Josiah James Ingalls

As the Executive Director of Camp Haven Sanctuary, Josiah Ingalls leads with both vision and compassion. He founded the shelter with a deep commitment to serving the unhoused and vulnerable, and under his leadership, Camp Haven has grown into a vital refuge offering housing, food, hygiene, healthcare access, and pathways to stability. Josiah oversees day-to-day operations, secures funding, builds community partnerships, and ensures that every person who walks through the gates is met with dignity, respect, and the support they need to rebuild their life.

Josiah is also a public speaker and mentor. If you're looking for someone who speaks from both experience and heart, look no further than Josiah Ingalls. As a powerful public speaker and compassionate mentor, he brings real-world wisdom to both the stage and one-on-one guidance sessions. Whether he's sharing insights on autism, homelessness, or the realities of starting and running a nonprofit, he speaks with an authenticity that truly resonates. Josiah has mentored countless new nonprofit leaders, especially those with limited resources, always showing up with empathy, encouragement, and practical support.

My Story

From Homeless to Housing the Unhoused: a True Story of Misfortune and Renewal

Twenty-five years ago, when I was 17 years old, I found myself homeless and on the streets. My parents, who identified as conservative Christians, discovered I was gay and promptly showed me the door. Knowing almost nothing about how homeless people survived, and being autistic, somewhat hard of hearing and functionally illiterate, I was (to say the least) poorly prepared for a life without dependable food supplies or permanent shelter.

Fortunately, I soon met other homeless people who took me under their wing and taught me the strategies and hazards of living on the margins of society. I would survive that way for the next 21/2 years, until the continuing generosity of others helped me find my footing in life. Today I am married, a father of two and owner of my own business.

But despite my good fortune, I will never forget my days of being homeless. That experience transformed me into an advocate for unhoused people. I have often found myself speaking out and being the voice for the homeless population of Austin and surrounding areas.

My real advocacy work for them started back when I ran for Mayor of Austin in 2009. I found myself defending them and fighting to maintain social programs that were on the chopping block at that time due to a downturn in the economy. Then in 2021, Austin’s Proposition B and the new statewide camping ban brought me into homeless advocacy once again. I knew then and believe now that camping bans do little more than criminalize the existence of people who are homeless and have nowhere else to go.

So I and my family did the only logical thing we could do at the time: we turned the 10 acres that have been our home into a safe place called Camp Haven Sanctuary. Here homeless individuals can come for relief from oppression, while they piece their lives back together and prepare for independent living. With the help and dedication of many others, I have gone from homelessness to housing the homeless and helping guide them back to self-sufficiency. I am proud of my residents and feel privileged to be making a difference in their lives.

Josiah's Mentoring Work

If you're starting a nonprofit, you need a mentor like Josiah Ingalls. If you’re new to running a nonprofit or you’ve suddenly found yourself in charge of one without much preparation, there’s someone you need to know: Josiah Ingalls.

Josiah has been exactly where you are. He knows what it’s like to have a heart full of passion but not enough guidance, support, or resources. He’s built a nonprofit from the ground up and learned, through trial and triumph, what it really takes to survive and succeed in this work. Now, he uses that hard earned experience to mentor people just like you, who care deeply but may be overwhelmed by the weight of doing it all alone.

Josiah isn’t just a mentor who throws information at you and walks away. He listens. When you’re doubting yourself, when you’re second-guessing whether you can really do this work, when you feel like quitting, or when the stress makes you want to scream or cry he’s the one who will still be there. He’s sat on the phone with people while they’ve cried it out. He doesn’t rush you through the pain or pressure. He understands that mentoring isn’t just about giving advice, it’s about being present.

And after you’ve had that moment, after you’ve let it out, Josiah will gently help you refocus. He’ll guide you toward solutions. He’ll help you find clarity. He knows that a lot of progress starts by simply being heard. With him, you’ll feel seen, supported, and strengthened and never judged, never alone.

Whether you need help writing policies, building a board of directors, understanding your legal responsibilities, applying for grants, or just making sense of where to start, Josiah brings the kind of grounded, practical help that can keep you moving forward.

And here's something rare in this world: he doesn’t let money get in the way. Josiah regularly mentors individuals who can’t afford to pay for help. If your budget is nonexistent but your commitment is real, he’s still there. He believes that access to guidance shouldn’t depend on your bank account and he lives that value by showing up, regardless of what you can pay.

So if you’re in the early stages of building a nonprofit or if you’re deep in the weeds and don’t know how to keep going, reach out to Josiah Ingalls. He’s more than a mentor. He’s a steady hand, a listening ear, and a reminder that you can do this. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Have Josiah speak at your next event.

Book Josiah James Ingalls: A Powerful Voice on Autism, Nonprofit Leadership, and Homelessness.

Are you looking for a speaker who doesn’t just talk about change but lives it every day?
Do you need a keynote, panelist, or workshop leader who brings raw honesty, lived experience, and practical solutions to the stage?

If so, Josiah James Ingalls is the voice your audience needs to hear.

Whether you're organizing a conference, training, school assembly, civic event, or nonprofit retreat booking, Josiah means giving your audience more than just inspiration. He'sgiving them insight. He's giving them tools. He's giving them a story that connects real-world obstacles to real world solutions.

Speak with Someone Who’s Been There and Still Is

You won’t be hearing theory or detached statistics. When Josiah speaks, you hear from someone who has walked the path of homelessness, navigated the world with profound autism, and built one of the most innovative nonprofit shelters in Central Texas, Camp Haven Sanctuary.

He doesn't just advocate for people, he is one of the people he advocates for. His story is personal, powerful, and practical. Audiences consistently walk away with a deeper understanding of the systems we must reform, and the hope that it can be done.

Topics You Can Book Josiah to Speak On:

1. Understanding Autism Through Lived Experience
You’ll learn what it’s like to grow up with profound autism in a world that often misunderstands or overlooks neurodivergent individuals. Josiah discusses shutdowns, emotional development, coping strategies, and how systems can better serve autistic adults and children whether or not they have caregivers.

2. Starting and Running a Mission-Driven Nonprofit
Get the real story behind launching a nonprofit from scratch without major funding or institutional backing. Josiah speaks to the challenges of fundraising, volunteer burnout, government red tape, and most importantly, how to stay true to your mission in the nonprofit industrial complex.

3. Homelessness: Causes, Consequences, and Community Based Solutions
Josiah combines data with lived experience to explore the root causes of homelessness, the economic cost of doing nothing, and how to create realistic, scalable solutions. He breaks down myths and replaces them with action-oriented insight.

4. The Nonprofit Industrial Complex: A Critique from the Inside
Drawing from his own experience from founding and operating a shelter, Josiah unpacks how many nonprofit organizations, even with good intentions, can replicate for-profit dynamics that leave vulnerable populations underserved. Learn what ethical nonprofit leadership looks like and how to get back to what really matters.

Why You Should Book Josiah

Authentic. No corporate polish. No sugarcoating. Just real life, honestly told.
Informed. Combines personal experience with research, policy knowledge, and hands on service delivery.
Empowering. Whether your audience is full of professionals, parents, students, or activists, they’ll walk away equipped to act.
Relatable. Josiah speaks the language of the people because he is one. He connects across lines of age, ability, class, and background.

Ideal Audiences

Universities and schools
Autism conferences and parent networks
Nonprofit leadership summits
City and county government trainings
Faith-based service organizations
Homeless coalitions and advocacy groups
Social work and mental health professionals
Fundraising and nonprofit ethics panels

Ready to Bring Josiah to Your Event?

Don’t miss the opportunity to host one of the most passionate and compelling speakers in grassroots advocacy. Whether you're planning a keynote, roundtable, workshop, or fireside chat, Josiah will make your event unforgettable—and impactful.

To book Josiah James Ingalls or inquire about availability, email or call the contacts below for more information. Let Josiah help your audience see the world differently because once they do, they’ll be ready to change it.

Contact

I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.

help@camphavensanctuary.com

(737) 278-0293