| ORGANIZATIONS HELPING THE HOMELESS |
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American Public Health Association (APHA) The APHA's Caucus on Homelessness is an organization of service providers, researchers, policymakers, and advocates, who study and address the crisis of homelessness. Members participate in scientific and policy sessions at APHA's annual conference, help APHA develop resolutions and policy statements, and provide information on activities, policies, and research findings central to the effort to help end poverty and homelessness. Membership in the Caucus is open to both members and non-members of APHA. |
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Bureau of Primary Health Care The Bureau of Primary Health Care oversees the distribution of funds to support Health Care for the Homeless Projects. In Fiscal Year 2003, $130 million was appropriated and 160 HCH projects received funding. Grant dollars are available to both private and public organizations to improve and expand access to a full range of comprehensive primary health care services, substance abuse treatment, mental health, oral health, and other services to promote and sustain the well-being of homeless people. |
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Center for Mental Health Services The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is concerned with prevention and treatment of mental illness and promotion of mental health. The Homeless Programs Branch administers the following programs: (1) Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) supports service delivery for homeless persons with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders; (2) Cooperative Agreements to Evaluate Housing Approaches for Persons with Serious Mental Illness enhances understanding about the contribution of different housing models to recovery from mental illness; (3) SAMHSA/HRSA Collaboration to Link Health Care for the Homeless Programs with Community Mental Health Agencies increases service availability in primary care settings; and (4) CMHS/CSAT Collaborative Program on Homeless Families evaluates interventions for homeless mothers with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders who are caring for dependent children. These interventions provide treatment, trauma recovery, housing stability, and family preservation services. The Branch also provides professional leadership for collaborative, intergovernmental initiatives; develops training and technical assistance materials, programs, workshops, and policy academies; and developed the Blueprint for Services to offer guidance on service and housing needs of homeless individuals with serious mental illness. In addition, the Branch supports a contract for the National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness. |
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Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) The Child Welfare League of America is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving care and services for deprived or neglected children, youth, and their families. The League maintains a grass roots advocacy network. It distributes videos, standards, training manuals, monographs, and periodicals and provides in-service training. Publications include Homelessness: The Impact on Child Welfare in the '90s. |
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Community Connections Community Connections, the information center of HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development, assists those interested in housing and community development. It provides program regulations, descriptions of model programs, training announcements, referrals, and information on all homeless assistance programs, including HOME, HOPE 3, Community Development Block Grant, Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. |
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Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program This federal emergency program, currently part of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, provides funds for basic food and shelter, including rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and shelter. Local boards are established to select agencies that will receive monies to provide the food and shelter services. |
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Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. We welcome all people to join us as we build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those who lack adequate shelter. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 175, 000 houses, providing shelter for nearly 900,000 people worldwide. Now at work in 100 countries, we are building a house every 26 minutes. By 2005, Habitat houses will be sheltering 1 million people. Local Habitat affiliates coordinate house building and select partner families. |
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Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians' Network The Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians' Network is a national membership organization for clinicians dedicated to combating and preventing homelessness and improving the health and quality of life for homeless people. The Network promotes research and offers training, peer support, and leadership opportunities to provide a forum for sharing information and experience to enhance clinical practice. |
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Health Care for the Homeless, Information Resource Center The Health Care for the Homeless Information Resource Center (HCH/IRC) operates under contract to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Primary Health Care, to provide support services for Health Care for the Homeless Program grantees. Services include: convening an annual national conference, publications, including a grantee directory and information bulletins, and information services, including bibliographic and referral information for homeless health care issues. |
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Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) National Technical
Assistance Initiative “HUD's National Technical Assistance Initiative is designed to provide assistance to HUD and its grantees toward the goal of implementing Homeless Management Information Systems by October 2004. HUD as been directed by Congress to work with jurisdictions to collect an array of data on homelessness, including unduplicated counts, use of services and the effectiveness of the local homeless assistance systems. HUD is to collect homeless data and provide an annual report to Congress. The first Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), due in July 2005, will be based on data from both a representative sample and other communities from across the United States that have implemented an HMIS.” |
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Housing Assistance Council, Inc. A nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America since 1971. HAC emphasizes local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependence, and self-help strategies. HAC assists in the development of both single- and multi-family homes and homeownership for working low-income rural families through a self-help, "sweat equity" construction method. The Housing Assistance Council offers services to public, nonprofit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States. HAC also maintains a special focus on high-need groups and regions: Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farmworkers, the Southwest border colonias, and Appalachia |
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HUD
Supportive Housing Program Desk Guide “This guide describes the SHP grant process from grant award onward. It will take you through the life cycle of a grant, incorporating everything from very basic information to the intricacies of grant administration. The guide is not a substitute for the SHP regulations. However, it is a practical guide to issues that arise during project implementation.” |
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HUD Veteran Resource Center The HUD Veteran Resource Center provides information about resources and initiatives available at HUD, with an emphasis on homeless veterans. The HUD Veteran Resource Center provides information on program resources available to assist veterans in communities, including Continuum of Care/ Homeless Assistance Programs, Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships, HOPE 3, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS. The Center also provides information on funding, grant applications, program regulations and guides, technical assistance, trainings and conferences, and updates on HUD and the Office of Community Planning and Development. |
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Interagency Council on Homelessness “The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is truly a vehicle of out-of-the-box thinking and creative problem-solving. Everyone deserves a place to call home, and we can make that a reality by improving access to and coordination of essential services. Through innovative partnership and leadership, I believe we can end chronic homelessness within a decade.” |
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International Union of Gospel Missions Rescue missions comprise the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, formerly the International Union of Gospel Missions (IUGM), which was founded in 1913. As measured by annual revenue, the 294 Association member RESCUE missions would be the sixth largest nonprofit organization in the United States. RESCUE missions provide emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, education and job training programs and assistance to the elderly poor and at-risk youth. |
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MASW
Affordable Housing and Homelessness Yahoo Group “This Group serves as a forum for members of MASW's Affordable Housing and Homelessness Task Force, for agencies and people involved in the Homeless Missourians Information System (HMIS) Project, and for anyone involved in or interested in the issues of affordable housing and homelessness in the State of Missouri.” |
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National Alliance To End Homelessness
(NAEH) The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) is a national membership organization of more than 3,000 members, consisting of leaders in the financial community, nonprofit agencies, political leaders, grassroots providers, and private citizens. The Alliance focuses on building the capacity of its member organizations to deliver assistance designed to end homelessness and working to improve federal policy and increase federal resources directed toward permanent housing and support services. The Alliance online newsletter, published weekly, is available at no cost to partners who register on their website. |
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National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is a nonprofit, membership association representing Community and Migrant Health Centers , Health Care for the Homeless programs, and other health provider organizations seeking to promote quality health care for persons who are indigent or medically underserved. As a national resource for public policy information on medically underserved populations, NACHC conducts conferences, maintains liaison with primary care organizations in each state, and provides information and training on financial management, clinical leadership and quality, PHS Drug Pricing Program, and Federal Tort Claims Act malpractice coverage. |
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National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) promotes strategies to reduce the number of children living in poverty and to improve the life chances of the millions of children under age six who are growing up poor. Activities include: design and conduct studies to identify effective programs, policies, and practices; disseminate information about early childhood care, education, health, and family and community support; challenge policymakers to help ameliorate adverse consequences of poverty. |
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National Center for Homeless Education The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) provides research, resources, and information enabling communities to address the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Center serves as a clearinghouse of information for people seeking to remove or overcome educational barriers and to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Center also supports educators and service providers through producing training and awareness materials and providing training at regional and national conferences and events. The Center is part of the larger organization of SERVE, the Regional Educational Laboratory for the Southeastern United States. Learn more about SERVE |
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National Coalition for Homeless Veterans The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) champions the quality of life for homeless veterans by shaping public policy, educating the public, and building the capacity of service providers to meet the needs of homeless veterans. NCHV publishes a bi-monthly 16-page newsletter. |
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National Coalition for the Homeless “Our mission is to end homelessness. We focus our work in the following four areas: housing justice, economic justice, health care justice, and civil and voting rights. Our approaches are: grassroots organizing, public education, policy advocacy, technical assistance, and partnerships.” |
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National Health Care for the Homeless Council The National Health Care for the Homeless Council is an organization of agencies and individuals who provide health care to homeless people. It's mission is to help bring about reform of the health care system to serve the needs of homeless persons, to work with others whose broader purpose is to eliminate homelessness, and to provide support to Council members. To these ends, the National Council operates the HCH Clinicians' Network, publishes The Health Care for the Homeless Mobilizer and the newsletter Healing Hands , organizes an annual policy symposium and various training events, conducts research, and publishes papers on relevant topics. |
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National Housing Conference The National Housing Conference is a coalition of housing leaders from the private and public sectors that believes that every American, regardless of income, should have the opportunity to live in a suitable neighborhood. Since 1931, NHC has been the United Voice for Housing. |
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National Housing Trust Fund “The National Housing Trust Fund Campaign is working to establish a National Housing Trust Fund that would build and preserve 1.5 million units of rental housing for the lowest income families over the next 10 years.” |
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National Interfaith Hospitality Network The Interfaith Hospitality Network program brings shelter, meals, and support services to families without homes. IHNs are a cost-efficient, effective, and replicable community response to family homelessness. Because they make use of existing community resources, they can be implemented quickly, without major start-up costs. IHN programs vary from community to community, reflecting local needs and resources. |
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National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty The National Law Center is the legal arm of the national movement to prevent and end homelessness. The Law Center ensures compliance with laws and benefits for homeless persons, initiates litigation when necessary to secure compliance, and provides technical assistance. Projects include: challenging laws that criminalize homelessness; helping service providers combat NIMBY; converting military bases into housing; helping homeless workers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit; and enforcing homeless children's right to an education. The Law Center publishes reports, booklets, fact sheets and a newsletter. |
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National Network for Youth The National Network for Youth is a membership organization of youth-serving organizations, young people, youth workers, and advocates who seek to ensure that young people can be safe and lead healthy, productive lives. The Network works with and for youth, especially those who need greater opportunities and supports to become contributing members of their communities. Services include policy advocacy, knowledge development, technical assistance, public education, and peer networking. The Network convenes an annual conference in Washington , DC . Founded in 1975, the Network serves as the principal membership association for organizations receiving federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act funds. |
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National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness “The National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness is the only national center specifically focused on the effective organization and delivery of services for people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses. The Resource Center's activities enable the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) to facilitate service systems change through field-based knowledge development, synthesis, exchange, and adoption of effective practices.” |
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National Low Income Housing Coalition “The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America’s affordable housing crisis. We believe that this is achievable, that the affordable housing crisis is a problem that Americans are capable of solving. While we are concerned about the housing circumstances of all low income people, we focus our advocacy on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households.” |
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National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness |
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SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Mental Health Information Center provides information about mental health. The Center was developed for users of mental health services, the general public, policy makers, providers, and the media. Information Center staff respond to questions form the public and professionals. The staff quickly directs callers to federal, state, and local organizations dedicated to treating and preventing mental illness. The Center also has information on federal grants, conferences, and other events. Bilingual services are available. |
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StandUp for Kids StandUp For Kids, a national volunteer force, conducts street outreach to find, stabilize, and assist homeless and street kids to improve their lives. Through efforts in schools and via the Internet, their work is guided by the mandate that volunteers tell kids they care about them and then, at every turn, prove it. |
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Universal Living Wage “This web site is sponsored by HTH, an education and advocacy organization that believes the moral premise that anyone working a 40 hour week should be able to afford some form of housing.” |
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US General Services Administration (GSA) The GSA administers a donation program through a network of state Agencies for Surplus Property (SASP) and coordinates the distribution of federal surplus real and personal property that is available to groups serving homeless people. Real properties may be used for shelters, clinics, office space, or other purposes. Donated personal property includes beds/bedding, clothing, kitchen/office equipment, tools, motor vehicles, medical supplies, cleaning materials, household appliances, and furniture. |
| RECOMMENDED READING |
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Da Costa
Nunez, Ralph 2004 A Shelter Is Not a Home…Or Is It? Lessons From Family Homelessness in New York City. New York: White Tiger Press. |
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Ehrenreich,
Barbara 2001 Nickel and Dimed. On (Not) Getting By in America. New York: Owl Books. |