2026 MLA|DLA Annual Conference

Public library staff are on the front lines of serving patrons experiencing homelessness, yet many feel underprepared to respond with confidence, empathy, and equity. This session provides a practical framework grounded in ALA policy, trauma-informed service, and advocacy strategies to support unhoused patrons while maintaining professional boundaries. Participants will explore barriers faced by unhoused community members, practice tools for reducing conflict and stigma, and discover resources to strengthen both individual service and institutional culture. Attendees will leave equipped to serve unhoused patrons with greater skill, compassion, and effectiveness - inside the library and beyond its walls.