HUD No. 20-017

HUD Public Affairs

(202) 708-0685 FOR RELEASE

Tuesday

February 4, 2020

RAYSOR FAMILY SHARES STORY OF OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS AS PART OF 'HUMANS OF HUD' SERIES



WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today introduced the latest story in the “Humans of HUD” campaign, which features photos and videos depicting stories individuals who have overcome hardships with assistance from HUD.

Ray and Rene’ Raysor, residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland, share their story of how they, at one time, experienced homelessness and how HUD-funded Continuum of Care (CoC) programs and Prince George’s County officials helped them get back on their feet after suffering some significant financial challenges-including the loss of their home.

“Housing gave me piece of mind,” said Rene’ when asked how it felt to have a home of their own. “Once we got here then we could begin to organize our thoughts. We could organize our living. We had place that we could call home.”

“Homelessness is not who you are,” she added. “It is an experience that you have had, and you can come back from it.”

In January, HUD awarded nearly $2.2 billion in CoC funding to provide critical support to local programs across the country.

Humans of HUD is a photoblog and videoblog dedicated to documenting the journeys of people who are impacted by the Department’s programs and services. The inspiring collection of photos and stories are part of an ongoing, intimate conversation with everyday Americans who are working to overcome challenges such as homelessness, drug addiction, or natural disasters. Individuals interested in sharing their story with Humans of HUD can submit a request to HumansofHUD@hud.gov.

Through this series of personal portraits and interviews, HUD has created a window into the lives of America’s most vulnerable populations. The series will be featured regularly on HUD’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, and archived on HUD.gov/HumansofHUD.

Listen to the Raysor’s story and other Humans of HUD stories on HUD’s YouTube channel.