The Night Ministry’s emergency youth shelter ‘The Crib’ is moving to Bucktown. It faced some resistance from members of the community and a public vote. The filmmakers and larger Kartemquin community wrote the following letter of support, which carries some import as Kartemquin is located in the relevant Ward.

Last month, Kids For A Better Future, a non-profit organization run by and for children, held a screening of The Homestretch in Brooklyn, NY with director Kirsten Kelly in attendance.  Next, on May 6th these awesome kids are doing a Walkathon to raise funds for the Coalition for the Homeless and you can help!

We are thrilled that The Homestretch will be screened as part of UChicago's Poverty and Health Labs' ongoing work focused on addressing the direct and surrounding challenges of urban homelessness. The Labs are partnering closely with cities and communities across the country to help improve outcomes for those experiencing housing insecurity. 

Roque was featured in a new exhibit, Working in America, with photos by Pulitzer Prize-Winning photographer, Lynsey Addario. The exhibit, curated and conceived by Jane M. Saks and Project&, explores authentic, raw, and honest stories focused on the daily desire to survive, thrive, participate and contribute.  It opened at the Chicago Public Library and travels next to The Aspen Institute.  The Homestretch director, Kirsten Kelly, produced and directed a short video feature about the exhibit, featuring Roque himself.

The Homestretch filmmakers Anne and Kirsten created a short for Odyssey Networks about the There's A Better Way initiative, an innovative program to help homeless panhandlers in Albuquerque, NM that is getting national attention.

The Homestretch took the stage on September 21st at the 37th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards as it won for Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting: Long Form.  Filmmakers Anne and Kirsten reflect on all the extraordinary people and organizations that made the film possible.

Six years after we first met, Kasey reflects on her experiences as an outspoken advocate and subject of the film.  "My eyes are more open to many issues in the world." she writes. "Being a part of the film pushed me to dealing with high volumes of people at one time.  It also changed the way I perceive myself."  

Student leadership from all around Albuquerque came together on December 5th for a special city-wide Homeless Awareness Summit. Students screened The Homestretch, talked openly about some of the challenges facing fellow students who are experiencing unstable housing conditions, then split into small groups and brainstormed actions and solutions for their own schools.  

Working closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and PBS/ITVS, The Homestretch was the centerpiece of a coordinated nation-wide screening and discussion event designed to bring deeper focus and attention to the crisis of youth homelessness in all ten regional HHS offices, while allowing for online participation by hundreds of additional stakeholders around the country. 

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, an opportunity for organizations and individuals around the country to spread the word about youth homelessness. To amplify discussions about the challenges young people experiencing homelessness face, and to enrich dialogue about how we can support them, The Homestretch team is championing 3 initiatives that will help spread the word.