A voting rights rollback is unfolding in the United States following a recent Supreme Court ruling, raising urgent concerns about the future of equitable representation and democracy. Donald Whitehead, NCH’s executive director, is sounding the alarm, warning that the impact will be felt most by already marginalized communities. Below is his statement in response.
In this moment, we witnessed a crushing blow to the future of minority representation. It is another in a series of decisions that inaccurately imply that discrimination is a relic of the past—that somehow this nation has evolved beyond the need for vigilance, beyond the need for protection, beyond the need for justice. This voting rights rollback is not happening in isolation, but as part of a broader pattern. If this voting rights rollback continues, the consequences for marginalized communities will be severe.
But we know better.
History is not something we escaped—it is something we are still living through. The hard-fought, blood-soaked gains of the civil rights movement were never guaranteed to last forever. They were won through sacrifice, through courage, through people who refused to accept a system designed to silence them. And now, piece by piece, we are watching those gains chipped away under the false narrative of progress.
This is one of the most painful decisions by a Supreme Court that increasingly appears disconnected from the lived realities of millions of Americans. Decisions like this do not exist in a vacuum—they echo a past many of us know all too well. A past where access to the ballot was controlled, restricted, and weaponized. A past that looks uncomfortably familiar when we examine what is happening now.
We have not overcome.
Just look at what is happening in states like Florida, Texas, and soon Tennessee—where policies are being enacted that make it harder to vote, harder to be heard, and harder to be represented. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern—one that seeks to redefine access to democracy in ways that exclude the very communities who fought the hardest to be included.
Voting rights are not just about casting a ballot. They are about power. They are about voice. They are about whether communities can shape the policies that shape their lives.
And when those rights are weakened, it sends a clear message: that some voices matter less.
But we cannot—and will not—accept that.
Because every generation has a responsibility. The generation before us marched, bled, and sacrificed to expand democracy. Our responsibility is to protect it. To defend it. And, when necessary, to fight for it all over again.
This moment demands clarity. It demands courage. And it demands action.
Because democracy does not erode all at once—it erodes decision by decision, law by law, until one day we wake up and realize that what we thought was permanent was always fragile.
We are not powerless in this moment. But we must be honest about what we are facing.
This is not the end of the story.
It is a call to write the next chapter.
LOS ANGELES – April 22, 2026 – The documentary HOMELESS, directed by award-winning director Valerio Zanoli and released in collaboration with the National Coalition for the Homeless, will be available on Amazon, Hoopla, and Plex with additional platforms to follow on April 24, making the powerful and timely film accessible to audiences worldwide.
More than a documentary, HOMELESS is a call to action. The film humanizes people experiencing homelessness by giving them a platform to share their stories, dreams, and struggles, while challenging long-held stereotypes and reframing homelessness as a humanitarian emergency that demands compassion, urgency, and collective solutions.
Filmed in Las Vegas – where the stark contrast between luxury and extreme housing insecurity is impossible to ignore – HOMELESS explores the root causes and devastating impact of homelessness through deeply personal storytelling and expert insight. While the city serves as a focal point, the film underscores that homelessness is a global crisis, affecting more than 100 million people worldwide and over 700,000 individuals in the United States on any given night.
The documentary has received widespread praise from homelessness organizations, journalists, and global institutions. HOMELESS premiered at the World Urban Forum, convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and has since been described as “impactful, emotional, human” by the National Coalition for the Homeless and “a very powerful documentary” by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
The film features interviews with leaders and advocates from organizations including the National Coalition for the Homeless, Nevada Homeless Alliance, Nevada Housing Coalition, and the ACLU of Nevada. UN-Habitat has embraced HOMELESS as a tool to support its World Urban Campaign and #HousingMatters initiative, amplifying the urgent need for safe and affordable housing for all.
“This film makes it clear that homelessness is not an individual shortcoming, but the result of broken systems and failed policies,” said Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. “HOMELESS calls on all of us to recognize our shared responsibility and to act with urgency and humanity.”
Adding to the film’s emotional resonance is the original song “One World One Home,” performed by world-renowned singer Bonnie Tyler in collaboration with the Dallas Street Choir. The song, written by Zanoli, is featured in the documentary’s soundtrack and reflects the film’s core message of unity, dignity, and shared humanity.
Over the past two decades, Zanoli has built a career at the intersection of cinema and social impact, creating films that raise awareness and funds for critical causes. HOMELESS is part of his ongoing initiative, Let’s Make a Difference, and all profits from the documentary’s distribution and original music will be used to help secure affordable housing for underprivileged families.
“Too often, homelessness is discussed in numbers or headlines, not in human terms,” said Valerio Zanoli, director of HOMELESS. “This film is about restoring dignity and visibility to people who are too often ignored. If we allow ourselves to truly see one another, change becomes possible.”
HOMELESS, which is distributed by Buffalo 8, will be available to stream on Amazon, Hoopla, and Plex with additional platforms to follow beginning April 24, inviting viewers around the world to bear witness, start conversations, and become part of the solution.
Watch the official trailer now:
About Valerio Zanoli
Valerio Zanoli is a film director and producer whose work bridges cinema and social impact, using storytelling to raise awareness and support for critical humanitarian causes. A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Zanoli has directed and produced multiple internationally distributed films, including THE MINIS, NOT TO FORGET, HOPEFUL NOTES, and ALL YOU CAN DREAM. His recent documentary HOMELESS explores the lived experiences of unhoused individuals and has been presented at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and at the World Urban Forum convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Beyond filmmaking, Zanoli leads housing-focused initiatives such as Helping Vegas, collaborating with nonprofits and community organizations to address the affordable housing crisis. His work has been recognized by state leaders and national organizations for its commitment to social responsibility and community impact.
The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) is a nationwide network of individuals with lived experience of homelessness, advocates, activists, service providers, and community partners united by a shared mission: to end and prevent homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs and civil rights of those experiencing homelessness are respected and protected. NCH envisions a world where everyone has access to safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing. Guided by principles of dignity, equity, and justice, the organization works to address the systemic and structural causes of homelessness, combat discrimination and criminalization, and elevate the leadership of those most impacted. Through collaboration, advocacy, and accountability, NCH advances solutions that uphold housing and basic human needs as fundamental rights.
Buffalo 8 Distribution makes film distribution transparent and accessible by helping filmmakers reach global audiences through innovative marketing strategies and our direct output deals with streaming platforms, networks, and international partners. Based in Santa Monica, Buffalo 8 is a full-service film and media company focused on production, post-production, finance, and distribution. At Buffalo 8, we are an entrepreneurial culture fused with a love of storytelling, the creative arts, and a passion for delivering original stories.
The National Coalition for the Homeless stands in firm opposition to the Trump Administration’s FY27 budget proposal. A 44% cut to HUD is not just a policy decision—it is a moral failure. The President’s proposed cuts represent one of the most dangerous threats to housing stability in modern history, placing millions of our neighbors at risk of losing the very foundation of their lives, their homes.
We must be clear about what this means. Nearly $27 billion would be stripped from life-saving programs like Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing, and Emergency Housing Vouchers. These are not abstract federal programs; they are the difference between stability and survival for over 4.4 million households. As is so often the case, these cuts will fall hardest on communities of color—individuals, families, and neighborhoods that have already endured generations of systemic inequity and discrimination.
We know what works. We know that housing with strong supportive services works. Permanent Supportive Housing works. Targeted, well-funded interventions work. What does not work is pulling the rug out from under people and then blaming them for falling. Proposals such as those in President Trump’s cruel budget to impose time limits on assistance ignore the reality that poverty is not a timed condition; it is a systemic one. Another approach that does not work is arresting and imprisoning people for having nowhere to sleep—an approach embraced by this administration.
These policies don’t solve homelessness; they deepen it.
This budget doesn’t just cut funding, it dismantles systems of care. It threatens programs that support people living with HIV/AIDS, weakens Permanent Supportive Housing, and reinforces the dangerous narrative that people experiencing homelessness are the problem, rather than the systems that have failed them.
At NCH, we reject that narrative. We reject the idea that people should be punished for being poor. And we reject any policy that continues the cycle of criminalization instead of investing in real solutions.
We are calling on Congress to do what is right, reject these harmful cuts, and instead invest in a future where housing is treated as the fundamental human right that it is. Ending homelessness cannot be achieved by slashing programs, but only by choosing people first. Ending homelessness is about addressing the root causes of inequality and making the level of investment that meets the scale of the crisis.
We cannot manage our way out of homelessness with fewer resources. We must methodically and compassionately build our way out with courage, compassion, and a commitment to justice.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) today announced the release of its latest research report, “Homelessness and Racial Equity in the United States: Assessing Post-2018 Progress.” The report provides a comprehensive look at how 31 major U.S. communities have worked to dismantle racial disparities in homelessness since 2018, highlighting critical progress while warning of new risks to federal equity initiatives.
Since 2018, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) elevated racial equity as a federal priority, communities nationwide have faced increased pressure to address the fact that people of color—particularly Black and Native American individuals—remain disproportionately represented among the homeless population.
“This report is about preserving institutional memory and documenting the concrete steps communities are taking to move toward more equitable outcomes,” said Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of NCH. “In a climate of shifting federal policy, it is essential to show that racial equity work is not a political ideology; it is an evidence-based response to documented disparities.”
Key Findings of the Report:
The NCH research team identified several major themes in the progress made by cities and Continuums of Care (CoCs) across the country:
Data-Driven Action: The majority of surveyed communities have moved toward disaggregating homelessness data by race and ethnicity, with many launching real-time dashboards to track equity goals.
Systemic Reform: Communities are increasingly abandoning tools like the VI-SPDAT, which may perpetuate racial bias, in favor of redesigned Coordinated Entry systems that account for racialized risk.
Institutionalizing Equity: The creation of dedicated Racial Equity Committees and multi-system collaborations (including health, criminal justice, and education) has become a standard for guiding long-term strategy.
Targeted Funding: Leading jurisdictions are now incorporating equity criteria into their funding competitions and intentionally investing in culturally specific, Black-led organizations.
Urgent Recommendations:
Despite these strides, the report emphasizes that much work remains. The NCH outlines several calls to action for local leaders and policymakers:
Broaden Data Scope: Include “doubled up” populations (those staying with others) to capture a more accurate picture of housing instability among Latino, youth, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Upstream Intervention: Partner with eviction prevention and healthcare systems to stop the pipeline into homelessness before it begins. Prevention programs are essential to a well-functioning homeless service system.
Sustainable Housing: Prioritize zoning reforms and community land trusts in neighborhoods historically impacted by displacement.
Protect Rights: Advocate for robust source-of-income discrimination protections and fair chance housing policies.
A Call to Local Leadership
With current federal-level rhetoric creating uncertainty for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the NCH report concludes that local leadership is more vital than ever. The document serves as a roadmap for Continuums of Care and municipal governments to maintain their commitment to marginalized communities regardless of the national political environment.
“We cannot effectively address homelessness without confronting the racial inequities that drive it,” the report concludes. “The momentum documented here represents real progress that must not be abandoned.”
For more information or to request a full copy of the report, please contact the National Coalition for the Homeless.
About the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH):
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 prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected.
At the dawn of Black History Month, we are confronting a dangerous reality: hard-won rights secured during the Civil Rights Movement are being systematically eroded in plain sight.
The attack on voting rights has intensified across the country—through voter suppression laws, gerrymandering, purges of voter rolls, and efforts to criminalize civic participation. These assaults are not accidental. They are deliberate strategies designed to silence Black voters and communities of color whose political power has grown over the last generation.
At the same time, the targeting of immigrants—particularly asylum seekers—has escalated with alarming speed. Elected officials, journalists, judges, and advocates of color are increasingly subjected to harassment, intimidation, and threats simply for doing their jobs or speaking the truth. These attacks are meant to send a message: visibility will be punished, dissent will be crushed, and justice will be delayed through fear.
The rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives alongside the dismantling of affirmative action represents another front in this coordinated effort. Under the guise of “neutrality” and “fairness,” policies designed to address centuries of exclusion are being stripped away. The result is not fair, it is a return to structural inequality, reinforced by fear and silence.
History teaches us that progress is never permanent.
Every right we celebrate this month—voting access, fair housing protections, equal employment opportunity, the right to protest—was won through sustained resistance, not passive remembrance. Those victories were not gifted by benevolence; they were demanded by people who refused to accept injustice as inevitable.
We cannot afford complacency.
Now is not the time for silence. Now is not the time for timidity. Now is not the time to confuse civility with justice.
The forces seeking to roll back civil rights are counting on exhaustion, fragmentation, and fear. They are betting that we will grow tired, retreat inward, or convince ourselves that someone else will carry the burden of resistance.
But Black History Month reminds us of a different legacy.
It reminds us that ordinary people, students, faith leaders, workers, mothers, and elders changed the course of this nation by refusing to stand down. They organized it when it was dangerous. They spoke when it was costly. They marched when the law told them not to.
In Minnesota, communities have shown remarkable determination in standing up to the harsh tactics of ICE, refusing to allow fear and intimidation to undermine their resolve. Local organizers, faith groups, and neighbors have mobilized in support of immigrants facing detention and deportation, demonstrating solidarity through legal aid, rapid response networks, and public advocacy. Their commitment sends a powerful message: the pursuit of justice will not be halted by threats or raids, and Minnesotans will continue to defend the rights and dignity of every resident, regardless of immigration status.
The work before us is not new, but it is urgent.
Defending voting rights. Protecting immigrants and asylum seekers. Advancing racial and economic justice. Resisting the criminalization of poverty and protest.
These struggles are inseparable, and they demand our full participation.
Black History Month is not a pause for reflection alone—it is a recommitment. A reminder that justice is not self-executing and freedom is not self-sustaining.
The fight continues because it must. And history is watching what we do next.
Written by Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless
This tradition is rooted in remembrance and in the commitment to lasting change.
On December 18th, we invite you to join us from wherever you are for a livestream of this year’s Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day ceremony. This annual day of remembrance brings communities together to honor the lives of people who died while experiencing homelessness over the past year. Register here to attend the virtual ceremony.
Memorial Event Livestream Date: Thursday, December 18th, 2025 Time: 11 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST / 2 p.m. EST
A full list of speakers for the event will be shared during the livestream.
The National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and the National Consumer Advisory Board encourage communities across the country to mark Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on or around the winter solstice, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. This tradition is rooted in remembrance and in the commitment to lasting change. As night stretches across the nation, we pause to honor neighbors, friends, and loved ones who lost their lives without the basic security of a home.
Each year, this ceremony serves as a moment to acknowledge the injustice of lives cut short, to reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect the dignity of every person, and to renew our dedication to a future where housing is guaranteed to all. Communities across the country join in this observance to make clear that no one should die for lack of housing. You can learn more about the significance of this day through our HPMD Advocacy Agenda.
If you would like to host a local event, there are many ways communities take part, including candlelight gatherings, readings of names, spiritual services, marches, and public education efforts. Resources for planning an event, last year’s national livestream, and information on local activities and mortality data are available here.
If you wish to honor someone who has died while experiencing homelessness in your community, you may submit their name for inclusion in our “in memoriam” video during the livestream ceremony. You can share a name by clicking here.
As the longest night of the year approaches, we hope you will join us in remembrance and reflection. Together, we carry forward the work of ensuring that no life is lived or lost without the dignity of a safe and stable home.
Homelessness ends when we all have safe, affordable and accessible housing.
But our communities are facing unprecedented challenges to our collective safety and efforts to house all of our neighbors.
This page serves as a resource for those fighting back against occupation in Washington, DC, as well as other communities that have been experiencing militarization and abductions of immigrants, people of color, and people who are unhoused.
“You can’t arrest yourself out of homelessness,” Donald Whitehead ED @NCH
On CNN, National Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Donald Whitehead delivers an urgent message about the White House’s escalating threats to people experiencing homelessness and the troubling ripple effects now being felt in our nation’s capital.
In this powerful interview, Donald exposes the harmful policies that jeopardize the safety, dignity, and basic human rights of our unhoused neighbors. He calls out both the recent cuts to HUD programs, critical lifelines that fund housing and services, and the growing push, seen in DC’s new ordinance, to forcibly clear encampments and funnel people into institutions against their will.
This is not just a political issue. It is a fight for human lives. The choices made will determine whether we build a society rooted in compassion or one that criminalizes poverty. Watch the video now and share it widely. Our voices matter, and together we can demand housing, dignity, and justice for all.
Oppose Cuts to Housing and Homelessness Programs in Trump’s FY2026 Budget
The National Coalition for the Homeless strongly opposes President Donald J. Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Presidential budgets reflect an administration’s core principles and priorities. President Donald J. Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget signals a troubling lack of concern for vulnerable populations, including children, elderly veterans, and marginalized communities. Rather than upholding a vision of equity and care, the proposal suggests a retreat from programs that provide critical support to those most in need.
Budgets are more than just financial documents; they are moral and political statements that reveal an administration’s priorities, values, and ambitions. When a president releases a budget proposal, it is not merely a matter of accounting—it is a roadmap that outlines the administration’s vision for the nation, underscoring the programs it seeks to fund, the initiatives it aims to curtail, and the populations it intends to support or deprioritize. Analyzing these budgets is critical in understanding the immediate fiscal realities and the long-term implications on society.
A presidential budget is rarely enacted in its original form. Rather, it serves as a starting point for negotiations among Congress, advocacy groups, and the public. The budget debate often becomes a reflection of broader ideological divisions, with each side using funding priorities to advance its vision for the country.
Donald Whitehead, the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, asserts that the President’s budget blatantly disregards marginalized communities. “Last year, we witnessed the highest number of individuals experiencing homelessness, and the administration proposes to abandon effective, evidence-based strategies in favor of approaches that will precipitate a catastrophic surge in homelessness. If implemented in its current form, this budget has the potential to cause preventable deaths.”
President Trump’s proposal includes a $26.72 billion cut to HUD’s rental assistance programs—including Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), Public Housing, Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, and Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities—by consolidating them into a single State Rental Assistance Block Grant. This restructuring would amount to an unprecedented 43% reduction in rental assistance and impose a two-year time limit on rental aid for “able-bodied adults.” States would be “encouraged to provide funding to share in the responsibility to ensure that similar levels of recipients can benefit from the block grant.”
The budget also proposes a $532 million cut to Homelessness Assistance Grants (HAG), and the elimination of both the Continuum of Care (CoC) program and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. These would be folded into the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program. In addition, the Permanent Supportive Housing and VASH programs would be discontinued.
The proposal calls for the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs. It would also eliminate the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant programs, cutting $479 million and consolidating these into the formula-based IHBG program. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program would be discontinued as well, with the justification that “such programs are duplicative in purpose and would be better left to state and local governments.”
Further, the budget would reduce funding for HUD’s Healthy Homes and Lead Hazards programs by $296 million, citing existing unobligated balances. It would eliminate the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program, which incentivizes inclusive local zoning practices, and the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which supports the investigation and adjudication of housing discrimination complaints. The proposal would maintain support for the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), which funds state and local agencies tasked with enforcing the Fair Housing Act.
Take Action: Protect and Expand HUD’s Vital Affordable Housing and Homelessness Assistance Programs
Fully fund the renewal of all existing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) contracts and 60,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs).
Increase funding for public housing operations and public housing capital needs.
Allocate $4.922 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program.
Provide $20 million for the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP).
Ensure at least $1.3 billion for HUD’s Tribal housing programs and $150 million in competitive funds targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.
Washington, D.C. — On April 22nd, thousands of advocates will mobilize in Washington, D.C., and in cities across the country as part of a powerful movement led by the National Coalition for the Homeless, in partnership with the National Homelessness Law Center, VOCAL-US, and a broad coalition of grassroots organizations, to demand Housing NOW!
Main Rally Details
Location: Capitol Reflecting Pool, Washington, DC (east side of pool, between the pool and the Capitol building) Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET, Tuesday, April 22, 2025
“Homelessness is not a crime, it’s a policy choice,” said Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. He urges elected officials to reject harmful budget cuts and stand against the mistreatment of the homeless.
Last year, the billionaire-backed Supreme Court ruled that it’s acceptable to ticket and arrest people who can’t afford a place to live. This year, federal budget cuts threaten to leave more people poor, homeless, and sick, while laws criminalizing homelessness mean more people will be arrested and institutionalized for trying to survive.
On April 22, join actions in D.C. and across the country to demand another way forward! Nobody should be homeless or without healthcare in a country as rich as ours!
A Collective Outcry:
YES to housing and healthcare. NO to budget cuts, fines, and jail. This national day of action will send a clear message: we will not tolerate policies that punish poverty while ignoring real solutions.
What’s Happening on April 22?
Rally at the U.S. Capitol: Advocates, impacted individuals, and allies will demand permanent housing, access to healthcare, and an end to the criminalization of homelessness.
National Solidarity Actions: Rallies, marches, and protests will take place in cities across the U.S., united in purpose.
Powerful Stories: Unhoused leaders and allies will share firsthand accounts of survival and proven solutions that work.
“Instead of solving this crisis, politicians are doubling down on cruelty: cutting vital services while criminalizing poverty. We need Housing NOW—not handcuffs, not jail, not more suffering,” said Donald Whitehead.
The National Coalition for the Homeless and its partners invite you to join us on April 22. Take action. Demand real solutions: Housing and Healthcare for ALL, Not Budget Cuts, Fines, and Jail.
Learn more about the Housing NOW! National Day of Action:
The National Coalition for the Homeless advocates for increased public investment in affordable housing, services, and resources for housing stability. We create lasting systems change by developing leaders with lived experience who know how to permanently solve homelessness. We all want the same thing—a safe place to call home.
