Below are websites that have been helpful to the Directions Home project. They include local and national organizations working to address the social problem of homelessness.
Common Ground: An international agency developing solutions to homelessness through affordable housing, outreach, and prevention. Directions Home uses the Vulnerability Index created by this agency to determine those who need housing the most.
Corporation for Supportive Housing: Provides advocacy, expertise, leadership, and financial resources to make it easier to create and operate supportive housing in 11 states. Under “Resources,” their reports and toolkits assist agencies in forming successful supportive housing for clients.
Homeless-Related Data Sources: A PDF document of recommended websites gathered by Otis Thornton, Homeless Coordinator for the City of Fort Worth. Links are divided into six categories: economy, education, housing, labor, miscellaneous, and population.
Interagency Council on Homeless: Coordinates the federal response to homelessness through policy and funding. Encourages cities and counties across the country to create 10 year plans to end homelessness that include a Housing First approach, cost-benefit analysis, best practices, innovation, and prevention.
National Alliance to End Homeless: The largest collaboration to end homelessness in the United States with over 9,000 partners. Since its beginning in 1983, has expanded to include policy, capacity building, education, and research to focus on related health issues, assisting communities with 10 year plans, and youth homelessness.
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans: A nonprofit resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state, and federal agencies that work with hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year. Serves as the primary liaison between the federal government and veterans’ service providers to strengthen policy and funding.
Pathways to Housing: Based in New York City, originated the concept of Housing First by providing immediate housing without prerequisites to chronic homeless who have mental disabilities. After being housed, these individuals are integrated into the community through supportive services to “achieve recovery on their terms.” Nationally, provides technical assistance, training, and consultation in Housing First.
Union Gospel Mission: Founded in 1888 to coordinate the relief efforts of local churches and to this day receives no government funding, relying solely on donations. Although it does not receive Directions Home funding, the Mission is an integral part of Fort Worth’s Continuum of Care.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—Homelessness: Increases homeownership, supports community development, and increases access to affordable housing free from discrimination. In Tarrant County, HUD funds permanent supportive housing through the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—Homelessness: Although limited to veterans and their dependents, the only federal agency to provide hands-on assistance directly to the homeless. Services include outreach, assessment, referrals, transitional assistance, case management, rehabilitation, employment assistance, and permanent supportive housing.
