City invites community for a conversation on poverty, strengthening the safety net

Published on September 4, 2025

The City of Huntsville’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, in partnership with The ELM Foundation, will host a Community Conversation: Collaborating to Strengthen the Safety Net on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6-8 p.m. at the Jaycee Building, 2200 Jaycee Way SW, in John Hunt Park.

The event will bring together nonprofit and faith-based leaders for a solutions-focused dialogue on how to better serve residents experiencing poverty or at risk of becoming unhoused. Participants will explore what’s working, identify gaps and commit to coordinated next steps to strengthen community support.

Topics will include a local needs snapshot, current collaborative efforts and an introduction to CharityTracker, a shared tool to coordinate services and reduce duplication. Attendees will also participate in small-group problem-solving sessions focused on housing stability, food and basic needs and data-sharing.

“Many families in our community are working hard yet still struggling to make ends meet,” the City’s Multicultural Affairs Director Randy Barbour said. “By working together, we can build stronger networks of care that help neighbors stabilize and recover faster.”

The conversation is open to pastors, nonprofit teams, social workers, funders, government partners and community volunteers.

To register to attend the event, click here. For more information, visit HuntsvilleAL.gov/Multicultural-Affairs.