From Awareness to Action: How COPE Transformed the Southwest Florida Regional Coalition to End Homelessness
When Michael Overway stepped into leadership of the Southwest Florida Regional Coalition to End Homelessness in 2019, the organization had just five Continuum of Care partners. Today, they have more than 160 partners across law enforcement, healthcare, mental health, education, and housing—proof of what can happen when a community commits to tackling homelessness together.
But Michael will tell you that one of the biggest game-changers in their journey wasn’t just new partnerships or expanded services—it was the Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE).
A Community Transformed by Empathy
Michael’s journey toward COPE began years earlier at a Bridges Out of Poverty workshop with Ruby Payne. That day, he had what he calls his “aha moment”—realizing how little he truly understood about the lived experiences of people in poverty.
So when the Coalition launched its first COPE simulation in 2023, it wasn’t just another program; it was the chance to reshape how an entire community understood poverty.
At that inaugural event, over 100 participants stepped into the shoes of families navigating impossible choices—rent, food, transportation, childcare—while facing systemic barriers stacked against them. Some left the room in tears; others had to step outside to catch their breath before continuing.
“It changed the face of the coalition,” Michael reflected. “All of us who went through it were markedly changed. We suddenly saw our work through a new lens of empathy and urgency.”
From Awareness to Action
COPE didn’t just stir emotions—it inspired lasting action. Foundations that participated came forward with transformational commitments:
$100,000 annually to address youth poverty and homelessness.
$50,000 annually to help teachers, deputies, and others living just above the poverty line secure stable housing.
$60,000 annually to address senior homelessness.
“These commitments came directly from people who experienced COPE,” Michael explained. “If they had just heard me talk about poverty, it wouldn’t have landed the same way. Experiencing it was the game changer.”
Community partners also shifted their approaches. One leader, after playing the role of a struggling youth during the simulation, went back to redesign his program for justice-involved youth—expanding its reach and focusing more on walking alongside young people rather than dictating to them.
Building Momentum: COPE as a Catalyst
Since that first event, demand for COPE has only grown. This year’s simulation drew participants from the court system, school district, philanthropy, media, and even the office of U.S. Senator Rick Scott. NBC News covered the event, amplifying its reach across Southwest Florida.
Michael describes COPE as the first “base camp” on a mountain climb:
“You can’t climb Mount Everest in a single day. You need base camps along the way. COPE is base camp one. It’s where the community gathers the tools, empathy, and energy to take the next steps together.”
And those next steps are already happening. The Coalition launched Getting Ahead classes following COPE, now running four workshops weekly in Collier and Lee Counties. Graduates are being trained as facilitators themselves, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and leadership.
A Sustainable Future for Change
The Coalition’s vision is bold: make COPE an annual event in Southwest Florida, embedded into the very fabric of community systems.
For Michael, it’s not just a program—it’s a system of care for providers themselves:
“We talk about caring for our clients, but COPE reminds us that providers need care too. We need the perspective and empathy COPE brings so that we can make better decisions for our community.”
The results speak for themselves. HUD has continued to fund Bridges and COPE projects through planning grants, recognizing the Coalition’s innovation. Local partners are no longer asking if they should continue—they’re asking how do we scale this?
The Power of Experience
Michael often returns to a moment from that first COPE. A local pastor, after playing the role of a struggling parent, approached him with tears in his eyes and said:
“I cannot believe this is what we put people through.”
Michael’s response captures the heart of the Coalition’s mission—and the promise of COPE:
“This is our opportunity to learn together and to do things differently. COPE isn’t just about awareness—it’s about unlocking empathy, catalyzing action, and changing the way entire communities respond to poverty.”
Join the Movement
The Southwest Florida Regional Coalition to End Homelessness has shown what’s possible when empathy meets action. Through COPE, they’ve ignited donor support, inspired systemic change, and built a sustainable foundation for a future where no one in Southwest Florida has to navigate homelessness alone.
If you’re considering bringing COPE to your own community, Michael’s advice is clear:
“Double down on your investment. Invite people you wouldn’t expect to attend. Once they experience COPE, there’s no way they won’t be changed—and your community will be changed with them.”