Check Out Mrs. Kennetha Patterson of The Homeless CEO Patterson & The HUD COC CAB Homeless Lived Experience Program

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Kennetha The Homeless CEO Patterson & The HUD COC CAB Homeless Lived Experience Program Patterson.

Hi Mrs. Kennetha The Homeless CEO Patterson & The HUD COC CAB Homeless Lived Experience Program, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Mrs. Kennetha “The Homeless CEO” Patterson Storyteller of poverty & homelessness : A Story of Resilience and Leadership

In a world where stability is often seen as a prerequisite for success, Mrs. Kennetha Patterson stands as a strong beacon of hope and determination desiring to build other leaders from wrongly perceived trash as the treasures they are in the aftermath of her own families homeless journey.

Known as “The Homeless CEO,” she is the storyteller of poverty and homelessness, using her voice to bring visibility to lived expertise of homelessness . Look out for her launching The Homeless CEO Karaoke mini snippets Cover ( With her brand new grandson that demands she sing 😉 April 30th2025, further amplifying her mission of advocacy through innovative creativity. Kennetha has redefined what it means to lead with purpose—proving that adversity can be a catalyst for GOOD change.

Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, showcasing how resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment can overcome even the most daunting challenges in theses spaces . Kennetha’s story is not just about surviving homelessness—it’s about thriving despite it. She has transformed her personal struggles into a platform for advocacy and empowerment, inspiring countless others to see beyond their circumstances and embrace their potential.

Her leadership is a shining example of how courage and vision can ignite a movement , challenging societal norms and creating pathways for others to follow
— a mission she affectionately refers to as The Homeless CEO Society.

INCOMING : Homeless Choir Initiative

A Nashville Davidson County Homeless Choir is forming through the Lived Expertise Leadership Cohort ( name change coming soon ) , Morning Coffee Nashville TN Hometown Hero Awardees, and myself are the members so far , SO.

This is an **ALL CALL** for Homeless Choir members! We are seeking allies and individuals with lived expertise to join and support our movement. Everyone is welcome to help make this vision a reality it’s to galvanize our talent towards self & collective sustainability.

Community Bridges & Policy Advocacy

**Community Bridges INC.** ([website](https://www.communitybridges1111.org/)), as listed in **211**, has exciting updates we can’t even announce yet! They are now a **new NOAH member**, and we look forward to collaborating towards permanent homes for all humans as a human RIGHT.

The founder, Ms. April Burns Norris , is one of our pioneer & executive leaders of lived expertise and serves also as a Dual Chair, like myself, for **Policy Advocacy of Lived Expertise & Governance & Charter Committee. Together, we are **collectively revamping** these structures **within the HUD COC of Nashville-Davidson County to ensure more inclusive and equitable policies.

Boards & Leadership

I proudly serve on several boards dedicated to also combatting homelessness and advancing policy reform:

1. Building Life Opportunities & Options for Mothers (BLOOM)
2. My Brothers Keeper Outreach Ministries – Board Homeless Director. We need housing-first subsidies to place individuals into over 500 available hotel rooms and scattered sites. Their GALA is coming up posted below as well this is how you can support , officially I was selected for a Community Impact Award by Legendary Reverand Enoch Fuzz
3. Mandala Movement ART & STEAM – Program Manager / Solidarity Leader
4. Park Center – Board Member, Marketing Committee
5. NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action & Hope) – Faith Leaders Caucus, Affordable Housing Taskforce, Banquet & Marketing Committees, Homeless Large Family Expertise . They have a Banquet Coming up check out the flyer get your tables & AD’s can be about honoring someone or business as well !
6. Black Mental Health Village Health Justice Coalition Partner of Policy Advocacy team
National Healthcare for the Homeless Council:
National CAB member & Ellen Daley Advocacy CAB member
Meharry Community Engagement Core Co – Chair – on pause due to NIH federal funds hault .

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The Journey:

Overcoming Adversity & Creating Solutions

Homelessness is often perceived as a barrier to progress—a condition that stifles dreams and opportunities. For Kennetha, however, it became the very foundation of her purpose.

Navigating the complexities of homelessness while leading an organization demanded immense fortitude. At the time of the last homeless episode, my husband and I slept in our former stolen heir’s property’s attached garage—a space that barely shielded us from the elements—while our children were forced to separate, one even graduating in another county, away from us.

For two years, our work continued in silence, unseen and unrecognized. While others measured success by visibility, we fought battles that no one acknowledged—advocating, strategizing, and building despite our circumstances. Every single pit-type challenge, from securing basic necessities to laying the foundation for a thriving enterprise, tested our resilience. When advised to pause—told to wait until we were rehoused before continuing our efforts—I refused. If I had listened, I would not be where I stand today.

But beyond the struggle, we created solutions – real, tangible ways to overcome homelessness and empower others in similar situations. We didn’t just survive; we innovated, problem-solved, and laid the groundwork for pathways that others could follow. These solutions are not theoretical; they are practical, tested, and built on lived experience.

The world may not have seen the struggles we endured even NOW, but our journey proves that impact is not defined by recognition. Instead, it is shaped by perseverance, purpose, and an unrelenting belief in the mission we carry forward. And now, armed with these hard-earned solutions, we are ready to ensure that no one else has to endure what we did.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Work:

Turning Struggles into Strength

Despite facing personal hardships, Kennetha has carved a path as a dedicated entrepreneur, advocating for those who experience similar struggles developing them into leaders in their own lanes however that looks.

Her work centers on creating opportunities for individuals battling homelessness, offering mentorship, resources, and guidance to uplift them each one reaching one . Through her leadership, she demonstrates that the power of ambition and compassion transcends one’s circumstances , intending to carry this healing frequency across the entire Nashville Davidson County Homeless Continuum of Care .

We have a collective of Person’s with Lived Experience we are a peer to peer network that is reimagining our own self sustainability as mentioned above !

What does success mean to you?
Call to Action:

How You Can Support the Communities Mission by :

Mrs. Kennetha Patterson’s story serves as both an inspiration and a call to action. Her work proves that homelessness does not equate to hopelessness. Supporting her mission—whether through partnerships, donations, or simply spreading awareness—can make a tangible difference in transforming lives and redefining success.

Alot of us are in need financially and simply trying to live while deeply doing the work it ranges from food for the Youth Action Board to laundry to barrier free transportation if we had our own van we all could move about stress free !!!! Check out the attached invitation for May 2nd for someone whom wants to make sure Lived Expertise is paid as we are not right now .

Call to Action:
We urge you to invest in us by utilizing the QR codes and emails provided in the collages within this article. Support our petition demanding that Metro Nashville-Davidson County Government uphold fairness and justice—it is wage theft when individuals do the work yet remain unpaid. It’s time for real accountability and action.

Pricing:

• Accepting Contracted Honorariums for Keynote Speaking
• Independent Freelance Multifocal Consultant 150.00 per hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blinq.me/SWVCYv0aSxB5CzZUX5Ju?bs=db
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehomelessceo2011/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1QYxuEMzyf/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-homeless-ceo-kennetha-patterson-8609ab216/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehomelessceo9201
• Other: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-have-a-testimony-radio-show–5752542

Image Credits
1. Building Life Opportunities & Options for Mothers (BLOOM)
2. My Brothers Keeper Outreach Ministries
3. Mandala Movement & STEAM housing social justice & climate justice programming HOW to HEAL Communities one human at a time !
4. Park Center
5. NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action & Hope)
6. Black Mental Health Village Health Justice Coalition Partner
National Healthcare for the Homeless Council:
National CAB member & Ellen Daley Advocacy CAB member