Foundation leaders and experts agree that homelessness can be ended through proven solutions like supportive housing and quickly moving people from shelters to permanent housing with needed support services. While helping those experiencing homelessness and health issues is challenging, these interventions have been shown to work and reduce costs compared to long-term homelessness. Ending homelessness requires collaboration across government, non-profits, businesses and philanthropy to implement what is known to solve the problem.

1. Foundation leaders and experts across the nation speak out:“We know how to end homelessness.”

2. “It is important to ask what the key interventions are that seem to be making a difference. You will not be surprised to hear among these key interventions are supportive housing and an emphasis on getting the most people with disabilities into housing. Moving people out of the shelter system more quickly both reduces the need for beds and reduces homelessness.” Nan Roman President National Alliance to End Homelessness Washington, DC

3. “Working with people who are homeless and experiencing mental illnesses and other health problems is not easy. Society has at times given up on this vulnerable population and incorrectly concluded nothing can be done to address their issues, or to solve the cycle of despair resulting in long-term homelessness. We know differently – there are proven solutions that work. Effective, cost-efficient models that move vulnerable people off the streets and into affordable, permanent housing where they can receive the support they need to heal and build better lives.” Deborah DeSantis President and CEO Corporation for Supportive Housing New York, NY

4. “We as a society have been able to generate cures for some of the most atrocious diseases, go to places that are out of this world, and invent items that are essential to our way of life. In Houston, our community housed well over 200,000 people who evacuated from the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina because our community and our leaders said we should make sure these families and individuals are housed. With that backdrop, I am confident we can do the same for people who are currently homeless” Anthony Love President and CEO Coalition for the Homeless of Houston / Harris County Houston, TX

5. “We will make progress on social problems by finding new ways to align the interests and the activities of business, government, nonprofits and philanthropy.” Carla Javits President REDF San Francisco, CA

6. “Ending homelessness is about empowerment. It’s about finding ways to help people to help themselves. It is about applying diligent and thoughtful guidance that enables each individual and each family to acquire self-reliance and independence. The people who help make that happen are among the most talented and dedicated and patient that I have ever worked with.” G. Robert Hohler Executive Director Melville Charitable Trust Hartford, CT

7. “Chronic homelessness is an issue that cuts across many funders’ interests – from health and health care, mental illness, and child welfare to prisoner reentry, poverty, and community development. No single funder or provider can solve it alone, and we cannot solve it without the involvement of both the private and public sectors.” RisaLavizzo-Mourey President Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Princeton, NJ

8. “People who are chronically homeless and who are not housed create very, very difficult circumstances in our cities. And wouldn’t it make better sense - wouldn’t our sense of fairness and justice be met by providing them with a supportive housing unit? This is not the 1980s when we were bewildered by this phenomenon. We understand it. We know what works. So the question is, do we have the will to actually implement what we know works, and what, quite frankly, doesn’t cost us any more money to do?” Darren Walker Vice President of Foundation Initiatives The Rockefeller Foundation New York, NY

9. “What unites us all, what powers us all... is the vision of a society where everyone has a place that they can call home. It is a vision we all believe can be achieved. We are sure that some day, sooner rather than later, others will look back upon this time and say: In such great country with such unbelievable resources what on earth took them so long?” Stephen Melville Board Chair Melville Charitable Trust Hartford, CT

10. "I understand to address homelessness and poverty we must come together and look for meaningful solutions. Improving the lives of Philadelphia's most vulnerable citizens improves the lives of all of its citizens.“ Jon Bon Jovi Rock Musician and Homeless Advocate Philadelphia, PA

11. “There is no excuse any longer, if there ever was, to fail to house and support every family now living in a distressed public or assisted housing project. The simple fact is, today we can house anyone. Our challenge now is to house everyone.” Shaun Donovan Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Washington, DC

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