Rhiannon Hendricks
Will Connelly, the new Executive Director of The Contributor, is a prominent local and national figure in homelessness advocacy. He is the founder and former project director of the SOAR program at Park Center in Nashville, TN, which helps people who are homeless and have a mental illness or co-occurring disorder access Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. Connelly is also a co-founder of The Contributor, Nashville's street newspaper, which serves as an easy, low-barrier way for people to earn an income and creates a community and connection between vendors and their customers. Connelly brings experience in government and nonprofit work to his new role, and plans to continue writing for the paper and focusing on making it a good product that vendors are interested in selling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Will Connelly |
| Occupation | Executive Director of The Contributor |
| Career | Spent his career working toward ending homelessness |
| Priorities | Ending homelessness, improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and creating community and connection between vendors and their customers |
| Experience | Government, nonprofit, street outreach worker, co-founder of The Contributor |
| Education | Vanderbilt Divinity School |
| Beliefs | Money should be given directly to people experiencing homelessness to improve their lives, housing should be available without requiring sobriety, medication, or employment |
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What You'll Learn
Will Connelly's work with the homeless through The Contributor
Will Connelly is the Executive Director of The Contributor, a non-profit social enterprise in Nashville, Tennessee. The Contributor is a street newspaper that provides individuals experiencing homelessness with a pathway to earn income. Vendors buy the newspaper for 50 cents to $0.75 and sell it for $2 plus tips. Connelly co-founded The Contributor in 2007, and his work has always centred around ending homelessness.
Connelly has an extensive background in homelessness and social services. He started as a street outreach worker for the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) over 20 years ago. He has since held various positions, including Senior Project Associate at Policy Research Associates, Inc., CEO of Park Center, a mental health non-profit in Nashville, and Executive Director of the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and Metro Homelessness Commission. Connelly's commitment to ending homelessness is evident in his career, which includes direct service and systems-level work, as well as policy and planning roles aimed at improving homeless and health systems.
The Contributor's values are centred around the belief in people's agency and dignity. They refer to those they serve as vendors rather than clients to instil responsibility and impart value. The organisation strives to create an inclusive community between vendors, staff, volunteers, and the people of Nashville. Connelly's work with The Contributor aligns with these values, focusing on creating space for the homeless community and connecting with them relationally and hospitably.
In addition to providing an income stream, The Contributor has evolved to offer support services for vendors and other unhoused individuals in Nashville. These services include assistance with housing, food security, and accessing health insurance and healthcare. Connelly's return to The Contributor in 2023 brought new developments, and the organisation now employs 16 full-time staff members dedicated to supporting vendors and connecting them to necessary services.
Connelly's impact on The Contributor and the homeless community in Nashville is significant. His experience and dedication to ending homelessness have contributed to the organisation's evolution and ability to respond to the needs of those they serve. Through his work, Connelly empowers individuals experiencing homelessness and provides them with a platform to share their stories and voices.
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The Contributor's impact on the homeless community
Will Connelly, the new Executive Director of The Contributor, has dedicated his career to ending homelessness. He is a co-founder of the organisation and a prominent local and national figure in homelessness advocacy. Connelly is also the founder and former project director of the SOAR program at Park Center in Nashville, TN, which focuses on increasing access to Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance for homeless people with mental illness or co-occurring disorders.
The Contributor is a street newspaper in Nashville that provides an easy, low-barrier way for people experiencing homelessness to earn an income. Connelly co-founded the publication in 2007 with Tasha Lemley, Tom Wills, and Steven Samra. The paper also creates a sense of community and connection between vendors and their customers, as well as among the vendors themselves and their support networks. Connelly emphasizes the importance of treating vendors with respect and recognizing their dignity, regardless of their housing status.
In his role at The Contributor, Connelly hopes to utilize his varied experience in the homelessness and service sectors. He plans to write for the paper, drawing on his previous work interviewing people experiencing homelessness. Connelly also aims to focus on making the newspaper a product that vendors are interested in selling, recognizing that it puts money directly in their pockets, empowering them to improve their lives.
Connelly also advocates for changes in Nashville's housing landscape, such as rent subsidies and landlord engagement, to address the rising housing costs that put individuals and families at risk of homelessness. He believes in the importance of emergency shelters as a stepping stone to permanent housing and supports the availability of housing without requiring sobriety, medication, or employment.
Through his work with The Contributor and other initiatives, Will Connelly has made a significant impact on the homeless community, offering practical solutions, raising awareness, and advocating for systemic changes to address homelessness.
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Will Connelly's experience in government and nonprofits
Will Connelly brings extensive experience in government and nonprofits to his role as Executive Director of The Contributor. He is a prominent local and national figure in homelessness advocacy and has dedicated his career to ending homelessness. Connelly is a co-founder of The Contributor, North America's largest circulating street newspaper, which provides an easy, low-barrier way for individuals to earn an income and build a community.
Prior to The Contributor, Connelly worked in collaboration with Tasha Lemley, where he interviewed individuals experiencing homelessness while Lemley captured their photographs. This work allowed Connelly to witness the complexities of the homelessness system, including the efforts of service providers, nonprofits, and agencies. He has also worked in Denver and Washington, D.C., drawing insights from successful initiatives in other cities like Houston.
In addition to his work with The Contributor, Connelly is the founder and former project director of the SOAR program at Park Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The SOAR program focuses on increasing access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for individuals experiencing homelessness and facing mental illness or co-occurring disorders. During his tenure, the program achieved an impressive 98% approval rate on SSI/SSDI applications over a two-year period.
Connelly's experience in government is evident through his understanding of the intersection between policy and homelessness. He recognizes the impact of rising housing costs, as highlighted by a 2020 study from the US Government Accountability Office, which linked a $100 increase in median rent to a 9% rise in the homelessness rate. Connelly advocates for homelessness prevention and diversion services, rent subsidies, and landlord engagement. He also emphasizes the importance of emergency shelters as a stepping stone to permanent housing, without imposing requirements for sobriety, medication, or employment.
Furthermore, Connelly has worked closely with various nonprofits and agencies dedicated to addressing homelessness. He values the role of community development and mutual support in tackling homelessness. Connelly's approach to outreach work is grounded in relationship-building, empathy, and hospitality. He believes in the power of choice and restoring dignity to individuals experiencing homelessness, referring to those they serve as "vendors" rather than "clients."
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The SOAR program at Park Center in Nashville, TN
The SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) program at Park Center in Nashville, TN, was founded by Will Connelly, a street outreach worker, in 2006. It is a national program that aims to end homelessness by increasing access to disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) are federal programs that provide income benefits to people with disabling conditions impacting their ability to work. However, these benefits are not easily accessible to those experiencing homelessness. SOAR assists individuals in the SSI/SSDI application process, helping them secure their identifying documents and connecting them with critical community services.
The Homeless Outreach Services at Park Center serve individuals experiencing a housing crisis, particularly those with mental illness and substance use disorders. Approximately 45% of Nashville's homeless population suffer from mental illness, and the SOAR program has been successful in helping them access benefits and take the first steps towards recovery, employment, and housing.
Since its inception, SOAR has assisted over 1,100 individuals in obtaining disability benefits. The program has received funding from various sources, including Metro, federal grants, and state departments, totaling over $1 million in recent years. The success of the program has led to its expansion into local jails and ERs, helping to break the cycle of homelessness and improve the lives of Nashville's most vulnerable residents.
Will Connelly, a prominent figure in homelessness advocacy, has dedicated his career to ending homelessness. He has co-founded The Contributor, Nashville's street newspaper, and served on committees to address homelessness. Connelly has ensured that Metro and Nashville remain focused on serving the chronically homeless population and has shared his expertise to improve the lives of those in need.
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The challenges of outreach work with the homeless
Will Connelly, the new Executive Director of The Contributor, has dedicated his career to ending homelessness. He co-founded The Contributor, North America's largest circulating street newspaper, and previously worked as a street outreach worker. Connelly's work focuses on providing sustainable solutions to homelessness and empowering those experiencing homelessness to regain control over their lives.
Outreach work with the homeless community comes with unique challenges. Firstly, it requires building trust and relationships. Those experiencing homelessness may have experienced trauma or have trust issues, making it difficult for them to open up to outreach workers. It is important for outreach workers to approach individuals without judgment, with empathy and respect, and to be consistent in their support.
Secondly, outreach workers need to navigate complex issues such as mental health and addiction. Many individuals experiencing homelessness also struggle with mental health disorders, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. It is crucial for outreach workers to have the necessary training and knowledge to provide effective support and connect individuals to appropriate resources, such as mental health services or addiction treatment programs.
Another challenge is the lack of resources and funding. Homeless outreach programs often rely on limited funding and resources, which can hinder their ability to provide comprehensive support. This includes a lack of housing options, as the rising housing costs in many cities have contributed to an increase in homelessness. Additionally, some individuals may face barriers to accessing services due to factors such as poor credit history or rental history.
Outreach workers also face the challenge of meeting basic needs. They must ensure that individuals have access to essential needs such as food, water, clothing, and hygiene facilities. This can be demanding as the demand for these services often exceeds the capacity of outreach programs.
Lastly, the stigma associated with homelessness can be a significant barrier. Prejudice and negative perceptions about homelessness can influence how the general public and even some service providers treat those experiencing homelessness. This stigma can lead to further marginalization and exclusion, making it harder for individuals to access services and support.
Despite these challenges, outreach workers like Will Connelly continue to dedicate their efforts to ending homelessness and empowering individuals to rebuild their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Connelly is the Executive Director of The Contributor, Nashville's street newspaper. He is also the founder and former project director of the SOAR program at Park Center in Nashville, TN, which helps homeless people with mental illness or co-occurring disorders access Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.
Will Connelly has experience in government and nonprofit work. He has worked in Denver and Washington D.C. and is a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is also a street outreach worker by trade.
Will Connelly wants to ensure that The Contributor continues to be a reliable product for its vendors and that they experience a sense of community. He also wants to focus on making sure the newspaper is a good product that vendors are interested in selling. Additionally, he plans to write for the paper.
Will Connelly believes that housing for the homeless should be available without requiring sobriety, medication, or employment. He also thinks that emergency shelters can be a place where people can get connected to housing. He advocates for more rent subsidies and landlord engagement, as well as homelessness prevention and diversion services.
Will Connelly's process of engagement involves observation, empathy, and introduction. He also believes in offering choice and hope to the people he meets and treating them with respect. He has tried to solve homelessness from different angles, roles, and approaches.
