The United Nations estimates that globally 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing conditions (UN-Habitat, 2022). Many of those people live without access to basic services and sanitation, and struggle with housing costs. Housing insecurity is a global issue, but often we fail to understand the complexities. The United Nations (2023) defines homelessness as: Persons living in the streets, in open spaces or cars; persons living in temporary emergency accommodation, in women’s shelters, in camps or other temporary accommodation provided to internally displaced persons, refugees or migrants; and persons living in severely inadequate and insecure housing, such as residents of informal settlements. This type of housing insecurity violates the very principle of inherent human dignity as established in articles 1 and 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The concept that all human beings are born equal and that each of us is entitled to social and cultural rights is an indispensable one for all humanity. Yet homelessness remains a global crisis and is experienced by members of our local communities as well. As citizens of a democracy, we should offer unwavering advocacy in support of a community-wide commitment of eliminating housing insecurity. Housing insecurity does not discriminate by race, age, or gender, and could happen to any person. The challenges confront us all and could occur at any time, resulting in an unexpected information need. Looking for information and available resources is time consuming. Vetting organizations, determining eligibility and the scope of each entity can be a long, arduous process. The list with links below suggests resources that may be relevant to housing insecurity -- from addressing basic hygiene needs to fighting generational poverty. While this list is not exhaustive, identified resources are from the United States, as well as the international ones offered by the United Nations. UN-Habitat. (2022). Priorities 2022-2023: Adequate housing, cities and climate change, and localizing the sustainable development goals. United Nations. https://unhabitat.org/ sites/default/files/2022/05/priorities_2022-2023_adequate_ housing_cities_and_climate_change_and_localising_ sdgs_04142022.pdf Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2022). Homelessness and human rights. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-housing/ homelessness-and-human-rights north america united states Chapin Hall, University of Chicago: Voices of Youth Count (https://voicesofyouthcount.org/) Supports communities across the United States and beyond – based in Chicago, IL Mission: Voices of Youth Count is a national Chapin Hall initiative to bring actionable evidence to prevent and end youth homelessness. Discover the initiative’s four-phase strategy to preventing youth homelessness (https://www.chapinhall.org/project/ new-opportunities-the-youth-homelessness-prevention- initiative/). Homelessness and Housing Organizational Profiles Authors Introduction by MAHASIN AMEEN, Teaching and Learning Librarian, Indiana University Indianapolis List Compiled by H. JAD REA, MLIS Student, Indiana University Indianapolis 32ENGAGE! | h o m e l e s s n e s s & h o u s i n g i n s ec u r i t y A M E E N & R E A | H O M E L E S S N E S S A N D H O U S I N G P R O F I L E S Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (enterprisecommunity.org) Supports communities across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands Mission: Our mission is to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Learn more about Enterprise’s impact on systems, communities, and people across America (https://www. enterprisecommunity.org/about/our-impact). HELP USA (helpusa.org) Supports communities across New York City and Philadelphia – based in New York City, NY Mission: HELP USA works to ensure that everyone has a place to call home. Explore HELP USA’s resources for those facing homelessness, domestic violence, or are in danger of being evicted (https://www.helpusa.org/get-help/). Housing Trust Funds Project (housingtrustfundproject.org) Supports communities across the United States – based in Portland, OR Mission: The Project operates as a clearinghouse of information on housing trust funds throughout the country, and provides technical assistance to organizations and agencies working to create or implement these funds. Learn more about the process of proposing and organizing a housing trust fund (https://housingtrustfundproject.org/ campaigns/the-basics/). National ADAPT (nationaladapt.org) Supports communities across the United States Mission: ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. Find your local group (https://nationaladapt.org/adapt- groups/). National Alliance to End Homelessness (endhomelessness. org/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. Learn to create a coordinated community-wide approach to address homelessness (https://endhomelessness.org/ending- homelessness/solutions/creating-systems-that-work/). National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) (nahro.org/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: NAHRO members create and manage affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, and support vibrant communities that enhance the quality of life for all. Learn how NAHRO’s Housing America Campaign raises awareness about affordable housing (https://www.nahro.org/ about/housingamerica/). National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (nchv.org/) Support communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year. Learn more about veteran homelessness in America (https://nchv.org/veteran-homelessness/). VO L . 5, I S S U E 233 R E A | S P E A K I N G U P & O U T : S Y S T E M I C C R U E L T Y National Health Care for the Homeless Council (nhchc.org/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Nashville, TN Mission: Grounded in human rights and social justice, the NHCHC mission is to build an equitable, high-quality health care system through training, research, and advocacy in the movement to end homelessness. Explore NHCHC webinar and online resources for those working at the intersection of homelessness and healthcare (https://nhchc.org/webinars/). National Homelessness Law Center (homelesslaw.org/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: Fearlessly advance federal, state and local policies to prevent and end homelessness while fiercely defending the rights of all unhoused persons. Read the Law Center’s evaluation of the United States response to housing and homelessness in 2023 (https://homelesslaw.org/ wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ReportCard2023.pdf). National Housing Law Project (nhlp.org/) Supports communities across the United States – offices in San Francisco, CA, and Washington, D.C. Mission: The National Housing Law Project’s mission is to advance housing justice for poor people and communities. Discover NHLP’s online resources for tenant rights and the housing movement (https://www.nhlp.org/trainings- publications/). National Low Income Housing Coalition (nlihc.org/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: NLIHC educates, organizes and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone. Explore housing needs by state (https://nlihc.org/housing- needs-by-state). National Rural Housing Coalition (https:// ruralhousingcoalition.org/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: NRHC works to promote and defend the principle that rural people have the right — regardless of income — to a decent, affordable place to live, clean drinking water, and basic community services. Learn about NRHC’s legislative campaigns to meet rural housing needs (https://ruralhousingcoalition.org/take-action/). NeighborWorks America (neighborworks.org/home) Supports communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. Explore a network of community nonprofits addressing housing issues (https://www.neighborworks.org/Our-Network.aspx). Pathways Home (pathwayshome.org/) Supports communities across Birmingham – based in Birmingham, AL Mission: Empowering women and children on their path out of homelessness through hospitality, housing, and hope. Explore Pathways programs for temporary and permanent housing for women and children experiencing homelessness (https://www.pathwayshome.org/what-we-do/). Project HOPE (prohope.org/) Supports communities across Boston – based in Boston, MA Mission: Project HOPE Boston works in partnership with women and families in the Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston on their journeys up and out of poverty. We do this by being a catalyst for change in the lives of families, developing and providing programs and family support solutions to alleviate poverty and homelessness. Discover Project HOPE Boston’s community impact (https://www.prohope.org/impact#). 34ENGAGE! | h o m e l e s s n e s s & h o u s i n g i n s ec u r i t y A M E E N & R E A | S P E A K I N G U P & O U T : S Y S T E M I C C R U E L T Y Project Place (projectplace.org/) Supports communities across Boston – based in Boston, MA Mission: Project Place promotes a community of hope and opportunity for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the skills, education and resources needed to obtain and sustain employment and housing. Explore Project Place’s skill development and employment readiness programs (https://projectplace.org/how-we-help/). Prosperity Indiana (prosperityindiana.org) Supports communities across Indiana -- based in Indianapolis, IN Mission: Prosperity Indiana organizes all of its work within its REAP Prosperity framework: providing Resources, opportunities for Engagement, Advocacy, and signature Programs that support members' work. Learn more about Prosperity Indiana's work through their online resources and their ongoing webinar series: Legal Help for Housing Stability (https://prosperityindiana.org/ event-5453293) Purpose. Dignitity. Action: JustCARE program (https://wearepda.org/programs/justcare/) Supports communities across King County, WA – based in Seattle, WA Mission: JustCARE is a response to the increase in people living unsheltered in vulnerable communities trying to rebound from the COVID economic crisis. Discover how JustCARE helps transition participants into permanent, stable housing (https://wearepda.org/justcare-an- analysis-of-housing-and-other-outcomes/). Raikes Foundation: Housing Stability for Youth (https://www.raikesfoundation.org/what-we-do/housing- stability-for-youth) Supports communities across Washington state – based in Seattle, WA Mission: The Raikes Foundation works with young people, multi-sector coalitions, and policymakers to not only respond to youth and young adult homelessness in Washington State and across the U.S. but also to prevent it from happening in the first place. Explore the Raikes Foundation’s support of the national Education Leads Home campaign (https:// educationleadshome.org/about-the-campaign/). Resident Owned Communities (ROC) USA (https:// rocusa.org/about-roc-usa/mission-history/) Supports communities across the United States – based in Concord, NH Mission: ROC USA® was launched in May 2008 by national and regional nonprofits that joined together to serve one mission: To make quality resident ownership viable nationwide and to expand economic opportunities for homeowners in manufactured (mobile) home communities. Learn about ROC USA’s impact from residents and community members on the ground (https://rocusa.org/ stories/the-opportunity-to-really-have-it-all/). Spokane Homeless Coalition (http://www.spokanehc.com/) Supports communities across the Greater Spokane area – based in Spokane, WA Mission: The Spokane Homeless Coalition is made up of more than 1300 individuals representing more than 200 agencies, meal sites, churches and ministries in the Greater Spokane area, all committed to serving those in need throughout our community. Explore a network of community organizations providing support for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Spokane area (http://www.spokanehc.com/finding-help. html). Urban Institute (https://www.urban.org/) Supporting communities across the United States – based in Washington, D.C. Mission: To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research. Explore the Urban Institute’s Data Tools to inform decisions and shape policy (https://www.urban.org/data-tools). VO L . 5, I S S U E 235 A M E E N & R E A | S P E A K I N G U P & O U T : S Y S T E M I C C R U E L T Y canada Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa (https://www. endhomelessnessottawa.ca/) Supports communities across Ottawa – based in Ottawa, ON Mission: The Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa is a member-driven coalition of people and organizations working together to end homelessness through systems planning and coordination, public education and advocacy, and community-wide mobilization. Explore how the Alliance is building a political foundation through the city-wide Starts With Home campaign (https:// www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/starts_with_home_ campaign). Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (https://caeh.ca/) Supports communities across Canada – based in Calgary, AB Mission: The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada. Discover the Built for Zero Canada strategy to educate, engage, and mobilize communities to end chronic homelessness and veteran homelessness (https://bfzcanada. ca/getting-to-zero/). Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (https://www. homelesshub.ca/OFHA) Supports communities across Canada – based in Toronto, ON Mission: The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH) is a non-partisan research and policy partnership between academics, policy and decision makers, service providers and people with lived experience of homelessness. Learn more about recent research on the lack of affordable housing for Black communities in the Vancouver, BC, area (https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/lack-affordable-housing- black-communities-metro-vancouver). Engage and Change (https://engageandchange.org/) Supports communities across Toronto – based in Toronto, ON Mission: Engage and Change gives people and companies the opportunities to do hands on group volunteer projects that assemble and build kits to assist in the alleviation of poverty. Learn about Project Water, a hands-on initiative to address rates of unhoused people who die from dehydration every summer (https://engageandchange.org/project-water/). Hands Up Canada (http://handsupcanada.ca/) Supports communities across northern Canada – based in Toronto, ON Mission: Hands Up Canada supports education in ensuring that students from poor, underemployed and disadvantaged families and communities have quality learning supplies along with the adequate nutrition, motivation and encouragement to pursue their studies and improve their future opportunities. Learn more about support for individuals living in poverty, including hygiene items and shelter (http://handsupcanada.ca/projects/2764-2/). The Period Purse (https://www.theperiodpurse.com/) Supports communities in Ontario and other provinces – based in Toronto, ON Mission: The Period Purse creates menstrual equity by ensuring sustainable access to period products for all, and by ending the stigma associated with periods through education and advocacy. Explore how the Period Purse reaches out to and partners with First Nations communities to make menstrual care accessible (https://www.theperiodpurse.com/indigenous- communities.html). The Shoebox Project for Women (https://www. shoeboxproject.ca/home) Supports communities across Canada – based in Toronto, ON Mission: To uplift and empower women who are experiencing or at-risk-of homelessness through in-kind support, education, and community participation. Learn how to make a Shoebox Gift (https://www. shoeboxproject.ca/how-to-make-a-shoebox). 36ENGAGE! | h o m e l e s s n e s s & h o u s i n g i n s ec u r i t y R E A | S P E A K I N G U P & O U T : S Y S T E M I C C R U E L T Y Quest Food Exchange (https://www.questoutreach.org/) Supports communities across British Columbia – based in Vancouver, BC Mission: By bridging the gap between food banks and traditional grocery stores, Quest provides a grocery experience based on principles of dignity, access, and sustainability. Learn about the upcoming 2023 Holiday Hamper Drive (https://www.questoutreach.org/blog/holiday-volunteer/). mexico Mi Valedor (https://www.mivaledor.com/en/home-english/) Supports communities across Mexico City – based in Colonia Juárez, Mexico City Mission: To build a healthy community with the valedores, in which workshops are imparted to strengthen their skills, and to collectively create a cultural magazine, the sales of which allow them to generate additional income. Browse articles from the current and archived issues of their street magazine, Mi Valedor (https://www.mivaledor.com/en/ category/magazine/). Promoción y Acción Comunitaria I.A.P. (PACO) (https:// pacoiap.org/) Supports communities across Mexico City – based in Mission: To help vulnerable people through three assistance programs directed at children, youths, adults, and elderly people, including support for food, education, health, housing, and clothing with the goal of that community assistance leading to better living conditions. Discover PACO’s current and past programs (https://pacoiap. org/index.php/programas). international organizations Homeless World Cup (https://www.homelessworldcup.org/) Supporting communities across the world – based in Edinburgh, Scotland Listen to their podcast interviews with activists and leaders working on the ground (https://www.homelessworldcup.org/ podcast). International Network of Street Papers (https://www.insp.ngo/) Supporting independent journalists across the world – based in Glasgow, Scotland Mission: To support the global street paper network to alleviate poverty and build a movement for social change. Find your local street paper (https://www.insp.ngo/network). nigeria Brickify Ltd. (https://www.facebook.com/RealBrickify) (website under construction) Supports communities in Lagos and beyond – based in Lagos, LA Mission: Brickify recycles plastic waste bags into building bricks and lumber that are used to construct roads and build low-cost housing in Nigeria. Watch Brickify turn plastic waste into a sofa (https://www. facebook.com/watch/?v=1935964536758786). Homeless Not Hopeless Nigeria (http://hnhnigeria.org.ng/) Supporting communities in Ibadan and beyond – based at the University of Ibadan, OY Mission: Homeless Not Hopeless Nigeria is a student-led non-profit organization founded in May 2020 to address the issue of homelessness and its numerous ugly consequences in Nigeria. Read about the intersection of homelessness and mental health (http://hnhnigeria.org.ng/Monthly-Articles/). VO L . 5, I S S U E 237 A M E E N & R E A | S P E A K I N G U P & O U T : S Y S T E M I C C R U E L T Y india Pehchan India (https://pehchanindia.org/) Supports communities across Mumbai – based in Mumbai, MH Mission: Learn more about the My Mumbai Project (in partnership with MyLondon/Cafe Art), which distributed cameras to unhoused individuals in Mumbai and created a photograph exhibit to share their stories (https://www.cafeart.org.uk/post/ how-did-mymumbai-go). Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) Delhi (https://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/) Supports communities across Delhi – based in New Delhi, DL Mission: SBT provides a sensitive and caring environment for street and working children, and those in difficult circumstances. It seeks to provide a platform for children to realize their full potential, their right to a safe and secure space, education, and health and nutrition. Learn about the Trust’s City Walk tours, led by formerly unhoused children and teens who share stories of their lives on the streets of New Delhi’s neighborhoods (https://www. salaambaalaktrust.com/city-walks.php). european union FEANSTA (https://www.feantsa.org/en/about-us/what-is- feantsa) Supporting communities across the European Union – based in Brussels, Belgium Mission: We are the only European NGO focusing exclusively on the fight against homelessness. Our ultimate goal is an end to homelessness in Europe. Discover FEANSTA’s past and current projects with partners across the EU (https://www.feantsa.org/en/activities/ projects). 38ENGAGE! | h o m e l e s s n e s s & h o u s i n g i n s ec u r i t y A M E E N & R E A | S P E A K I N G U P & O U T : S Y S T E M I C C R U E L T Y