Resources and FAQs on Homelessness

There are a lot of reasons why a person may experience homelessness; however, there are social problems that limit an individual's ability to gain living wage employment and affordable housing. The following are excellent websites for more information on the causes and consequences of homelessness and solutions to end homelessness.

The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) engages in public education, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing to end homelessness. The website provides information on homelessness and related issues, as well as links to local and state advocacy efforts.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit, non-partisan, organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. Their website contains information about advocacy efforts and data and research on homelessness.

Through policy advocacy, public education, and impact litigation the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) focuses on systemic reform to address the root causes of homelessness, to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of homeless and poor people. The mission of NLCHP is to prevent and end homelessness by serving as the legal arm of the nationwide movement to end homelessness.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Homelessness Resource Center provides information on training, publications, bibliographies, referral lists, fact sheets and resource library.

The National Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Council is a home for those who work to improve the health of homeless people and who seek housing, health care, and adequate incomes for everyone. In the National HCH Council, agencies and individuals, clinicians and advocates, homeless people and housed people come together for mutual support and learning opportunities, and to advance the cause of human rights.

Agencies in Philadelphia:

• City of Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing
• Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
• Kensington Welfare Rights Union
• Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania
• One Neighborhood
• Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness
• Philadelphia Unemployment Project
• Ready, Willing & Able
• Bethesda Project
• Whosoever Gospel Mission

National Organizations:

• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Corporation for Supportive Housing
• National Center on Family Homelessness
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
• National Housing Conference
• National Low Income Housing Coalition
• National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness
• National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness
• NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development