A Brief History

The Homeless Coalition was formed in 1986 and incorporated in 1989 as The Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County. During this process, a Board of Directors was formed, By-laws were written, and The Coalition’s first staff were hired.

After struggling with funding deficiencies and a steady increase in local homelessness, a Homeless Coalition Task Force was formed in 1993 to assess the status of homelessness in Palm Beach County, formulate strategies to address it, and explore opportunities for ongoing funding for The Coalition. The Task Force developed a plan for The Coalition that established a mission, specific goals and objectives, and ways to expand The Coalition’s representation and participation to include a broader cross section of the community.

In 1994, the plan was put into action. The business community, homeless and formerly homeless individuals, clergy, government and service providers became actively involved. The Coalition concentrated on raising community awareness about homeless issues, increasing collaboration among service providers, and obtaining resources for programs aimed at helping Palm Beach County’s homeless population to transition out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency.

Today The Homeless Coalition serves as advocate and a strong voice for the homeless. A Continuum of Care Planning Committee works to insure that a seamless service network exists to help homeless residents. An annual Bed & Gaps Analysis is conducted to identify existing services and unmet needs. Standards of Care have been developed by the Continuum to promote consistency in the quality of service delivery. New funds have recently been designated by the State Office on Homelessness to support transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and local Continuum of Care efforts.

Immediate priorities for The Homeless Coalition are to (1) expand efforts in previously underserved parts of the county, including the north, south, and Glades areas; (2) address the issues of chronic homelessness and the need for an emergency assessment center; (3) issue regular legislative action alerts, notices of funding opportunities, and critical information about homelessness to service providers via an extensive e-mail/fax/mail network; and (4) provide trainings and other support to small agencies to enhance their ability to provide homeless services.
Mission Statement