On the Edge of Home
A Community Initiative to Raise Awareness and Inspire Action
Home for All Coalition presents On the Edge of Home, an interactive library initiative designed to explore housing, homelessness, and housing justice through storytelling, education, and community engagement. In partnership with Seacoast libraries, this initiative offers a unique blend of curated book displays, interactive activities, and community conversations aimed at fostering empathy and inspiring action.
Key Objectives
Raise Awareness
Shed light on housing and homelessness issues within our community.
Encourage Action
Inspire dialogue and community involvement in housing solutions.
Foster Empathy
Cultivate understanding through powerful stories and lived experiences.
Why Stories Matter
Stories have the power to connect us, broaden our perspectives, and inspire change. Through shared narratives, On the Edge of Home invites the Seacoast community to reflect on what "home" means, understand the challenges of housing insecurity, and join the collective effort to create a more inclusive, housing-secure future.
Interested in bringing the On the Edge of Home to your Library?
Let us help you bring On the Edge of Home, a dynamic, interactive exhibit designed to spark conversations and inspire action around housing and homelessness to your local library. Here’s what the exhibit entails:
Curated Book Display
We work with your library to curate a book display that features literature that explore housing, homelessness, and housing justice with titles for children, youth, and adults.
Interactive Activities
We work with your library to select 2-3 hands-on experiences to foster community engagement and discussion around the topics of affordable housing, homelessness, and housing insecurity. Some of the activities include:
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Encourage visitors to reflect and share their thoughts on prompts like “What does home mean to you?” or “Why is affordable housing needed now more than ever?” Contributions will form a visual tapestry that highlights your community’s housing needs.
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Invite participants to place a pebble in a jar to symbolize the scale of housing insecurity in your community, providing a striking visual representation of the issue.
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Help spread awareness by collecting books from our essential reading list to stock free little libraries in your community, ensuring everyone has access to impactful stories about housing and homelessness. We will put a QR code sticker inside the cover of each book, linking readers to valuable resources and inviting them to share their own housing stories, fostering a deeper connection and community engagement.
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Inspire young minds with a housing-themed bookmark contest fostering early awareness about the importance of housing. The winner will be recognized at our concluding event.
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We will help library goers explore key locations tied to affordable housing and homelessness prevention in your area. Those who complete bonus challenges like attending local meetings or volunteering, or share their journey online will have an opportunity to be recognized at the concluding event.
Concluding Event: Community Celebration & Conversation
Wrap up the exhibit with a special event that brings the community together to celebrate progress and inspire future action. This concluding event will feature a panel of local experts, honor “unsung heroes” who are making a difference in promoting housing stability, and provide an opportunity to reflect on the stories and insights shared throughout the exhibit.
Whether through a dynamic panel discussion, a storytelling session, or a community celebration, this event will serve as a powerful moment to recognize collective efforts and explore the path forward toward equitable housing solutions.
Get Involved
On the Edge of Home is more than an exhibit—it’s an invitation to learn, engage, and take action. Whether you’re exploring the book display, participating in interactive activities, or attending the closing event, your voice and actions contribute to a stronger, more inclusive Seacoast.
Interested in seeing On the Edge of Home at your library? Contact us to learn more and bring this impactful initiative to your library!