Diane Nilan is the founder and president of HEAR US, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing visibility to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness across America.
Since founding HEAR US in 2005, Diane has traveled extensively throughout the United States documenting the realities of family homelessness through advocacy, interviews, photography, writing, and film. Her work has taken her through urban centers, rural communities, shelters, campgrounds, vehicles, motels, and doubled-up living situations where families often remain unseen and unheard.
Working directly with families and youth, Diane has spent decades helping communities better understand the educational, emotional, and social challenges connected to homelessness. Her work combines storytelling with advocacy, helping turn statistics into personal human experiences.
Before launching HEAR US, Diane worked in shelter programs and statewide advocacy efforts while also contributing to national conversations surrounding homeless education and policy. She collaborated with educators, service organizations, and advocacy groups working to improve awareness and support systems for vulnerable children and families.
Over the years, Diane’s work has been featured through public speaking engagements, film screenings, interviews, articles, and collaborative educational initiatives focused on homelessness awareness and social change.
For years, Diane traveled the country in a series of vehicles affectionately known as “Tillie,” using them as transportation, office space, interview locations, and temporary homes while documenting stories from communities across America.
This road-based approach allowed Diane to meet families where they were living, whether in shelters, campgrounds, motels, vehicles, or doubled-up housing situations often hidden from public view.
Through thousands of miles on backroads and highways, HEAR US became more than an organization. It became a moving platform for advocacy, storytelling, education, and visibility for children and families experiencing homelessness.
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Whether you’ve followed HEAR US since 2005 or are just discovering our work, thank you for being here. Your support helps us continue giving visibility and voice to children and families experiencing homelessness.
