Advocacy Work at Shepherd's Table

At Shepherd’s Table, the majority of our meal guests are food insecure and actively experiencing homelessness, whether it be sheltered, unsheltered, or in unstable housing. We believe that everyone deserves nutritious food of their choice and safe stable and affordable housing. Guests, volunteers, donors and the entire community are welcome to join us in every aspect of our service model to fight for a world free of hunger and homelessness. 

Our model is to first bring guests to the table with meals, then provide other essential items and case management, while advocating for systemic-level change, to ultimately ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.  

Check out our 2023 one-pager about Homelessness and Food Insecurity at Shepherd’s Table, we have included some really interesting feedback from our meal guest and data trends we have seen over the last year. We have also created 2023 Housing & Homelessness in Montgomery County Fact Sheet along with a FY 2025 Guide to help with upcoming Budget Forums.

Stay in the Know

Sign up for our Advocacy newsletter to stay in the loop on how we’re advancing access to food and housing. We need all our neighbors to call, write, testify and learn, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to act!

Our Priorities

Our priorities are categorized into three areas of subject matter: housing & homelessness, hunger & food insecurity and behavioral health. Read more about our Advocacy Priorities and talking points here. 

How can you help? Ways to take action:

  • Participate in community listening sessions and town hall meetings, encouraging the County Council to bring affordable housing, shelters, and behavioral health centers to your part of the county. Invite your networks to join you! Find the County Council’s calendar of events here.
  • Call your state and federal representatives and voice your opinion on specific legislation. Find your members of Congress here.
  • Create a personal testimonial that you can use if you have a special interest in housing, homelessness, food insecurity, or behavioral/mental health. Write out what you are comfortable sharing with others, then answer some of these key questions: 
      • Why is this issue personal to me?
      • Why should this issue be important to our community?
      • Why is it important that this work be done now?
      • What needs to be changed? What is your call to action?

Practice your testimony to ensure that it is concise, persuasive, and specific.

If you have any questions or would like to get involved further, sign up for our advocacy email list or email our Advocacy Coordinator Brenna Olson at [email protected]

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