Legislative Updates 
What You Can Do
There are a number of effective steps that organizations and individuals like you can take toward ending homelessness. Here are some suggestions for how you can make a difference.
EDUCATE
Talk to your family, friends, colleagues, and community about the causes and solutions to homelessness. Three critical resources in learning about homelessness are the Data and Research section of this website, the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, and the Alliance Online News.
Visit our online library to learn more about homelessness.
ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY
Advocate for policies and programs that effectively serve homeless people on the local, state, and federal levels. Support plans that will create more affordable housing. Share your concerns with public officials and the media―tell them that ending homelessness is important to you. The following resources are specially designed to aid in this effort:
- Our Policy section covers the bills that Congress is currently considering and that can have tremendous effects on how effectively and how quickly communities across the nation are able to end homelessness.
- Our Advocacy enables you to choose the issues that you wish to follow and alerts you to important opportunities to join others who are making their voices heard in the critical struggle to end homelessness.
Learn about our advocacy activities.
ASK
When you wish to donate goods and services, find out what homeless people and service providers could really use. Consider giving clothing that individuals could wear to a job interview, home furnishings that could help a family transition into permanent housing, age-appropriate learning materials for children entering their local school system. Call permanent housing organizations and other homeless service agencies for their respective wish lists, and encourage your family and community to help make those wishes come true.
Your time is invaluable. Dedicate your time and ideas to programs within your community and neighboring areas. We recommend:
- Training homeless individuals for employment
- Working at a nearby housing organization
- Registering homeless people to vote
- Organizing or participating in fundraising drives for local service agencies
- Incorporating your skills to aid in efforts of housing first programs or supportive housing programs
- Recruiting others to join your efforts
- Your skills and enthusiasm are welcome! If you have specific questions about homelessness and how you can help, please contact us.
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This audio conference covered the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free. 