For 20 years, the annual FCEH Conference has remained the only conference in the state of Florida focused exclusively on ending homelessness; bringing together experts, influencers, and innovators to share best practices, present new ideas, and collaborate on solutions to prevent and end homelessness.
This conference places an emphasis on networking and finding solutions; helping over 500 attendees annually develop long-term relationships with their peers to support efforts to serve Florida’s most vulnerable residents.
Thank You for Attending
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 Florida Conference on Ending Homelessness. We had a record number of attendees all committed to ending homelessness in Florida. Thank you to the Florida Coalition to End Homelessness' Board of Directors and Conference Committee Members that created the powerful agenda, focusing on putting the pieces together to end homelessness. Thanks to eventPower for another amazing event, Dvent Audio Visual, Hilton Lake Buena Vista event team and staff, and Kwik Entertainment DJ. Thank you to Splitsville for hosting our Youth Leaders Bowling Event.
Save the Date
Save the date for the 2025 Florida Conference on Ending Homelessness – same location on October 21-23, 2025. If you attended the 2024 Conference, keep your eyes open for links to the presentations.
Sponsors
Thank you to all of the FCEH Event Sponsors, without you, we wouldn’t be able to provide this training to so many attendees - Advocates for Human Potential, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Blue Sky Communities, CASL, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Humana Healthy Horizons in Florida, Eccovia, Sunshine Health, Ability Housing, Bitfocus, Florida Community Loan Fund, Florida Insurance Trust, Matthews Hope Ministries, Nan McKay and Associates, PNC Bank, Simply Healthcare Plans, Carrfour Supportive Housing, PinPoint Results, ELD Apparel, Jess Crate Furniture, United Healthcare Community Plan, Butler Human Services Furniture, Padmission, Aetna Better Health of Florida, CORT Furniture, Keys to Independence, Wellcare, Amscot Financial, Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, and Metropolitan Ministries. For the full list please visit the Sponsor Listing page.
Speakers
The conference committee really took its time to blend the theme into the workshop tracks, highlighting FCEH’s commitment to work collaboratively. Despite our postponing the event because of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, most of the workshops from our original agenda were on full display. We had 75 workshop presenters that provided attendees with experience in best practice, expanding shelter capacity, providing healthcare, collaborative programs, innovative solutions, programs for veterans and youth. For a full list of speakers and presentations, visit the Agenda page.
Thank you to our keynote speakers that provided a wealth of knowledge during the breakfast and lunch plenary sessions.
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Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown spoke about the real secret to success – take care of yourself so you can take care of others. Remember that we need time to recharge and we should not feel bad, that we can do much better work (and for longer) when we work in a little time for ourselves. |
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Dr. Tiffany Manuel, Dr T, reminded us that when the storms roll in, we may feel like everything is working against us, but we need to remember that the ground is perfect to sow seeds. Continue the REAL fight – increasing access to affordable housing so that everyone has access to safe, affordable housing in the State. |
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Jesse Leon reminded us that persons experiencing homelessness are not broken. His story of youth trauma and then redemption is exactly the reason why we continue to provide services and involve those with lived experience in our work. Thanking youth with lived experience who have joined the work as being there to help others because no one was there for him when he needed it. |
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Ann Oliva reminded us all that we DO have the solution to homelessness. For example - veteran homelessness has decreased even when other subpopulations have increased because adequate housing supports PLUS supportive services are provided together. We need to continue to collaborate among systems of care and continue to shine the light on our amazing work of solving homelessness. |
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David Peery reminded us that criminalization does not solve homelessness. In fact, ‘arrest, release and repeat’ exercises (arresting people for sleeping on the street and then releasing them) wastes valuable resources and is more expensive than providing affordable housing and adequate supports to end their homelessness. |
2024 Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2024 Stronger Together Award winners - Advent Health and Ability Housing for their collaborative work at the Wayne Densch Community Center. This partnership has transformed lives by integrating housing and healthcare. To read more about this amazing program, please visit: Advent Health and Ability Housing.
Congratulations to the 2024 Shining the Light on Homelessness Award winner - Lillian Hernandez Caraballo for her outstanding work covering housing and homelessness for Central Florida Public Media. Thank you for shining the light on the issue of homelessness. To learn more about the coverage by Lillian Hernandez Caraballo, please visit Central Florida Public Media.
Ending Youth Homelessness Track
Our Ending Youth Homelessness Track was led by youth with lived experience. The very energetic youth leaders provided much needed fun and excitement to the conference. Their final panel provided valuable insight on engaging those in your community with lived experience. The young leaders will be leading the charge in the near future, walk with them to provide training and insight – while listening to their suggestions.
Evening Events
We had some renewed energy (and dancing) after the first day of the conference at our annual evening reception. The Youth Leaders went to Splitsville in Disney Springs and had a very competitive bowling adventure. On November 13th, Youth Leaders from across the State gathered to shine a light on youth homelessness. District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns read a statement from Mayor Buddy Dyer proclaiming November to be known as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. The city of Orlando lit up green in observance of the event and to shine a light on youth homelessness.
