We Make Housing Work
People experiencing homelessness need more than a roof.
We focus on what it takes to make housing work by helping people overcome barriers, strengthen support networks, and build a real voice in the systems that shape their lives and community.
We listen to people who have experienced homelessness to understand what truly helps and what gets in the way. Together, we are creating pathways that help people move from surviving to shaping community change.
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Here’s how we move forward together, guided by what people who've lived it say matters most
Opening Doors
Finding and keeping stable housing takes more than a roof.
At Build for Good, we listen when people share what is keeping them stuck. Together, we create practical workshops and tailored supports that help people move past barriers and build lasting stability.
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Workshops That Build Confidence
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​​​Our workshops focus on real-life situations like talking with landlords, employers, or service providers in ways that protect your privacy and peace of mind.
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Each session is shaped by the voices and experiences of people who have faced homelessness, making sure the tools we share truly work in everyday life.
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Tailored Supports That Fill Gaps
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Our tailored supports help fill in the gaps that are often overlooked. We help people keep their pets and their families together by covering vaccinations, licenses, and basic supplies.
We assist with getting ID documents that are essential for housing, employment, and benefits.
And we provide help with household items that make a new place feel like home.
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When people have the right support and the confidence to speak up for themselves, stability starts to grow.
Building Skills for Everyday Advocacy
You deserve to be heard and understood.
Opening Doors workshops are a place to build confidence, connect with others who have been there, and practice real conversations that can make a difference.
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Together, we work through situations that come up in real life, like talking with landlords, meeting with case managers, or sharing what you need from a program or service.
You will have space to practice, learn new tools, and find your own way to speak up for what you need.
Each workshop is a chance to build skills, meet supportive people, and leave feeling more confident in your voice and your choices. When you advocate for yourself, change starts to happen for you and for others walking the same path.
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Food and refreshments are always provided.
Everyone is welcome.​
Help With Things
That Get in the Way
Everyone's situation is different.
Sometimes small things can hold us back in big ways. If things like needing pet care, ID documents, or household items are holding you back, we can help you find what you need to take the next step.
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​Keeping People and Pets Together
​You shouldn’t have to choose between housing and your pet. We can help with things like pet vaccinations, license fees, food, and supplies so you and your companion can stay together.
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Getting ID Documents
​​If you’ve lost your ID, birth certificate, or Social Security card, we can help you replace them.
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Household Essentials
​​Starting fresh shouldn’t mean starting with nothing. We help you get basic items like cookware, cleaning supplies, and linens that make a house feel like home.​
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​​Want help finding what you need?
Get in touch with us here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Lifting Voices
Everyone has a story worth telling. People who have experienced homelessness carry wisdom our community needs to hear.
Build For Good offers spaces and tools that help people use their voices in ways that feel right through storytelling, art, conversation, or advocacy.
Workshops and gatherings are available for those who want to build confidence speaking in groups or explore how to turn lived experience into leadership.
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However you choose to take part, your story helps shape understanding, change systems, and strengthen our community.
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When people lift their voices, a stronger community rises.
Speaking Up and Creating Change
At Build for Good, leadership is not about titles.
It is about using your voice, your story, and your experience to make a difference.
We believe people who have lived through homelessness already have the knowledge and power to create real change. Our role is to make space for that power to be seen, supported, and shared.
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​Your Voice Matters
​​​Lifting Voices is a series of workshops and gatherings where people can connect, share ideas, and use their experiences to help shape change in the Mohawk Valley.
Each session is a safe, welcoming space to tell your story your way, talk about what is happening in the community, and find ways to speak up in meetings or public conversations. Together, we challenge stigma, support each other, and find creative ways to make our voices heard.
You can come to one session or many. Whatever feels right for you.
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Leading Together
People with lived experience of homelessness are already leading change in so many ways.
At Build For Good, we create spaces that keep that momentum going and create new chances to connect, share knowledge, and work together.
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Storytelling and Creative Expression
Your story is powerful. Whether you share it through writing, art, audio, or conversation, it can open minds and move people to act.
We offer spaces where you can share your story your way and connect with others who understand. Some people like to join workshops. Others prefer to create on their own.
We can help with what you need, like notebooks, art supplies, or a quiet space to work so you can tell your story in the way that feels right for you.
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Lived Experience Leadership Academy (LELA)
​​The Lived Experience Leadership Academy, or LELA, is a six-week space for people who want to be more involved in making change.
Together, we talk about the history of homelessness, how local systems work, and how our experiences can help make things better.
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We always have food, drinks, and help with transportation because no one can focus when they are hungry or worried about how to get there.
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Peer Mentorship and Facilitation
​​Some people who take part in LELA or Lifting Voices workshops choose to help lead future sessions or mentor others.
We offer stipends or gift cards to recognize your time and knowledge.​ Leadership grows when we lift each other up.
Community Leadership and Advocacy
​​Some people use what they have learned to take part in local groups, boards, or coalitions focused on housing and homelessness. Others focus on storytelling, creative projects, or peer support.
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However you choose to lead, your experience helps guide the way forward.
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Together, we are lifting the voices of homelessness. Led by people who have lived it.
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Building Community
Home is more than housing. It is belonging.
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At Build for Good, we create spaces where people feel welcome, valued, and connected. We believe community starts with listening to each other’s stories, strengths, and hopes for the future. When people with lived experience of homelessness come together, real change starts to grow.
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From "Sweet Relief" dessert nights that spark supportive conversation to our annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Event and storytelling gatherings like “Stories of Home,” we bring people together to share, listen, and build community.
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Visit our Events page to join us in creating community and connection all year long.
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Together, we’re building a community where everyone has a place to belong and a voice that matters.
Shaping Solutions
Real change starts when people who have experienced homelessness help shape the answers.
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At Build for Good, we bring together people with lived experience and community partners to close the gaps that often get overlooked and make it harder for people to move forward. As a convener, we listen to what matters most, lift up community insights, and help turn them into practical solutions that work in real life.
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Through Bank On Mohawk Valley, we are connecting banks, credit unions, and community members to make banking safer and more affordable for everyone, starting with the barriers identified by people who have experienced homelessness.
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We ensure people with lived experience help guide the meetings, plans, and decisions that shape our community’s response to homelessness.
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Together, we are shaping solutions that reflect the wisdom, strength, and experience of people who know what it takes to rebuild a life.