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The National Coalition for
the Homeless

is a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission: To end and prevent homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights are respected and protected.

We believe that safe, decent, and affordable housing is a human right (as written in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article Twenty-Five, Section One).

We are fighting to achieve an end to homelessness in the U.S. through the Bring American Home NOW! Campaign. Click here to learn more.

OUR RESOURCES

Need Help?

If you are not homeless yet, it may be possible to avoid becoming homeless by finding out about prevention or emergency assistance programs in your area. Often these programs can help in paying rent, utilities, or bills.

If you are homeless now, emergency assistance programs may help with health care, food, and temporary, transitional, or permanent housing.

Places to look for help

If you may become homeless in a few weeks

If you may become homeless in a few days

What we do

Donate Today Other Ways to get involved Bring America Home Now Campaign

Our Direction comes

from personal experience with being unhoused and using homeless and housing services – 80% of our staff and 60% of our Board have experienced homelessness themselves.

We advise federal,

state, and local governments and agencies on improving their programs and systems so they work better for people needing assistance.

We work

to end homelessness by addressing the underlying issues of racist housing policy, disinvestment in affordable housing, and other policies that have created sustained and growing inequalities.

We provide

training and support to ensure the voices of those who have been unhoused are heard and respected.

Donate Today Other Ways to get involved Bring America Home Now Campaign

Donald Hugh Whitehead Jr. is recognized as a leading expert on homelessness, having served as the Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Assistant Director at St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, Program Director at Ohio Valley Goodwill, Grant Manager at Goodwill of Greater Washington, and Director of Communications at Greenpeace Ohio. Donald served two terms as President of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition for the Homeless, two terms on the Board of Directors for Faces and Voices of Recovery, and two terms on the Georgetown Center for Cultural Competency.

Donald Whitehead, Executive Director

Kelvin was raised in a middle class family in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Life challenged him early. The death of his mother sent Kelvin into a very dark space fueling a drug addiction. Nearly three years of homelessness challenged him further. Just when Kelvin considered giving up, a minister entered his life that believed in him and decided to help him. Reverend J.C. Melvin worked with Kelvin and helped him with recovery. In 2009, Kelvin began his homeless advocacy with the National Coalition for the Homeless. He also wrote and self-published two self-help books. Kelvin and his wife of 15 years currently reside in Washington, DC.

Kelvin Lassiter, Policy Analyst

L. Michelle Bush recently joined the National Coalition for the Homeless as grant manager. Her previous affiliation with the organization was as a formerly homeless speaker on the speaker’s bureau some 20 years ago. A Washington DC native, Bush has a professional background in finance, management, operations, and training in the corporate, public, and private sectors. She has worked with the Baltimore City Government, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee, National Civic League, RE/Max, and the US Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Through her consulting practice, she has helped to start many thriving businesses. A woman of many talents, triumphs and defeats, Bush is an energetic preacher-teacher and motivator who pastors an online church fellowship from the inner city. In the summer, she hosts a seasonal specialty product showcase featuring minority-owned businesses. Bush is a mother of 3 talented young adults and “Nana” to two geniuses.

L. Michelle Bush, Grants Manager

How You Can Make A Difference

Why Become a Member?

In recent years, federal policy has been driven by narrow interest groups instead of demanding that funding address homelessness on a national scale. Join NCH as a member to be a part of pushing for the resources we actually need to house our communities!

Become a member