Trauma-Informed Organizational Toolkit

The prevalence of traumatic stress in the lives of families experiencing homelessness is extraordinarily high.  Often, these families have experienced repeated trauma throughout their lives in the form of childhood abuse and neglect, domestic violence, community violence, and trauma associated with poverty and the loss of home, safety, and sense of security.  These experiences have a significant impact on how people think, feel, behave, relate to others, and cope with future experiences.

With support from the Daniels Fund, National Child Traumatic Stress Network, SAMHSA's Homelessness Resource Center, and W.K. Kellog Foundation, The National Center on Family Homelessness created the Trauma-Informed Organizational Toolkit. The Toolkit offers shelters and housing programs with concrete guidelines to modify their practices and policies to ensure they are responding appropriately to the needs of families who have experienced trauma.  Learn more.

Contribute to the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness!

The US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is now providing an opportunity for you to express your opinion about the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness!  The USICH's new interactive website - USICH Preventing and End Homelessness - is a place for your voice to be heard.  Online suggestions will be reviewed by USICH staff and will be assessed for possible inclusion in the Federal Strategic plan.  The site is open for posting through March 22.

One Year Later: Campaign to End Child Homelessness

One year ago on March 10, 2009, The National Center on Family Homelessness launched the Campaign to End Child Homelessness before a standing-room only crowd at a Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC.  On that day, The National Center released America's Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness.  The finding that one in 50 children are homeless in America each year shocked the nation and served as a call to action.  Since then, The Campaign has made significant progress toward increasing public awareness of the problem, informing federal and state policies and plans, and identifying and sharing best practices to prevent and end child homelessness.  Read more about the Campaign's activities, including recommendations to the USICH about the Federal Plan to End Homelessness.

On The Ground: Housing First

Over the next few months, The National Center on Family Homelessness will highlight ways that communities are addressing child and family homelessness.  Originally published in America's Youngest Outcasts, these case studies are based on innovative programs around the country.

Housing First: Beyond Shelter was established in 1988 to respond to the growing number of homeless families in Los Angeles.  Since families were not effectively served by standard services, the agency sought to develop a more comprehensive approach.  Beyond Shelter's Housing First program is an innovative, cost-effective strategy for ending and preventing family homelessness.  Continue reading...

Federal Workgroup on Veteran Homelessness

On February 17, Risa Greendlinger, Project Director of Community Circles of Support for Veterans' Families, shared her expertise about veterans who are homeless with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) at a meeting with USICH staff, federal staff, and advocates to discuss the Federal Plan to End Homelessness.  The meeting is one of several hosted by USICH around the country to inform development of the plan.  Read the comments The National Center submitted to USICH about veterans who are homeless.

2010 New Mexico Summit to End Child Homelessness: March 25-26

Please join us on March 25 and 26 for the 2010 New Mexico Summit to End Child Homelessness, organized by the New Mexico Campaign to End Child Homelessness.  Homeless service providers, children's advocates, community leaders, and state and elected officials will come together to specifically address the issues facing New Mexico's most vulnerable population - homeless children. Learn more about the New Mexico Summit.