The City of Birmingham to host 2026 State of Homelessness Summit

From the City of Birmingham

Birmingham, AL — The City of Birmingham will commemorateNational Homelessness Awareness Month by hosting its 2026 State of Homelessness Summit on Friday, Nov. 6. Together, community leaders, service providers, faith leaders, nonprofits, businesses, residents, and people with lived experience of homelessness will address one of Birmingham’s most pressing challenges. Held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium, this year’s summit carries the theme “Beyond Awareness to Action,” reflecting the City’s focus on turning conversation and collaboration into meaningful action for people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

“We have to move beyond talking about homelessness to doing the work — investing in housing, strengthening our partnerships, supporting the people on the front lines and creating pathways to stability,” said Mayor Woodfin. "This summit is about bringing our community together around solutions and making sure every person has a chance to find their way home.”

The summit will provide a unified platform for the community to discuss Birmingham’s homelessness response, share progress and strengthen the coordinated system of care. The City is working with local partners to align vision, strategy, and resources, supported by Birmingham’s $3 million investment in housing and homelessness services.

Summit Highlights

• Community General Session | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | Open to the Public — The morning session will feature remarks from Mayor Woodfin, updates on policies, ordinances, financial investments and encampment data, as well as community impact stories and partnership highlights. The session will conclude with a call to action for continued collaboration.
• Artist Market + Food Truck Lunch | 12–1:30 p.m. | Open to the Public — The midday experience will showcase local artists with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability, alongside Birmingham-area food trucks. The event is designed to center dignity, creativity, talent, and storytelling while creating space for community connection.
• Professional Learning Experience | 1–4 p.m. | Registration required — Service providers will participate in breakout sessions, networking, and resource sharing designed to strengthen Birmingham’s continuum of care. 

The summit will continue with a community service project on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 a.m. in the Switch District, Downtown Birmingham (the corner of 14th St. N and 2nd Ave. N). Local businesses, residents with lived experience,and neighborhood leaders will join a community cleanup. A community mural installation will also symbolize hope, resilience, and neighborhood transformation.

“Redefining community means recognizing that everyone has somethingto contribute,” said Alanah Melton, director of Unhoused Strategies for the City of Birmingham. “This summit creates an opportunity to listen, learn from lived experience, and build stronger partnerships that move people from housing instability toward housing stability."

For more information about the State of Homelessness Summit or the city’s Unhoused Strategies, go to www.birminghamal.gov/homelessness.