Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco
Encyclopedia
The Coalition on Homelessness is a homeless advocacy and social justice organization that focuses on creating long-term solutions to homelessness
, poverty
, and housing
issues in San Francisco, California. The Coalition was founded in 1987 by a collaboration of San Francisco service providers, homeless people, and activists.
The best recognized project of the Coalition on Homelessness is San Francisco's homeless newspaper
, the Street Sheet
, but its work has resulted in many changes to the City's policies with regard to homeless people (such as the Shelter Grievance Policy, which gives homeless shelter residents legal recourse
when ejected from shelters), and in the creation of new services in San Francisco (such as the Community Housing Partnership, which provides long-term affordable housing for formerly homeless individuals).
Some of the Coalition's efforts have been controversial, such as its outspoken opposition to Mayor Gavin Newsom
's Care Not Cash
program.
The Coalition operates on a bottom-up grassroots organizing model. It participates in Federal policy advocacy through the Western Regional Advocacy Project
, of which it is a founding member.
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, and housing
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
issues in San Francisco, California. The Coalition was founded in 1987 by a collaboration of San Francisco service providers, homeless people, and activists.
The best recognized project of the Coalition on Homelessness is San Francisco's homeless newspaper
Street newspaper
Street newspapers are newspapers or magazines sold by homeless or poor individuals and produced mainly to support these populations. Most such newspapers primarily provide coverage about homelessness and poverty-related issues, and seek to strengthen social networks within homeless communities...
, the Street Sheet
Street Sheet
The Street Sheet is a street newspaper published and sold in San Francisco, California which focuses on the problems of homeless people in the city, and on issues of poverty and housing...
, but its work has resulted in many changes to the City's policies with regard to homeless people (such as the Shelter Grievance Policy, which gives homeless shelter residents legal recourse
Legal recourse
A legal recourse is an action that can be taken by an individual or a corporation to attempt to remedy a legal difficulty.* A lawsuit if the issue is a matter of civil law* Many contracts require mediation or arbitration before a dispute can go to court...
when ejected from shelters), and in the creation of new services in San Francisco (such as the Community Housing Partnership, which provides long-term affordable housing for formerly homeless individuals).
Some of the Coalition's efforts have been controversial, such as its outspoken opposition to Mayor Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
's Care Not Cash
Care Not Cash
Care Not Cash was a San Francisco ballot measure approved by the voters in November 2002. Primarily sponsored by Gavin Newsom, then a San Francisco supervisor, it was designed to cut the money given in the General Assistance programs to homeless people in exchange for shelters and other forms of...
program.
The Coalition operates on a bottom-up grassroots organizing model. It participates in Federal policy advocacy through the Western Regional Advocacy Project
Western Regional Advocacy Project
The Western Regional Advocacy Project is a US West Coast alliance of grassroots homeless people's organizations that advocates for changes to Federal housing policy, and for an end to local and state policies that it considers to violate the civil rights of homeless people.Its member organizations...
, of which it is a founding member.
External links
- Coalition on Homelessness Website
- Two-part interview with co-founder and long-time executive director Paul Boden: Part 1 2