Funding Principles

We know how to end homelessness in America.

We know that adequate, affordable, and accessible housing is the solution. We know that quality housing with supportive services offers the most vulnerable Americans the opportunity to move off the streets and out of shelters―and change their lives.

Philanthropy plays a key role in making that happen. Increasingly, local, regional, and national funders are supporting evidence-based solutions that work―solutions that are reducing homelessness in their communities. In the process, they are reshaping the ways in which our nation responds to homelessness.

Funders Together to End Homelessness is helping to coordinate and facilitate this reshaping of our national response to homelessness. We are advocating for changes in charitable organizations and government agencies alike to assure the smart and efficient use of grant and tax dollars to help people move from homelessness to self sufficiency.

To that end, the following principles and strategies are intended to help guide the funding decisions of our foundation members. We welcome your feedback and participation.

Interested in joining Funders Together? Sign up and learn more!

Funding Principles

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• Housing is the Key:

  Promote housing-based solutions with access to supportive services that are integrated into our communities, as the primary investment for ending homelessness.

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• Recruit Partners & Make Deals:

  Initiate and collaborate through strategic partnerships among funders, local policymakers, business leaders, and government as well as advocacy, housing, and service providers.

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• Think Upstream:

  Support effective prevention programs and strategies, such as effective military and hospital discharge planning, employment training, substance abuse counseling, and family reunification efforts.

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• Share the Vision:

  Raise awareness of homelessness and existing local 10-year plans to end homelessness, while building public will for long-term strategies locally and nationally.

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• Build a Bank of Knowledge:

  Encourage and support research, demonstration projects, and data collection to identify and confirm effective, evidenced-based approaches for serving people who are homeless.

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• Be an Agent of Change:

  Promote needed systems change, including increased coordination across government departments and agencies as well as efforts to transition providers from shelter-based to housing first models.

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• Follow the Money:

  Work actively to leverage national policy and financial support for these efforts.

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