Advocacy

The Coalition’s Advocacy advances sensible long-term solutions to the crisis of homelessness and defends the rights of homeless New Yorkers.

Advocates marching in the House Our Future NY march

Since 1981, Coalition for the Homeless has fought to defend the rights of homeless New Yorkers and to protect vulnerable adults, children, and families from harm. Through litigation, organizing, research and analysis, campaigns and public education our renowned advocacy program tirelessly fights for investments in proven, cost-effective housing solutions to solve mass homelessness.

Callahan Under Attack

For over 42 years the Coalition for the Homeless, with our partners at The Legal Aid Society, has zealously defended and successfully expanded the legal Right to Shelter for anyone experiencing homelessness in New York. Learn more here.

Impact Litigation

The Coalition’s trailblazing impact litigation, Callahan v. Carey, established the legal right to shelter for homeless adult men in New York City and was the first crucial step in creating a safety net for our homeless neighbors. Since then, the Coalition has won a string of legal victories including extending the right to shelter to women and families; securing protective services for homeless children; requiring medically appropriate housing for people living with HIV/AIDS; and ensuring the right to vote for New Yorkers without homes. Read more about the Coalition’s legal victories.

Organizing and Shelter Monitoring

The Coalition for the Homeless is the court-appointed monitor of the municipal shelter system for adults and City-appointed independent monitor of shelters for families. We maintain a constant presence in the shelters to assess conditions and advocate on behalf of residents. We believe that the most effective advocates for the homeless are homeless people themselves, and so we have organized the Client Advisory Group (CAG), a group of shelter residents and former residents who meet weekly at our office to discuss problems they identify and how to participate in advocacy campaigns. Read more about CAG. Learn more about the Coalition’s role as shelter monitor.

Research and Analysis

The Coalition is the most trusted and credible source of information about homelessness in New York and is relied upon by elected officials, academics, service providers, the news media and the general public. Our annual State of the Homeless report has for years been used as the benchmark to gauge the City’s and State’s success or failure in addressing the catastrophe of homelessness. View our research and policy briefs or visit the Coalition’s full advocacy library.

Public Education

The Coalition believes that New York is at heart both a compassionate and pragmatic city. By helping the general public and policymakers fully understand the reasons for – and solutions to – the current crisis of homelessness, we assist New Yorkers in fighting for the proven, humane and cost-effective housing solutions needed to solve homelessness. Read the latest news. Join us as an Advocate and stay updated on all important developments.