Ending Homelessness: The Intersection of Research, Advocacy, and Policy

THE COLUMBIA CENTER FOR HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION STUDIES WELCOMES
NAN ROMAN OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS
AS ITS GRAND ROUNDS SPEAKER ON
FEBRUARY 5, 2009.

HER SUBJECT WILL BE:
Ending Homelessness: The Intersection of Research, Advocacy, and Policy

Over the past ten years, the homelessness system has undergone significant changes. Communities are undertaking plans to end homelessness in ten years. There is much greater focus on prevention, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing. Federal funding has increased, and there is bipartisan support for ending homelessness in Congress and the Administration. As a result, homelessness, at least until the recent economic and housing crises, had begun to trend downward in the nation. How did this movement to solve a social problem come into being, and what are the implications of that process for the future? Ms. Roman will discuss how research has informed the movement to end homelessness in the nation; how the advocacy community has used research to advance a national policy agenda; and how federal policy has changed as a result. She will also discuss the implications of this research/advocacy/policy nexus for the future, in light of the economic and housing crises, as well as the new Administration and Congress.

Nan Roman is president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is a leading national voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance is a public education, advocacy and capacity-building organization with over 5,000 nonprofit and public sector member agencies and corporate partners around the country. Under her leadership, the Alliance has developed a pragmatic plan to end homelessness within ten years. To implement this plan, Ms. Roman works closely with members of Congress and the Administration, as well as with cities and states across the nation. She collaborates with Alliance members to educate the public about the real nature of homelessness and successful solutions. She has researched and written on the issue, is frequently interviewed by the press, and regularly speaks at events around the country. Her unique perspective on homelessness and its solutions comes from over twenty-five years of local and national experience in the areas of poverty and community-based organization. Ms. Roman received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Illinois.

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 2pm to 3:30 p.m. EST

Location:
Columbia University Medical Center
Psychiatric Institute, Sixth Floor, Room 6601, Director's Boardroom
Entrances: 40 Haven Avenue, 168th Street and Haven Avenue
(inside bridge goes to sixth floor), or
1051 Riverside Drive, on 165th Street and Riverside Drive