Maddie Harris is a Social Work Policy Fellow at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, where they conduct policy analysis, develop advocacy materials, and research solutions for addressing homelessness through a racial equity lens. They collaborate with diverse teams to influence federal policies, focusing on unsheltered homelessness, while also working directly with stakeholders and individuals with lived experiences to shape best practices. Maddie has facilitated meetings on Capitol Hill with advocates, representatives, and senators, advocating for key housing and homelessness policy reforms. They are also passionate about sex work issues, as highlighted in their talk on the discrimination faced by transgender individuals and sex workers at the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s West Coast Conference. Maddie’s previous experience includes serving as an Affordable Housing Liaison through the AmeriCorps VISTA program with the George Washington Regional Commission, where they utilized research and stakeholder engagement to support affordable housing initiatives. This experience in housing policy and stakeholder engagement directly supports their current work in advocating for federal housing solutions. Their work with the International Rescue Committee further complements this by providing trauma-informed case management to refugee families, underscoring their commitment to supporting marginalized communities. Maddie’s role as a Student Union Representative at Columbia University has honed their advocacy skills, where they facilitated communication between students and administration, much like their current work in building coalitions for housing policy reform. As an MSW candidate at Columbia, Maddie continues to integrate their passion for social justice, housing policy, and advocacy into their professional and academic pursuits.