About The National Center on Family Homelessness
The National Center on Family Homelessness, founded in 1988, is the nation's foremost authority on family homelessness, and the only national organization dedicated solely to helping families who are homeless. We conduct state-of-the-art research and develop, share, and implement innovative solutions to end family homelessness in America and give every child a chance. The National Center is an affiliate of American Institutes for Research.
The National Center on Family Homelessness Fact Sheet
History
The National Center was started through an unusual partnership. In 1987, David Jordan, then editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, met in Boston with Ellen L. Bassuk, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Both were concerned about the growing number of homeless families in America, and wanted to do something. Dr. Bassuk had conducted ground-breaking research in the mid-1980s documenting the devastating effect of homelessness on mothers and children. Mr. Jordan believed that Better Homes and Gardens, which reaches 36 million American adults each month, had the power to educate the public about this emerging tragedy. In 1988, Dr. Bassuk and Mr. Jordan joined forces to start "The Better Homes Fund," what would eventually be called The National Center on Family Homelessness, which was established as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization and non-endowed public charity.
