Philanthropedia - Coalition on Homelessness nonprofit profile

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Bay Area Homelessness: Coalition on Homelessness

Mission: The Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco (COH) initiates program and policy changes that result in the creation of exits from poverty. The COH unites homeless people and service providers with concerned community members in outreach, advocacy, and community organizing activities to ensure that low-income communities are in a leadership position in the work to promote social justice in San Francisco.

BASIC INFORMATION	EXPERT ASSESSMENT	BENEFICIARY REVIEW

Basic Information
Social Cause: Bay Area Homelessness
Issue Area: Bay Area Homelessness

Year Founded: 1987
Problem

There are insufficient avenues for homeless and low-income San Francisco residents to actively participate in the struggle for economic and social justice.
Solution

The Coalition on Homelessness works to defend homeless and low-income people from attacks on their rights and their persons through an integrated approach that combines outreach, peer support, leadership development, public education, advocacy, and community organizing, while also advocating for permanent solutions to homelessness that take into account not only poverty's devastating effects, but also its root causes.
Impact

Street Sheet: The Coalition on Homelessness runs the second oldest extant street newspaper in the United States, and has the largest circulation of a street newspaper with 32,000 papers distributed monthly. The Street Sheet focuses on the problems of homeless people in the city, and on issues of poverty and housing.
Financial Breakdown

Expenses Breakdown

Program Expenses :
Administrative Expenses:
Fundraising Expenses:
Contact Information

Website: http://www.cohsf.org/en/
Email: development@cohsf.org
Phone: 415-346-3740

The contents of this page are primarily from this nonprofit organization's website. The views expressed on this page are those of this organization and not necessarily those of Philanthopedia.

SummaryLearn more about these experts>>

Summary: Bay Area Homelessness experts believe that the Coalition on Homelessness is the strongest advocacy organization for the homeless population in San Francisco. They are persistent, fearless, and accurately represent the perspective of the homeless population. At the same time, in order to continue to be successful, the Coalition on Homelessness needs to raise more money, refocus on outreach in homeless communities, and form partnerships with other service providers.

Strengths

Great Advocates

"The COH is the only real advocacy organization that knows what is going on at a detailed level with the budget processes in the San Francisco city government. Every year for the past 15 years, the COH worked in coalition with service providers to save services from being cut. Generally, the cuts are aimed at programs for poor and homeless people. Were it not for the COH, and in particular, their Executive Director, Jennifer Fridenbach, San Francisco would have lost at least 75% of its services for homeles"
"They do excellent advocacy work."
"They are a strong advocacy voice for the underserved."
"They are consistent advocates."
"They advocate well- they push the envelope."

The Right Approach

"It's one of the very few organizations that focuses on the problem of homelessness as perceived by homeless people, rather than as perceived by the business community or government bureaucrats."
"They involve those impacted in change efforts and they are working towards a systems change."
"Their persistence and willingness to speak the truth to entrenched power is great."

Other

"They are fearless in their organizing which has helped thousands of families and individuals without ANY government or mainstream foundation support."

Areas for Improvement

Collaborate More

"This is an advocacy - not service - organization that has represented a small segment of the homeless population and often been at odds with the service providers - it should work collaboratively and less antagonistically."
"They should become more savvy about affordable housing systems."

More Funding

"This top performing non-profit cannot do anything without more funding. I believe that other non-profits should kick down a yearly contribution to the COH, as it quite literally saved their lives."
"They should cultivate individual donors with better relationship building."

Refine Strategy

"They should be less strident and more balanced sometimes."
"They should be more pragmatic."
"It needs to return to its roots and refocus on outreach in homeless communities. It still does more of this than anyone else, but that outreach has dropped off considerably as compared to five years ago."
"They should build stronger infrastructure and develop more as an organization."

The views expressed on this page are those of each individual expert and not necessarily those of Philanthopedia. Note that each quote represents the views of just one person and may not reflect the sentiments of the entire group. We do not disclose the names of the experts who gave each comment to protect their anonymity

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