CEF Executive Director Donna Carrington commented on the petition regarding the Enforcement of Quality-of-Life Laws in the Community during the Town of Chapel Hill Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. In reflection, she shared, “It was crucial for me to speak because I understand the implications such petitions have on our community. Our unhoused individuals are often arrested for ‘quality of life violations,’ and it feels like our community is a place wanting to get rid of people instead of being solution-minded.”

Donna expressed concern over the increasing criminalization of homelessness. “I think it’s essential to address this issue openly,” she noted, acknowledging that her discomfort with public speaking only underscores the importance of the topic. “When I speak, I hope people understand the significance of what we’re facing. I knew that if I spoke, people would recognize its importance because I don’t like public speaking, and for me to do it, it has to be an important issue.”