ABOUT THE COALITION: MISSION and HISTORY

Our Mission:

The Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for people who are homeless and for the prevention and elimination of homelessness.

We have been the voice of homelessness in Louisville for over twenty years.  We work closely with homeless service providers in our community, civic groups, concerned citizens, faith-based groups, and our local, state, and federal governments.

Our efforts are targeted in a three-prong approach:

● Educate the community about homelessness and inspire action

● Advocate for system changes

● Coordinate the community response to homelessness through efficient use of resources and funding.

Our History:

Today, the Coalition is a leader in coordinating our community response to homelessness.  Likewise, our history is built on this same notion.

In 1984, citizens and officials of the City of Louisville and Jefferson County sought a coordinated community response to homelessness.  The grassroots initiative was sparked by two associate priests from the Cathedral of the Assumption and Christ Church Cathedral.  Witnessing countless numbers of people in need, the priests convinced then-mayor, Harvey Sloane, to establish a community-wide task force to examine the issues of homelessness.  This community-wide task force became the Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. in 1986.

Since our inception, the Coalition has been a leader in addressing homelessness.  Some of our significant accomplishments include:

1. Development of a day center for homeless adults. Today it is operated by St. John Center.

2. Development of quality assurance standards for monitoring local homeless shelters.

3. Creation of the Homeless Partnership Grants Committee. This partnership with the local government, Kentucky Housing Corporation, and Metro United Way allocates money to homeless providers.

4. Management of Operation White Flag, a program designed to ensure the safety of people experiencing homelessness during severe weather conditions. The Coalition receives funds from the City and distributes them to six shelters that provide the day-to-day services.

5. Facilitation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care process for Louisville. 

6. Development of "Reducing Homelessness: A Blueprint for the Future." This is Louisville's plan to reduce and end homelessness within ten years. 

7. The Cost of Homelessness - a two-year study conducted by the University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work in conjunction with the Coalition and Louisville Metro Government, defining the problem and detailing the services used by single homeless adults in 2004 and 2005 in Louisville.

Make a difference in our community: Donate to the Coalition today!