Laurel Benfield

Laurel Benfield is a collaborator and changemaker with over a decade of experience in advocacy, nonprofit homeless services, and community organizing. She works as a Project Specialist with the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness, supporting the North Carolina Balance of State Continuum of Care. Laurel provides technical assistance and support to providers across the 79 county NC BoS CoC and supports equity, governance, and funding efforts at the CoC level. She has worked on initiatives throughout her career to expand access and support for LGBTQ+ clients, volunteers, and staff within the homeless services system, as well as initiatives at state and local levels, to expand SNAP benefits and affordable housing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah, and a Master of Social Work degree and Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Durham with her family and loves the outdoors, time spent on her bicycle, and good sci-fi.