National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

Home » Page 10

Held annually on the winter solstice and longest night of the year, National Homeless Persons’ Memorial day is an opportunity to remember those we have lost too early due to the violence and effects of homelessness. Communities take part with solemn services and stern advocacy for an end to homelessness.

One Life, Too Many. Another Year, Too Long.
Homeless Persons Memorial Day 2023 National Vigil
Thursday, December 21, 3:00pm-4: 30pm EST
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6s3Zeb8rQHGQ7EECLwVuAw

Held annually the week before Thanksgiving, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an opportunity for our communities to come together to contribute, advocate, reach out and educate, but most of all, take action to end homelessness.

 

On Saturday, September 29th to 30th, the Capitol Hilton Hotel became the epicenter of change and transformation! For the first time since 2002, the National Coalition for the Homeless held a conference in Washington, DC, marking the gathering of those with recent homeless experience together with lawmakers and federal agencies. Through a whirlwind of networking, spellbinding storytelling, inspiring artistry, and dynamic collaboration, attendees discussed action steps toward truly ending homelessness in America.

See photos

Guest Spotlight

The 2023 Leadership Conference was moderated by individuals with firsthand experience with homelessness. Our generous sponsors had guaranteed the participation of a minimum of 100 advocates from across the country, all of whom had personal experience with homelessness, enabling them to travel to Washington, DC for this pivotal summit.

Photo Gallery

The 2023 Leadership Conference was held at the Hilton Capitol Hill, located just a few blocks away from both Union Station and the U.S. Capitol. The standard meeting agenda spanned from 9 AM to 5 PM EST, complemented by supplementary networking activities scheduled for the evening of September 29th. The conference crescendoed with an Awards Ceremony on the evening of September 30th. You can obtain the 2023 Leadership Conference brochure to gain a comprehensive view of the program guide and the featured speakers.

Download Brochure

Every night, in the United States, nearly 600,000 people live on the street. National Coalition for the Homeless considers this a severe humanitarian crisis, as people experiencing homelessness often endure unimaginable hardships, facing hunger, exposure to harsh weather conditions, violence, and health risks. Treating the issue as an emergency is not only ethically right, but also strategically beneficial: By acting decisively and promptly, communities can make substantial progress toward ending homelessness and building a more just and compassionate society.

An encouraging project headed in the right direction has been taking shape in downtown Las Vegas and is contributing positively to a state grappling with homelessness challenges. National Low Income Housing Coalition has reported that Nevada faces the most severe affordable housing shortage in the nation. With a deficit of 84,000 units for its low-income and homeless populations, this state is notably affected by the lack of accessible housing options.

For ten years, filmmaker and real estate investor Valerio Zanoli has served the underprivileged community of Southern Nevada through his project Helping Vegas and the unwavering assistance of the several non-profits he collaborates with. He has successfully provided housing for more than 700 families and, beginning in 2021, he undertook the bold venture of revitalizing and expanding two rooming houses that will soon offer safe and stable accommodation to up to 25 low-income individuals and families every night (www.roominghouses.info).

Christine Hess, Executive Director of Nevada Housing Coalition, expressed her support for the role of rooming houses to serve the most vulnerable:

A rooming house is a dwelling with multiple bedrooms rented out individually, with shared bathrooms and kitchens. They are an important part of the affordable housing patchwork and often serve as the home before an individual must face homelessness, and they may also be the first step back to stability. The renovation and expansion of these two rooming houses is one example of an alternative solution that can impact multiple lives for years to come in Las Vegas.

For many years, Zanoli has used the two rooming houses to help the underserved population of Las Vegas: All the guests were ex-homeless people who were part of programs at various charities, and most of them were senior citizens, veterans, and minorities. The residents could enjoy the privacy of their bedrooms while fostering a sense of community and being reintegrated into society. They had the chance to have a place to call “home” and, above all, to have what is necessary to change their life and get back on their feet.

After being vacated in 2021, the two buildings underwent major renovations, and now have new electrical wiring and panels, AC and heating units, plumbing and sewer systems, floors, windows, doors, bathrooms, kitchens, stairs, drywall, stucco, paint, etc.

The Salvation Army was one of the organizations that could rely on the two rooming houses for its clients:

Before being vacated, the two rooming houses at 517 and 523 North 1st Street in Las Vegas, NV were often used as our last resort, as they housed people no one else wanted, no matter their past evictions and criminal history. It was laudable that people were moved in without any credit checks or applications fees, especially considering that some of our clients are particularly vulnerable and needy. The two rooming houses ensured that our veterans were not left behind. This one-of-a-king affordable housing project is an invaluable tool that will allow a great number of extremely low-income individuals and families to be rescued from homelessness.

U.S. Vets was another organization that used the two buildings to house dozens of veterans in need:

The 2 rooming houses have been of paramount importance to our underserved community in Southern Nevada. U.S. Vets has been housing veterans in these 2 rooming houses since 2015, until they were recently vacated. The 2 buildings used to be home to 18 families at the time, and they will house up to 25 families per night after their planned expansion. It should be emphasized that the 2 rooming houses were our last – if not only – resort to house those veterans no other landlord wanted to help, because of previous evictions or criminal records.

Zanoli and his team have been determined to complete the renovations as soon as possible and, thanks to their tenaciousness, they will soon re-open both buildings and make them available for Clark County Social Service to utilize them for those people who need them the most.

Tim Burch, former Director of the Social Service Department, recognized the importance of this undertaking:

 

The recent surge in rents and the lack of options for low-income families are making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to survive. Clark County Social Service welcomes qualified partners who are willing to house our most needy members of society. CCSS is eager to move people into these 2 rooming houses as soon as renovations are completed.

In addition, the project is supported by Michele Fuller-Hallauer, Manager of the Social Service Department; Teresa Etcheberry and Randy Reinoso, Deputy Directors of the Social Service Department; and Kevin Schiller, Manager of Clark County. The latter recently took part in Zanoli’s upcoming documentary HOMELESS, which follows the stories of five people living on the street and features interviews with prominent housing advocates, including Donald Whitehead Jr., Executive Director of National Coalition for the Homeless. In the film, Schiller emphasizes the urgency of the situation and invites everyone to be part of the solution:

Every one of us is impacted by financial loss or knows somebody that is struggling in our community. What we are really trying to do is address the needs of people at their level, so they have a level of decency: They wake up in their own bed, they have four walls, and they are able to call a home a “home.” There is still a long road ahead of us, and we need to walk it together.

While most entrepreneurs measure performance in profit and return on investment, Zanoli took a different approach and has been running a successful business in the unique field of social entrepreneurship, which generates a positive “return to society.” He is committed to making a difference through the buildings he renovates and uses to provide housing to the underserved populations in Las Vegas, and through the movies he produces and directs to raise awareness and funds for important causes: living with Alzheimer’s disease, bullying, childhood illnesses, and homelessness.

Catrina Grigsby-Thedford, Executive Director of Nevada Homeless Alliance praised Valerio Zanoli and his mission:

Valerio has helped an incredible number of veterans get back on their feet. He has always shown uncommon compassion and has never turned down a veteran in need. These veterans are people who bravely served our country, and it is extraordinary that Valerio offers them the chance and hope everyone should have. Having an ally like Valerio on our side is a precious resource and an inspiration. We share a deep desire to change the world around us and impact the future to end homelessness.

Zanoli knows the importance of establishing connections as a key factor in a project of this magnitude. By bringing together service organization from the Las Vegas community, he has truly created a support system for the men and women he houses. He modestly brushes off the success of the renovations of the two rooming houses as “being lucky to have passionate supporters,” and he recognizes that it was made possible by the gracious support of:

Las Vegas Host Lions Club and Lions Clubs International 

The Las Vegas Host Lions Club, of which Zanoli is an esteemed member, is part of Lions Clubs International. Moved to action by the motto “We Serve,” the Lions are the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 48,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe. At the beginning of every meeting, all Lions make a toast: “Not above you. Not below you. But with you.” The name Lions was chosen because of the symbolism of what a lion represents: courage, strength, activity, and fidelity. The Las Vegas Host Lions Club has at its core a mission statement that is compelling and important: to empower volunteers to serve their communities and meet humanitarian needs.

The Home Depot Foundation 

 The Home Depot Foundation donated some building material. Furthermore, Team Depot will soon work to transform the housing facilities through interior and exterior painting, hardware installation, and kitchen and bathroom upgrades. Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot as more than 35,000 of the company’s associates are veterans or military spouses. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $475 million in veteran causes and improved more than 55,000 veteran homes and facilities, ensuring more of our nation’s heroes have a safe, comfortable place to call home that fits their individual needs.

Renewal by Andersen 

Renewal by Andersen donated and installed new windows. The company is the start-to-finish window replacement division of Andersen Corporation, winner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. Renewal by Andersen offers a replacement process that includes an in-home consultation, custom manufacturing, and installation through one of the largest nationwide networks of window replacement specialists.

Harvison House 

Harvison House donated furniture for the project. This non-profit organization serves military veterans and families by providing home furnishings and medical equipment they would be unable to acquire otherwise. Harvison House reaches into the community for gently used or repairable furniture and equipment, cleans and repairs them, and delivers them to veterans’ homes.

Every one of us is impacted by financial loss or knows somebody that is struggling in our community. What we are really trying to do is address the needs of people at their level, so they have a level of decency: They wake up in their own bed, they have four walls, and they are able to call a home a “home.” There is still a long road ahead of us, and we need to walk it together.

The renovation of these rooming houses is a great example of how businesses no longer need to be focused exclusively on making money. This project should be used as inspiration for others to include social responsibility in what defines them as successful and allow themselves to be guided by how their operations benefit solutions to social, cultural, and environmental issues.

National Coalition for the Homeless believes that, as a society, we have a collective responsibility to care for our most vulnerable members and ensure they have access to stable housing and the support they need to thrive. Every individual has the right to adequate housing and a standard of living that ensures their health and well-being.

You can find additional resources and help us eradicate homelessness by visiting the website https://nationalhomeless.org/homelessness-in-the-us/

Date: Fall 2023 (September to December 2023)
Reporting to: Adaora Onuora—Housing Policy Analyst  
*This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering fellowship assistance.

How to Respond: Please send a resume or background information including the school you are enrolled in and a cover letter explaining why you would like to join the NCH team as well as if you will be receiving course credit for this internship. Please send your information to aonuora at nationalhomeless dot org.

Internship Summary:  The NCH Policy Intern will be able to work on hybrid schedule of some in person and some remote work.  We have the ability for this to be an all remote workspace.  This individual will participate in the every other week policy workgroup to implement the goals of crafting legislation that will have an impact in ending homelessness. The intern will assist with an advocacy effort to interview staff, board or members with an interest in putting together strong policy legislation in the areas of racial equity, civil rights, income, housing, education or healthcare. NCH will focus on preparing legislative briefings to support high priority pieces of legislation.  The policy intern will attempt to merge the policy objectives of the organization with those of the Bring America Home Now campaign to develop a comprehensive list of policy priorities.

The policy intern will track updates on various pieces of legislation and will assist to inform the field on legislative successes or setbacks.  This intern will work to build partners in our field sites, and work to get that message out to elected officials, community leaders and the general public about our policy goals. They will assist in developing support among grassroots leaders and their organizations.  Finally, the intern will work to track and report on contacts with legislators on these high priority policy areas and will assist with scheduling petitions, calls, or visits.

Specific Position Activities:

  • Attend weekly meetings with staff and monthly committee meetings around policy improvements.
  • Keep legislative contacts updated and available to the policy team.
  • Contribute articles to the weekly newsletter, social media and website on our NCH policy objectives.
  • Gather information for a yearly reports on policy successes.
  • Track local/state/federal legislation related to homelessness and poverty.
  • Gather statistics and first person accounts that can be used to reinforce the need for certain policy objectives
  • Update internal documents that track the process of creating and publishing a policy update for use in our advocacy.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Ability to juggle multiple projects
  • Superior research and written communication skills
  • Working in a diverse setting with all kinds of people
  • Ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
  • Ability to research news and interview individuals

Preferred Experience or Skills that will be developed as part of the internship:

  • Direct service with homeless/low income populations
  • Experience in writing promotional materials
  • Experience in event planning
  • Experience in digital and social media writing.

Mission Statement:  The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who were once homeless, activists and advocates, community and faith-based homeless service providers, and others committed to a single mission.  That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.  We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work.

Organizational Goals:   The National Coalition for the Homeless remains a 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 either homeless or at risk of homelessness. To end homelessness in the U.S., we use the following strategies to accomplish our mission:  lobbying, policy analysis, litigation, public education, community organizing, research and technical assistance.

Overview of Campaign: The National Coalition for the Homeless is spearheading the launch of Bring America Home Now: A Comprehensive Grassroots Campaign to End Homelessness in the U.S. Led by people who have themselves experienced homelessness, we will focus on the passage of federal legislation aimed at addressing the interconnected solutions to the decades-long epidemic of homelessness in the United States. The campaign focuses on 6 major policy areas: Housing, Health, Livable Incomes, Education/Training, Civil Rights, and Racial Equity.

Report Date: Fall Semester 2023 (September to December 2023)

Supervisor: Francis Kalombo Ngoy, Interim Campaign Director for Bring America Home Now Campaign

Internship Position Summary: The Innovative Intern will have the ability to work remotely. This individual will work to further the goals of the Bring America Home Now Campaign. The intern will assist with outreach efforts to potential and current partners of the campaign. The intern will assist hosting events around the Bring America Home campaign in order to push policy changes to benefit those without housing. The innovative intern will occasionally work with the communications team to promote awareness around the campaign. The Innovative intern will help to coordinate all staff involvement in public events hosted by the campaign. They will assist in working to find additional avenues for promoting the work of the campaign and will work to put together a youth support network for the campaign. The intern will work with the administrator to document the success of the engagements with follow up tools and resources. Ultimately, they will exemplify interest and passion to help cease all homelessness in America through their work. Bring America Homes Now Campaign seeks an individual that not only has a great work ethic but a personality to match.

Specific Position Activities:

  • This individual will participate in and attend all assigned campaign meetings.
  • Manage the policy tracker and keep the team up to date on all legislation movements pertaining to hunger and housing.
  • Assist the national Deputy Campaign Director and the Administrator in outreach, communication, and recruitment efforts to attract new partners to the campaign.
  • Provide insightful input that can be implemented to help the campaign reach its goal of 7,000 partners especially among college and high school students.
  • Assist the Administrator in updating the Bring America Home Facebook and Website.
  • Execute any and all other task assigned by the national Deputy Campaign Director

Required Skills:

  • Superior research skills
  • Working in a diverse and inclusive environment
  • Ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
  • Ability to create policy memos and read through debriefs
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Experiences:

  • Direct service with homeless/low income populations
  • Recruitment of agencies and organizations to participate.
  • Experience in writing high-level research papers
  • Experience in digital and social media writing.

Application Process: All Responses should be submitted by

  • Email to fkalombongoy@nationalhomeless.org
  • Email Subject should state “Bring America Home Now: Innovative Intern Application.”
  • Provide a cover letter and a resume or background information. No more than four total pages.
  • Please include the University/College you are currently enrolled in.
  • Optional: Disclose whether you will be receiving course credit for this internship

Bring America Home Now Campaign Francis Kalombo Ngoy Ph. (516) 417-7972

Email: fkalombongoy@nationalhomeless.org Website: https://www.bringamericahomenow.org/

This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering course credit.

Date: Fall 2023 (September to December 2023)
Reporting to: DeBorah Gilbert White, Director of Education
*This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering fellowship assistance.

How to Respond: Please send a resume or background information including the school you are enrolled in and a cover letter explaining why you would like to join the NCH team as well as if you will be receiving course credit for this internship. Please send your information to dgilbertwhite at nationalhomeless dot org.

Internship Position Summary: The Homeless Speaker’s Bureau Intern can work remotely or some hours in the office at the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington DC. This individual will work with the formerly homeless individuals who are a part of the Faces of Homelessness panel of speakers to implement the goals of dispelling myths about homelessness and better educating students and voters about the realities of living without housing in the United States. This position supports the Speaker’s Bureau director’s strategic plan in the development and maintenance of the NCH national speaker’s network, and the policy and advocacy work of the organization. Duties include identifying and connecting with institutions, organizations and groups across the U.S. to develop speaking opportunities for Faces of Homelessness Speaker’s Bureau members. 

The intern will assist with the development of Speaker’s Bureau materials and resources. The Speaker’s Bureau intern will assist with marketing the program and increase its visibility on social media platforms. The intern will assist in outreach to other speaker’s bureaus in the United States and work to recruit additional speakers. The intern will assist with updating the manual for starting a speaker’s bureau to include public speaking tips and information about working with very low income and those without housing. The Speaker’s Bureau intern will help to market the program and increase its visibility in social media. They will assist in working to find additional venues for the speakers to educate the public. Finally, the intern will work with the coordinator to document the success of the engagements with follow up tools and resources.

Specific Position Activities:

  • Attend weekly meetings with staff to stay current on the work of the organization.
  • Contribute social media posts or videos by lifting up the work of the speakers to advertise the program both locally and nationally.
  • Gather information from the people who receive a presentation to improve the talks and show the impact on the overall understanding of homelessness.
  • Connect with institutions, groups, and organizations to increase speaking opportunities and Speaker’s Bureau visibility.
  • Assist with the development of materials and resources to support the speaker’s bureau network.
  • Conduct outreach to other speaker’s programs in the United States and work to form a network of homeless speaker’s bureaus.
  • Assist with the creation and development of a manual for starting speaker’s bureaus in parts of the country that do not have a local program.

Required Skills:

  • superior research and written communication skills.
  • good interpersonal skills.
  • work in a diverse setting with all kinds of people
  • ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
  • ability to research programs and interview individuals
  • ability to work with those who have overcome the trauma of homelessness.

Preferred Experiences:

  • Direct service with homeless/low income populations
  • Experience in public/community relations or marketing
  • Experience with various social media platforms.


Mission Statement: The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who were once homeless, activists and advocates, community and faith-based homeless service providers, and others committed to a single mission. That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work.

Organizational Goals: The National Coalition for the Homeless remains a 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 either homeless or at risk of homelessness. To end homelessness in the U.S., we use the following strategies to accomplish our mission: lobbying, policy analysis, litigation, public education, community organizing, research and technical assistance.

Date: Fall Semester 2023 (September to December 2023)
Reporting to: Kenia Mazariegos, Assistant Director of Communications
*This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering course credit for your internship.

Internship Summary:  The Digital Organizing Intern spans the work of the fundraising and communications departments to ensure coordinated and effective organizing and education through social media. Staff is currently working remotely, but office space is available for those requesting to work in the offices of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington DC. 

This individual will work to further the goals of the Coalition as well as the comprehensive campaign to end homelessness called Bring America Home Now. They will work extensively in Network for Good and WordPress content management systems, as well as in Canva or other designated graphic design software. The intern will work with the communication’s team to get the views and positions of NCH out in the media and especially on social media, as well as promoting fundraising and programmatic events. They will assist in working to find additional avenues for promoting the work of the Coalition. Finally, the Digital Organizing Intern will work to implement the communications plan staff have initiated. 

Specific Position Activities:

  • Attend weekly meetings with staff to keep updated on the work of the agency
  • Draft and post social media content, including images, infographics or videos
  • Solicit staff for their input on social and newsletter content
  • Assist with development of new website, adding/editing content via WordPress
  • Manage, research and update Donor records
  • Develop reports from Donor Database, website and social media
  • Monitor and make posts to social media pages

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Ability to juggle multiple projects
  • Ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
  • Keen attention to detail, basic understanding of database structure (Excel or similar)
  • Knowledge and aptitude with web and graphic design (WordPress, Canva)
  • Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Experience using digital and social media for business
  • Personal experience with homelessness, or other work with the population of people who have been unhoused is a plus, but not required

Skills to be Obtained:

  • Detailed knowledge of donor database structure
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, and/or Access
  • Understanding of communication in the modern digital environment
  • Experience with fundraising for nonprofit activity
  • Reporting and analyzing raw data

Application Process: Please send a resume or background information including the school you are enrolled in and a cover letter explaining why you would like to join the NCH team as well as if you will be receiving course credit for this internship. Please respond via email to kmazariegos (at) nationalhomeless.org.


Mission Statement:  The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who were once homeless, activists and advocates, community and faith-based homeless service providers, and others committed to a single mission.  That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.  We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work.

Organizational Goals:   The National Coalition for the Homeless remains a 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 either homeless or at risk of homelessness. To end homelessness in the U.S., we use the following strategies to accomplish our mission:  lobbying, policy analysis, litigation, public education, community organizing, research and technical assistance.

Date: Fall 2023 (September to December 2023)
Reporting to: Kelvin Lassiter—Income Policy Analyst 
*This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering fellowship assistance.

How to Respond: Please send a resume or background information including the school you are enrolled in and a cover letter explaining why you would like to join the NCH team as well as if you will be receiving course credit for this internship. Please send your information to klassiter at nationalhomeless dot org.

Internship Summary: The NCH Policy Intern will be able to work on a hybrid schedule of some in person and some remote work.  We have the ability for this to be an all remote workspace.  This individual will participate in the every other week policy workgroup to implement the goals of crafting legislation that will have an impact in ending homelessness. The intern will assist with an advocacy effort to interview staff, board or members with an interest in putting together strong policy legislation in the areas of racial equity, civil rights, income, housing, education or healthcare. NCH will focus on preparing legislative briefings to support high priority pieces of legislation.

The intern will track updates on various pieces of legislation and will assist to inform the field on legislative successes or setbacks. This intern will work to build partners in our field sites, and work to get that message out to elected officials, community leaders and the general public about our policy goals. They will assist in developing support among grassroots leaders and their organizations. Finally, the intern will work to track and report on contacts with legislators on these high priority policy areas and will assist with scheduling petitions, calls, or visits.

Specific Position Activities:

  • Attend weekly meetings with staff and monthly committee meetings around policy improvements.
  • Keep legislative contacts updated and available to the policy team.
  • Contribute articles to the weekly newsletter, social media and website on our NCH policy objectives.
  • Gather information for a yearly reports on policy successes.
  • Track local/state/federal legislation related to homelessness and poverty.
  • Gather statistics and first person accounts that can be used to reinforce the need for certain policy objectives.
  • Update internal documents that track the process of creating and publishing a policy update for use in our advocacy.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Ability to juggle multiple projects
  • Superior research and written communication skills
  • Working in a diverse setting with all kinds of people
  • Ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
  • Ability to research news and interview individuals

Preferred Experience or Skills that will be developed as part of the internship:

  • Direct service with homeless/low income populations
  • Experience in writing promotional materials
  • Experience in event planning
  • Experience in digital and social media writing.


Mission Statement:  The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who were once homeless, activists and advocates, community and faith-based homeless service providers, and others committed to a single mission.  That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.  We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work.

Organizational Goals:   The National Coalition for the Homeless remains a 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 either homeless or at risk of homelessness. To end homelessness in the U.S., we use the following strategies to accomplish our mission:  lobbying, policy analysis, litigation, public education, community organizing, research and technical assistance.

Date: Fall 2023 (September to December 2023)
Reporting to: Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of NCH
*This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering fellowship assistance.

How to Respond: Please send a resume or background information including the school you are enrolled in and a cover letter explaining why you would like to join the NCH team as well as if you will be receiving course credit for this internship. Please send your information to dwhitehead at nationalhomeless dot org.

Internship Summary: The NCH Racial Equity Intern will be a hybrid position with some time in person as well as remote work. This individual will participate in the Homeless Racial Equity workgroup to implement the goals of reducing discrimination and injustice within the housing and homeless system. The intern will work to encourage other civil rights organizations to adopt homelessness in their own advocacy. They will assist with outreach to advocates throughout the United States to encourage diversity in leadership and board appointments to include more people who have experienced homelessness in leadership. They will do outreach to graduates of the lived experience training academy to encourage their continued partnership in building power in the local community and submitting videos for our social media campaign focusing on equity issues. The intern will assist with updating a literature reference guide to supplement a racial equity curriculum with a focus on successful equity projects in the local community. The Racial Equity intern will work with advocates from across the United States to implement policy changes to reduce inequality. This intern will work to set up meetings with key policy makers to forward NCH policy objectives. The intern will help assure that equity issues are a part of the summer outreach and fall leadership conference. Finally, the intern will work to highlight inequality and discriminatory policies that act as a block to stable housing in the local community.

Specific Position Activities:

  • Attend weekly meetings with staff and national committee around homeless racial equity work.
  • Collect news stories from around the county about discrimination and racial inequality.
  • Contribute articles to the monthly newsletters, social media and website on discriminatory policies and the disproportionate impact on ethnic minority populations in the United States.
  • Gather information for a reports on the struggle for racial equity.
  • Track local/state/federal legislation related to homelessness and poverty.
  • Highlight past champions of racial equity and how they relate to homelessness.
  • Track anti-racist policies and equity plans in various jurisdictions in the United States
  • Update manuals to be used by community leaders in the area of anti-bias training materials.
  • Assist with the the fall leadership conference where needed.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Ability to juggle multiple projects
  • Superior research and written communication skills
  • Working in a diverse setting with all kinds of people
  • Ability to seek input from those with previous experience with homelessness
  • Ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
  • Ability to research news and interview individuals

Preferred Experience or Skills that will be developed as part of the internship:

  • Direct service with homeless/low income populations
  • Experience in writing promotional materials
  • Experience in event planning
  • Experience in digital and social media writing.

Mission Statement: The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who were once homeless, activists and advocates, community and faith-based homeless service providers, and others committed to a single mission. That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end
homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work.

Organizational Goals: The National Coalition for the Homeless remains a 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 either homeless or at risk of homelessness. To end homelessness in the U.S., we use the following strategies to accomplish our mission: lobbying, policy analysis, litigation, public education, community organizing, research and technical assistance.