Vision:
To live in a society that is just and without homelessness.

NCH’s History:
The roots of NCH begin in 1981 when the founder, Robert Hayes, filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man experiencing homelessness in New York City. The lawsuit was settled out of court, and people experiencing homelessness won the right to shelter in New York City. One result of this successful litigation was that people who worked at emergency food and shelter programs in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s recognized the need for, and benefit of, organizing and advocacy. The Coalition for the Homeless in New York City formed as one of the early community based coalitions. With the development of other local and statewide homeless coalitions, the National Coalition for the Homeless was created in 1982, opened its Washington DC office in 1985, and was recognized as a tax-exempted, not-for-profit organization under the 501(c)(3) internal revenue code in 1988.

Major Accomplishments:
In 1986/87 the staff and Board of NCH authored and pushed thorough Congress, what is now called the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Through NCH’s grassroots organizing and aggressive lobbying, the bill as introduced into Congress and passed in just four months. This Act remains the primary source of funding to address the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness. NCH has been instrumental in fighting funding cuts and increasing the funds to current record level funding.

NCH co-sponsored the National Housing Now! March in 1989 that brought a quarter of a million people in Washington DC. This march helped build the momentum that led to the introduction of the National Affordable Housing Act.

Through Technical Assistance, NCH has been instrumental in the formation of over 100 local and state homeless coalitions. Statewide homeless coalitions now exist in almost every state. NCH’s Technical Assistance has also been critical in the success of many organizations across the country as well as insuring that people experiencing homelessness are give decision-making and leadership roles.

NCH has continuously fought for equal treatment of children experiencing homelessness in the public school system. The NCH’s efforts directly contributed to amendments of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which entitled homeless children and youth to a free and appropriate public education, and mandated the elimination of barriers to enrollment, attendance, and success in school. In conjunction with this bill, NCH co-authored K-12 lesson plans on homelessness for “Kids Day on Capitol Hill,” which was distributed to over 1,000 school districts. The work of NCH has secured funding for the EHCY program, as well as ensuring equal treatment for children experiencing homelessness.

Policy Advocacy:
NCH has remained the substantive voice in the federal legislative process for people who are experiencing homelessness. In our policy advocacy, we work diligently to ensure that mainstream resources and opportunities are available to families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

NCH focuses policy analysis and advocacy in four main areas: (a) housing that is affordable to the lowest income Americans, (b) comprehensive, accessible health care and other support services, (c) livable incomes, and (d) civil rights including the education of homeless children and youth.

Bringing America Home Campaign:
This national, broad-based initiative is dedicated to the goal of ending homelessness. The Campaign is founded on the principles and action of public education, grassroots organizing and support for progressive politics and legislation. It is founded on the principles that people need affordable housing, livable incomes, health care, education and protection of their civil rights.

Grassroots Organizing:
NCH takes it as a first principle of practice that persons who are or have experienced homelessness must be actively involved in the resolution of homelessness. Our work includes: initiating the National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project, providing technical assistance, and organizing the “You Don’t Need a Home to Vote” campaign.

Civil Rights Project:
The civil rights of people experiencing homelessness are continually violated, whether it be by endangering their right to vote, by hate crimes committed against them, by denying children in homeless situations an equal right to education, and even by unjust laws making it illegal be homeless. NCH is concerned about this illegal disenfranchisement of people experiencing homelessness, and the Civil Rights Project exists to protect the civil rights of people in homeless situations.
The civil rights project has enjoyed significant victories over the past year, most notable is the “Bum Videos” victory, in which major retailers such as Target, Best Buy, Borders, Virgin Megastore, and FYE Entertainment, had agreed to stop selling the videos. NCH will continue to monitor retailers for the sale of these videos. This was a significant triumph for NCH’s grassroots network and for people experiencing homelessness.

The Faces of Homelessness Speakers' Bureau and Homeless Empowerment Project:
The Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau is an important component of our public education at the National Coalition for the Homeless. The mission of the “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers’ Bureau is to provide a forum for individuals who have experienced homelessness to share their personal experiences with others; to break down stereotypes and misconceptions of homelessness; to foster a greater awareness of the reality of not having a home in America; and to spark interest in becoming involved in the mission to end homelessness on both local and national levels.

Governing Board:
The NCH Board of Directors is primarily composed of service providers, advocates, researchers, and people who are or have experienced homelessness. NCH is committed to maintaining both diversity and active involvement of persons who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness in its governship. Thirty people currently serve on the Board of Directors. At present, 30% are individuals who have experienced homelessness.