from key housing organizations to engage in transparent dialogue about the realities and intersections of housing in our community. Alongside Sesany, panelists included CEO Andy Silver, of VHA; CEO Brittini Lasseigne, of YWCA Clark County; CEO Amy Reynolds, of Share Vancouver; Lucien Darensburg, peer support specialist at Veterans Affairs; and Tasha Slater, associate housing project coordinator at the City of Vancouver. Moderated by Michael Jones Jr. of VHA, the conversation was not only informative, it was urgent.
“People deserve a home, period.”
Sesany began by naming what should be a universal truth: “People deserve a home, period. Not a reward for good behavior. Not a prize after sobriety. Not something to be earned — simply a basic human right.” This core belief drives the work of Council for the Homeless and echoes the fundamental philosophy needed to end homelessness: Housing must come first.
For far too long, systems have asked people to prove themselves worthy of stability. But housing is the foundation upon which healing, safety, and community belonging are built. As Sesany shared, “Shelter is not housing.” A shelter might provide temporary safety, but “a home offers something deeper: a door that locks, a space of dignity, a sense of well-being,” she continued.
A System That Still Reflects Old Patterns
When we talk about the “broken housing system,” Sesany reminded us that we are still asking people to navigate a process rooted in outdated and biased practices: “The way people seek housing hasn’t changed much. It still comes down to whether a landlord decides to rent to me,” she said. “And for Black and other communities of color, that decision is often clouded by implicit or explicit discrimination.”
“I’ve been in situations where they couldn’t tell me why, but I knew,” Sesany shared. The need for unbiased processes that support people in their housing search, free from discrimination, is critical. “The system must evolve to reflect the equity we say we stand for,” she added.
If We Could Remove One Barrier…
When Sesany was asked what barrier to ending homelessness she would remove if she could, her answer was immediate: “We need more affordable housing. It’s not just a matter of policy; it’s a matter of urgency.” She pointed out that the line between being housed and unhoused is often heartbreakingly thin. “All it takes is one thing — an illness, a death, a child getting sick, job loss, and people can face eviction,” she said.
This is not theoretical. These are real stories from our neighbors in Clark County. Rents are already too high, and wages haven’t kept pace. We must create and protect affordable housing options now or continue watching more individuals and families slip through the cracks.
Balancing the Work With Dignity and Care
As a leader in a system that can often feel endless and exhausting, Sesany reflected on what it takes to keep going without burning out her team. One strategy: hiring people with lived experience. “Nobody understands what it is like to live outside like someone who’s been there,” she said. “It’s not just about representation, it’s about insight, empathy and credibility.”
She also emphasized the importance of self-care within the organization: “We do a really good job talking about taking care of ourselves: Celebrating the small wins, debriefing challenging situations, and ensuring we foster a workplace where people feel welcome and can be themselves.”
The Path Forward
Ending homelessness isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about shared philosophy and collective action. “We have to be on the same page,” Sesany urged. “We must commit to the truth that everyone deserves a home and to building a community where housing is accessible, affordable and free from discrimination.”
The Housing for All conversation was a call to action — to reimagine systems, center people with lived experience in creating solutions, and invest in what truly ends homelessness: homes. Because dignity shouldn’t be conditional. Safety shouldn’t be a luxury. And housing shouldn’t be out of reach.
Be Part of the Solution
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