House the Houseless is hosted by New Orleans musician and activist Cole Williams in partnership with Ropeadope. Today, she talks housing with Sarah Parks from Grace at the Greenlight and Ellie Duff from Culture Aid NOLA. Livestream archived below.  House the Houseless

Cole Williams has been active in the music scene since her move from Brooklyn to New Orleans in 2015. She lent her vocals and percussion skills to acclaimed artists such as Joey Bada$$, Chiddy Bang, Aloe Blacc, and more. Cole is not just a singer but also an artist committed to pushing boundaries in music and social justice. Known for her direct involvement with the houseless, Williams utilizes her songwriting to champion causes close to her heart.

In 2020 Williams and veteran organizer Curtis Muhammad organized daily demonstrations outside of Duncan Plaza to advocate for cleaner, safer spaces to hold homeless people as they live in transition on the street. The demonstrations took place outside of City Hall in New Orleans every morning beginning at 8 a.m. This is one of several initiatives started by Williams and Muhammad to address homelessness in the area, especially as the needs of people grew in the wave of the COVID-19 crisis.

The experience brought Williams closer to the realities that the homeless face and allowed her to better understand how to navigate her efforts moving forward. With the support of other concerned citizens, Williams formed The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team who seek to take action for marginalized voices and advocate for homeless seeking equitable living.

House the Houseless