Putnam County, Florida
William “Red” Conrad
Minister · Peer Specialist · Advocate
Where Faith Meets the Street
Rooted in faith and grounded in lived experience of homelessness and recovery, Red Conrad builds real solutions for neighbors without a place to call home. He serves Putnam County and beyond as a minister, peer specialist, and coalition co-founder, and speaks to churches, nonprofits, recovery conferences, and government audiences about what it takes to end homelessness and what faith asks of us.
Speaking is free for faith communities. Please allow at least one month’s notice.
What I Do
Four Roles. One Mission.
Each role Red carries is distinct — but they draw from the same well of lived experience, ministerial calling, and conviction that systemic change is both possible and necessary.
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Peer Specialist
Serving Putnam County, Red supports individuals navigating mental health and recovery challenges — meeting people where they are and walking alongside them toward stability.
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Strategic Alliance Lead and Community Solutions Catalyst
Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition
Co-founder and Strategic Alliance Lead / Community Solutions Catalyst of PCHSC — an alliance of nonprofits, community organizations, and advocates working toward functional zero homelessness in Putnam County.
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Pastor & Founder
Spiritual Messiah Ministries
Founded on a Matthew 25 theology, SMM carries a mission of practical faith — serving those on the margins through ministry presence in Florida and international branches active since 2011.
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Writer & Advocate
Myths of Homelessness · Policy & Palatka
Author of the Myths of Homelessness blog series — a 14-part examination of the assumptions that shape public policy — and ongoing policy commentary through additional series reporting on commission meetings, legislation, and other activities he is actively doing to combat homelessness and fix a broken system.
My Story
Experience as the Foundation
“I don’t speak about homelessness from a distance. I’ve lived it — and that changes everything about how I approach the work.”
Red Conrad’s understanding of homelessness is not academic. He has experienced it firsthand — navigating the systems, the stigma, and the silence that too often surrounds those without stable housing. That lived experience is not background detail. It is the foundation of every role he carries.
Currently in a transitional housing situation, Red brings an insider’s clarity to coalition work, peer support, and ministry alike. He knows what it means to need help — and what it means to find it. That knowledge shapes how he listens, how he advocates, and how he builds.
His work with PCHSC and Spiritual Messiah Ministries is unified by a single conviction: that people experiencing homelessness deserve solutions built with them, not just for them.
Explore
Learn More About Red’s Work
→ Click Here for the main site
→ Click Here for the Myths of Homelessness series
Get In Touch
Start a Conversation
Whether you’re a partner organization, a community member, a journalist, or someone who simply wants to connect — Red welcomes the conversation.
Or 📧 email Red@RedConrad.me
📱Call/Text 386-559-4023
