An Opportunity for Underrepresented Voices to be Heard: THN’s Road to 2027 to Shape Homelessness Policy in Texas
What if the people closest to the challenges of homelessness had a greater role in shaping the policies designed to address them?
That’s the question driving Road to 2027, a new statewide advocacy initiative from Texas Homeless Network (THN). Rather than waiting until the Texas Legislature convenes in 2027, THN is spending the months leading up to the session traveling across the state, listening to communities, and building a proactive legislative agenda grounded in local experience.
A Different Approach to Advocacy
The idea for Road to 2027 came from THN Chief Development Officer Alexandra Beckendorf, whose career includes working in both the Colorado State Legislature and the United States Congress.
While working in government, Beckendorf saw firsthand how coordinated advocacy helped lawmakers better understand complex issues and move legislation forward.
“I was on the other side of the desk, so I know what worked well with different causes,” she said.
Historically, much of Texas Homeless Network’s legislative work happened during the legislative session, responding to bills as they were introduced. Road to 2027 flips that approach. The conversations that take place during the tour will be compiled into a community-informed policy agenda that THN will bring to legislators ahead of the 2027 session.
Bringing the Capitol to Communities
Texas is a large and diverse state, and many communities face significant barriers to participating in the legislative process. Travel costs, time, geography, funding, and limited opportunities to engage often prevent local voices from being heard.
Road to 2027 is designed to remove those barriers.
“This is a chance for voices that are not usually represented at the Capitol to be heard,” Beckendorf said.
Through a seven-city tour spanning rural, suburban, and urban Texas, THN is convening service providers, advocates, community leaders, elected officials, and people with lived experience of homelessness for structured roundtable discussions. Together, they’ll identify local challenges, explore solutions, and strengthen connections across regions.
The Journey Begins in Harlingen
The first stop took place in Harlingen, where Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley helped host a diverse group of nonprofit leaders, local government, healthcare partners, educators, faith communities, and people with lived experience.
Discussions focused on the unique realities of border communities, including housing affordability, behavioral health, transportation, and regional collaboration.
“Having Texas Homeless Network come to the Rio Grande Valley to listen is incredibly meaningful because it demonstrates that every region’s perspective matters,” said Victor Rivera, Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley. “Communities along the border face unique challenges and opportunities that are not always reflected in statewide conversations.”
Next Stops
- The Texas Panhandle, Pampa: July 22nd
- Abilene: August 20th
Additional stops this year include Houston, San Antonio, the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and Austin.
Building Better Policy Together
By the end of the tour, THN expects to engage more than 150 stakeholders across eight communities while building stronger statewide collaboration and a unified policy agenda rooted in local expertise.
“I hope this initiative leads to stronger partnerships, more equitable investment, and policies that reflect the realities communities experience across Texas,” Rivera said. “Most importantly, I hope the ideas and lived experiences shared throughout this process continue to shape the decisions and investments that follow.”