How an experience with homelessness drives Theresa to advocate for home
My name is Theresa Dolata, and I have experienced homelessness at least eight times in my adulthood and have been housing insecure for many years. Tragic, right? Sad, right? Hopeful, possibly?
Are you wondering why I use the word “hopeful”? My lived experience brought me into advocating for human beings like me who have struggled with homelessness and housing insecurity in the past, present, and, hopefully, I pray, NOT the future.
I got involved with Beacon Interfaith unofficially many years ago when people opposed having deeply affordable supportive housing in their “backyards!” But in recent years, I have been officially engaged with Beacon’s work to ensure all individuals have a home.
I testified at the Minnesota capitol building during the 2023 legislative session to help get funding passed for state-funded rental assistance vouchers. I told the truth about my experiences, and let’s be honest, that truth isn’t always pretty.
Beacon fully engages in issues surrounding homelessness by building more deeply affordable housing for those with the greatest need in addition to advocating for policy changes. And as an advocate for affordable housing, I get to participate in that work too.
Even though I don’t have much, I am housed now. I have my basic needs met. And even though I live on disability and can only work part-time, I’m able to donate and help fund the efforts that Beacon is working on.
I donate because I believe so much in Beacon’s mission and want to help however I can. And that is where the “HOPE” comes in. We are building both policy-wise and actual deeply affordable housing units.
Will we end homelessness today in our communities? Not immediately. It will take time! But now is the moment! Now is the time! Today, you, too, can help Beacon fight the good fight toward our goal of EVERYONE having a safe, affordable place to call home.
~ Theresa Dolata
A person with lived experience of homelessness & a Beacon board member
Want to know more about Beacon Interfaith & get involved in ending homelessness?
You can discover more about how Beacon is working to end homelessness by visiting our What We Do page.
