On the Edge of Home

Exploring Housing, Homelessness, and Community Solutions—Together

On the Edge of Home is a powerful, interactive library-based initiative led by the Home for All Coalition in partnership with Seacoast public libraries. Through storytelling, education, and community engagement, the program invites residents to explore the realities of housing insecurity and homelessness—and imagine what a truly inclusive housing future could look like.

On the Edge of Home is driven by three core objectives:

Raise Awareness – Shed light on the local housing and homelessness crisis and the structural challenges behind it.
Encourage Action – Inspire meaningful dialogue, build public will, and spark community involvement in local housing solutions.
Foster Empathy – Cultivate understanding through powerful personal stories and lived experiences that humanize the issue.

Recognizing that libraries are often the only safe, welcoming spaces for unsheltered individuals during the day, On the Edge of Home serves a dual purpose it:

Educates and mobilizes the broader community through curated book displays, interactive exhibits, and housing-themed activities.
Supports library staff with tools, training, and up-to-date information to better respond to the needs of patrons experiencing housing instability.

By centering lived experience and fostering meaningful conversations, On the Edge of Home builds empathy, sparks action, and brings neighbors together to advocate for housing justice—right where they are.

“Home to me, is more than just a physical space- it’s a sense of safety, and belonging. After leaving Ukraine, where war has disrupted everything familiar, I realize how important it’s to have a place that feels stable, even if it’s temporary. It is where I can breathe, gather my thoughts, and rebuilt my sense of self.”

— Portsmouth, NH Resident

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.