The National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness (NPACH) is a national grassroots organization whose primary concern is to ensure that national homelessness policy accurately reflects the needs of local communities. NPACH Executive Director Jeremy Rosen can be reached at the Washington, D.C., office.

NPACH works to accomplish its mission through:

* Education. By informing the public and policymakers on the causes and consequences of homelessness, we can create the will to bring about real change.

* Grassroots organizing. By uniting a broad base of antipoverty organizations, we can form a powerful coalition that is heard across America.

* Research. Our staff joins with local, state, and national organizations to study the impact of federal legislation and policy on local communities.

* Technical assistance. NPACH is dedicated to helping local groups and service providers as they seek to access funding for their programs. We also assist advocacy groups in the process of building strong local coalitions which can better serve their homeless populations. Learn more about our technical assistance services here.

NPACH's Initiatives
NPACH is working nationally to expand awareness of, broaden support for, and implement the following initiatives:

Rethinking Homelessness: Homelessness occurs in rural, urban, and suburban communities alike, and has devastating effects on families, children, youth, seniors, and individuals. Yet current federal policy, as exemplified by the Administration’s "chronic" homelessness initiative, is not sensitive to the realities of all communities and to the needs of all populations experiencing homelessness. As a result, many vulnerable populations are excluded from the services and supports they need to regain stability and escape the harm of homelessness. Moreover, the Department of Housing and Urban Development statutory definition of homelessness does not include households who are sharing the housing of others temporarily because they have nowhere else to go (commonly referred to as "doubled-up"), or those who are staying in motels and similar places due to lack of alternatives. Because such households are not included in the HUD definition of homelessness, they are excluded from HUD services. NPACH is working with key partners and members of Congress to amend the HUD definition, making it more inclusive of the needs of families, children, and youth.

The "Homelessness Isn't Funny" Campaign: In order to increase awareness about homelessness and reach a broader audience, NPACH has created a national campaign that will feature comedy and music performances across the country. By involving musicians, actors, writers, and comedians, NPACH aims to bring much-needed attention to the plight of millions of Americans who live in deep poverty and struggle without adequate housing. The campaign is designed to both entertain and enlighten, with the goal of educating the public about the crisis of housing instability in our country. Comic actor and writer Will Forte (Saturday Night Live, That 70’s Show) currently serves as the honorary chairperson of the campaign. Others involved include Emmy-winning writer and comedian David Feldman (Real Time with Bill Maher), award-winning stand-up comic Doug Ferrari, Laura Swisher (TechTV) and Alex Borstein (MadTV, Family Guy).

Hurricane-Tsunami Recovery Exchange: In partnership with the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, Amnesty International, US Human Rights Network, and Environmental Advocates for Human Rights, NPACH has organized a community exchange program between the Gulf South and areas recovering from the December 2004 Asian Tsunami. Citizens from an Indonesian fishing village will participate in organizing workshops in Mississippi and Louisiana, and citizens from the devastated areas of New Orleans, including the Lower 9th Ward and New Orleans East, will have the opportunity to view a people's-led recovery in Thailand and Indonesia. You can learn more about this exchange here.

The Katrina-Rita Oral History Project: As federal, state and local governments formulate their plans for reconstruction and revitalization, it is imperative that the voices of hurricane victims, and the local communities that have rushed to their aid, are heard and respected. In order to provide a forum for these voices, NPACH has compiled oral history-format interviews of current and displaced residents, local service providers, educators, and faith-based leaders who have been directly involved in relief efforts; excerpts of these interviews are being added to our website throughout the course of this project. We encourage visitors to NPACH’s website to use these excerpts, and the accompanying informational profiles of featured organizations, to learn more about the issue and how to stay involved. The first of these interviews can be found here. For more information, please contact us via e-mail, info@npach.org.

NPACH is unique in its grassroots approach and global view, connecting community-based organizations, schools, and the public to national policy through our advocacy and education initiatives.

We invite you to learn more about us by clicking the following links:
Press Release on our founding | Our Board of Directors