The Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.

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The Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.

Contact us

You can reach us by e-mail at thecoal@bellsouth.net, by phone at (502) 589-0190, or by snail mail at: 1115 South 4th Street, Louisville, Ky 40202.

Who We Are

What We Do

Advocacy and Education - Addressing the needs of homeless people is our top priority. Homeless people are represented on our Board of Directors and on our committees. This on-going contact enhances the willingness of others to come to us for advocacy and for help in resolving any grievances within the shelter system. Our ''Louisville Streets Tips'' booklets provide needed resource information for homeless people and service providers. Through our quarterly newsletter, Speaker?’s Bureau and participation in decision-making committees, we educate the community about the root causes of poverty and homelessness and we advocate for solutions to these problems, and thus the elimination of homelessness.

Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) ?– Through our QAS program, we monitor the homeless shelters and enforce agreed upon standards in the areas of housing, health and safety, business administration, social services and homeless advocacy. This is critically important since there are no licensing requirements for homeless shelters. Through QAS, we also provide training to improve the skills of shelter staff. QAS compliance is one way that clients and funders can know whether an agency is providing the necessary and promised services. In 1998, 12,403 persons received services in our shelter system. The majority of those were in QAS monitored facilities.? 

Data Collection- The Coalition coordinates the collection of demographic data from the shelter system. This year we are implementing a new data collection effort through a custom built database program named CLAD (Coalition/Louisville Agency Database). This will help us share information system-wide and ultimately serve clients more effectively. Some shelters are already using the new system. Those shelters waiting to be added are continuing to use our former data base system. Information from both systems is combined to produce an annual census of the number of persons served in overnight and day shelters. This information is used by shelters, city and county government, Metro United Way and anyone who needs data to substantiate our community?’s service and funding needs for people who are homeless.? 

More of What We Do

Continuum of Care- Since 1994, The Coalition brings together over 100 social service system representatives to evaluate our community?’s delivery of services to poor and homeless people and to create a plan to guide service provision in the future. Using realistic goals and objectives, this plan focuses on the prevention of homelessness and the creation of permanent, affordable housing as key ways to promote self-sufficiency for adults and a safe, healthy environment for children in which to grow and be successful. This framework is reviewed each year and is used for combined community grant proposals, as well as by individual shelters applying for grants.

Networking and Problem Solving ?– Through our Programs Council, we bring the community together to share concerns, assess needs, re-think established roles and routines, and to pursue workable and innovative approaches to address the tough issues. These issues include alcohol/drug abuse, mental illness, healthcare, legislation and other needs of individuals and families who are homeless. The Shelter Directors?’ committee enables us to foster effective working relationships among and between shelter directors.

Grants Allocation Process ?– Our Grants Committee staffs the allocation process for federal, state and local public and private grant funds. We keep an open eye on rewarding excellence, eliminating duplication of services and strengthening a prevention-oriented service system for people facing homelessness.