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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
As the list of confirmed rallies grows by the day, one truth becomes undeniable: America’s homelessness crisis persists not from lack of resources, but from lack of political will.
“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:
https://nationalhomeless.org/housing-now-national-day-of-action/
ABOUT THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
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.
Ready to take action? These guides have everything you need to plan a powerful local event for the Housing NOW! National Day of Action.
NCH 10-Point Plan to End Homelessness in Your City, County or State
Looking for real solutions to homelessness? Download NCH’s 10-Point Model for Homeless Legislation, a powerful alternative to the harmful Cicero Institute proposal. This guide empowers cities, counties, and states to create humane, housing-focused policy. Share it far and wide!
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Join the movement! Use these graphics to show your support for Housing NOW! and share them with your network.
Dear Congress…
Dear Congress…
The people united can never be defeated!
We need housing…
Over 150 cities have passed laws against homelessness…
COPY & PASTE
| The cost of living keeps rising, wages aren’t keeping up, and more people are being forced to sleep outside. But billionaires are set up to keep getting richer. On April 22, a year after the Supreme Court heard arguments to make being homeless a crime, we’re joining groups across the country to say that ain’t right! We demand housing – not handcuffs! We need investments in real solutions that actually house people, not budget cuts that will make homelessness worse. |
COPY & PASTE
| Everyone deserves a safe, secure, and dignified place to live. No one deserves to be punished for having no choice but to sleep outside, but a year ago the Supreme Court ruled that ticketing and arresting the homeless is legal. Enough is enough. We’re tired of failed tactics that only make homelessness worse. We need #HousingNow! |
COPY & PASTE
| Save the Date!! On April 22, advocates from across the nation are demanding Housing Now! Let’s send a message that we need housing & healthcare, not tickets and arrests! Will you join us? |
Do you have personal experience with being unhoused? We want to hear from you! Please take a survey to inform our national policy! (All participation is voluntary and anonymous. Email addresses are collected for verification purposes only. NCH never shares identifying information without your explicit permission.)
Survey: Are you feeling the effect of Federal funding changes?Survey: Share your experience with Immigration and Housing
Below please find actions you can take right now to end homelessness:
YES to Housing and Healthcare, NO to Funding cuts, Fines and Jail
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that communities can arrest and ticket people for living outside, and, one year later, over 150 cities have passed laws making it illegal to be homeless without addressing the dire lack of affordable housing that causes homelessness.
On April 22, 2025, thousands of advocates will rally nationwide, and in Washington DC at the Capitol, to demand Housing NOW! We know what ends homelessness, and we will call on our elected officials to reject budget cuts that only worsen the crisis and stand against fines and mistreatment of the homeless.
We know what works! Communities are fighting for proven solutions. We want to use this moment to lift up what YOU are fighting for in your community. This is an opportunity for YOU to share your story.
If you’d like to host your own event, fill out the registration form to be featured on the official Housing NOW! National Day of Action website. Click the button below to get involved!
WATCH THE RALLY
Housing Now: Stories that Demand Change
Housing insecurity affects millions, and behind every number is a real person with a powerful story. In support of the Housing Now rally, many individuals experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, or living in shelters have courageously shared their lived experiences. Through these stories, we aim to show the people behind the statistics—because homelessness isn’t just a number; it’s a human crisis that demands urgent action.
We are grateful to everyone who has participated so far. Your voices are driving change, challenging stigma, and demanding that housing be recognized as a basic human right.
We also continue to welcome new story submissions. If you’d like to read the stories already shared or tell your own, please click the link below.
How to Participate:
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Submit a written story using the button below. Answer this question: How is housing impacting you?
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Or, share a video on Instagram or TikTok—tag @nationalhomeless and use #HousingNow to be heard.
Thank you for raising your voice and taking action. Together, we’re building a movement.
Will you stand with us?! Share your event and make an impact! Register now to take action.
Download Printable Rally Signs & Social Media Graphics
Whether you’re joining us on April 22nd or hosting your own Housing NOW! event, click below to download printable rally signs and social media graphics. Share them with your community and help spread the word!
Background: Last April 22nd, groups fighting to end homelessness held “Housing Not Handcuffs” rallies and actions in DC and cities across the country during the “Grants Pass” Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution does not protect the poor and homeless against the cruel and unusual punishment of being ticketed or arrested even when they have no choice but to sleep outside. Since the decision, over 150 cities have passed laws that make it illegal to be homeless and laws and budget cuts that will make homelessness worse are spreading.
This year, federal budget cuts will leave more people poor, homeless and sick; and laws that make it illegal to be homeless means more people will be arrested for trying to survive. More and more people struggle to pay rent and more and more people are becoming homeless. Instead of focusing on real solutions like housing and services, Donald Trump, Congress, and their billionaire cronies are pushing budget cuts AND criminalization, while cutting their taxes for the rich and increasing their power.
The real solution to homelessness is housing, along with care and services for those struggling with unmet needs. But instead of funding what works, Donald Trump and Congress are proposing massive budget cuts that will make more people homeless, poor, and sick. At the same time, they are spreading laws that make it illegal to be poor and homeless, which will lead to increased ticketing, incarcerating, and institutionalizing of people struggling to survive.
It does not have to be this way. Nobody should be homeless or poor in a country as rich as ours. Advocates in DC and around the country will join together on April 22nd to demand Housing NOW!
Here are some links to legislative and policy solutions you are welcome to download and share:
- NCH 10-Point Plan to End Homelessness in Your City, County or State A comprehensive framework aimed at state and local governments to solve the housing crisis, and address the needs of those struggling on the streets.
- Housing Not Handcuffs has a suite of sample legislation and guidance around alternatives to making it illegal to sleep outdoors.
- Report: From Crisis to Care: Addressing Addiction, Mental Health, and Homelessness through Health and Supportive Services
Media Coverage
Austin, TX
- Austin American Statesman: VOCAL-TX rallies outside Austin City Hall to demand accessible housing, see the photos (VOCAL-TX featured)
- Austin American Statesman: Advocates call for end to homeless camp sweeps nearly a year after landmark SCOTUS ruling VOCAL-TX featured)
- Telemundo Austin: Activistas piden al Ayuntamiento soluciones efectivas a la falta de viviendas asequibles (VOCAL-TX featured, Alfredo Reyes quoted)
- KVUE: People living on the streets say there’s not enough housing | What Austin says it’s doing to provide it
California
- East Bay Times: Opinion: Criminalizing homelessness won’t fix our housing shortage
- CBS Sacramento: 1 year after Grants Pass ruling, advocates say Sacramento’s homeless crisis is worse | Watch
- San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media: National Day of Action Against Homeless Sweeps
- Goshen News: Red Tape’ Protesters Demand ‘Housing Now’ for Homeless Nationwide
- My News LA: Housing Advocates Surround Los Angeles City Hall in Red Tape
- HJ News: ‘Red Tape’ Protesters Demand ‘Housing Now’ for Homeless Nationwide
- NV Daily: ‘Red Tape’ Protesters Demand ‘Housing Now’ for Homeless Nationwide
- Winters Express: ‘Housing Now!’: Advocates plan to wrap City Hall in red tape
- Eastern Progress: ‘Housing Now!’: Advocates plan to wrap City Hall in red tape
- San Francisco Sun: Housing Advocates Surround City Hall in Red Tape to Demand for More Housing
Idaho
- KIVI TV: Housing Not Handcuffs’; Rally at Boise City Hall advocating for resources and support for the homeless
- Erie News: Advocates Plan to Rally for “housing over handcuffs” in national day of actio
- KIVI TV:Today In Your Neighborhood: Housing Over Handcuffs protest and Earth Day at Zoo Boise
- Idaho Press: Homeless individuals and advocates gather for ‘Housing not Handcuffs’ rally
Lexington, KY
- WKYT: ‘Housing Now’ rally aims to push for affordable housing in Kentucky” (VOCAL-KY featured, Shameka featured)
- WUKY: ‘We walk past them every day’: A year after SCOTUS decision on outdoor camping, advocates rally for more affordable housing (VOCAL-KY featured)
Louisville, KY
- Spectrum: Louisville homeless advocates rally against Safer Kentucky Act (VOCAL-KY featured, John Jefferies quoted)
New Jersey
- TapIntoSummit: Summit Delays Vote on Controversial Homelessness Ordinance After Hours of Public Outcry
New York City
- Gothamist/WNYC: NYPD removed 27K homeless people from the streets last year — mostly in Manhattan (VOCAL-NY featured)
Portland, Maine
- WMTW: Advocates rally for solutions to Maine’s housing crisis
- News Center Maine (NBC): Advocates rally for solutions for unhoused communities across the country
- News Center Maine (NBC): People demand action to address housing crisis at Housing Now rally in Portland
Rochester, NY
- Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: Community groups rally for solutions to Rochester’s homelessness (VOCAL-NY featured)
- WHEC: Advocates rally in Rochester to demand housing (V-NY mentioned, HAVP mentioned)
- WHAM: Rochester rally demands end to encampment sweeps, policy changes (VOCAL-NY featured, Majid Dunson quoted)
Get your hands on a single issue of The Homeless Advocate magazine and dive into powerful stories and thought-provoking articles that shed light on homelessness across the nation. This issue brings you impactful narratives, expert insights, and calls to action—all aimed at driving change and raising awareness. Don’t miss the opportunity to stay informed and support the movement.
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A full-page ad in The Homeless Advocate is more than just advertising; it’s an opportunity to make a real impact while connecting with an influential community.
Get your hands on a single issue of The Homeless Advocate magazine and dive into powerful stories and thought-provoking articles that shed light on homelessness across the nation. This issue brings you impactful narratives, expert insights, and calls to action—all aimed at driving change and raising awareness. Don’t miss the opportunity to stay informed and support the movement.
