Caldwell County Homeless Coalition exists to move Caldwell County toward a clear goal: to end homelessness in the county. They work toward this goal through community collaboration, quarterly counts, public education, and direct support for neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Their work focuses on meeting people where they are, building trust, and connecting individuals and families to resources that can support stability, safety, and well-being.
In 2025, Greater Fayette Community Foundation (GFCF) awarded CCHC a 2025 Rural Community Health Fund Grant to support outreach expansion and community education.
Why this Grant Matters
CCHC applied for a grant to help cover the costs of building a portable homeless booth space, to strengthen their ability to do public-facing outreach and education across Caldwell County.
A portable booth creates a consistent, recognizable home base at community events where:
- People experiencing homelessness can ask for help without feeling singled out
- Community members can learn what homelessness looks like locally and how to respond with compassion
- Volunteers can connect, get trained, and plug into ongoing efforts
This booth makes it easier for CCHC volunteers to show up in more places, more often, with clearer visibility and stronger community access.
Taking Outreach Into the Community
With support from the GFCF grant, CCHC expanded its event outreach and public education efforts. Recently, they participated in a county-wide volunteer signup event, helping grow the community of people willing to step in and serve.
CCHC also designed this booth effort to support a wide range of outreach settings, including:
- Area health fairs
- School programs
- Church events
- Rodeos
- City markets
- Community meal give-a-ways
- Holiday events that benefit the local homeless community
- Emergency homeless events
Each of these touchpoints matters. When services and information show up in familiar places, people are more likely to engage. When the broader community sees the work up close, stigma starts to dissolve.
Building Capacity in 2025
The momentum did not stop with events.
In 2025, CCHC reached several major milestones that reflect growth, sustainability, and a stronger support network for Caldwell County residents in need:
- Opened a 24/7 Field Office/three-bedroom Bridge Home
- Hired their first paid employee, a Homeless Project Manager
The new Homeless Project Manager role strengthens day-to-day coordination, relationship building, and follow-through. It also supports a key next step for CCHC: connecting individuals who are homeless or in crisis to new LPC partners.
These kinds of partnerships help bridge gaps between immediate needs and longer-term stability, including navigation support, referrals, and consistent points of contact.
What this Spotlight Represents
At GFCF, we believe rural communities thrive when the people closest to the challenge are supported with resources and trust.
This spotlight is not just about a grant. It is about what becomes possible when:
- A local coalition sees a need and commits to meeting it
- Volunteers show up again and again
- A foundation invests in practical tools that increase capacity
- A community expands its ability to respond with care
CCHC is building visible, reliable access points for people who need support, and for neighbors who want to help.