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United by one belief:

Homelessness must End

For Everyone

- We are different than an organization that only provides services such as food or shelter.

- We concern ourselves with the entire condition of homelessness, the increasing number of people living without adequate or any shelter.

The Coalition is a volunteer-driven movement

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WE ARE ONLY STRONG TOGETHER

We work hard, we lean in,

make hard sacrifices of time and resources,

leverage social media,

relationships, and networks,

cultivate commitment from others,

and we continue to do so no matter what.

To do more, we need you.

Our strength is collective

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Our Work

Founded in 1989

We were founded as the lead agency for the local HUD Continuum of Care to bring stakeholders together and plan effective strategies to assist the unsheltered.

Education

One of the largest barriers to ending homelessness is the stigma attached to those that suffer and NIMBY. To create political will, we must change minds.

RESEARCH

And understanding

Homelessness is an economic problem

Advocacy

Society at large often considers those without homes to be sub-human. This creates serious discrimination against those least able to bear it.

Understanding the condition of homelessness

Many people believe that not having shelter is a result of individual problems such as substance abuse. Homelessness is directly tied to housing affordability.

Data & Research

Having researched the information for the Continuum of Care Grant and the annual Report to the Florida Governor we understand data very well.

Changing Policies and Laws

People without shelter are no different than others. In 1990, Link found that 14% of all Americans experienced homelessness. That number is likely much higher now.

The Coalition can be compared to a three-legged stool. Those legs are advocacy, education, and services.

We understand everyone has issues, the difference between those with and without shelter is economic.

Programs.

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Leadership from those with lived experience

We are committed to leadership from those with lived experience, stakeholders, and treasured volunteers.

Advocacy

We have been involved in Broward County’s living wage, the provision of reduced cost bus passes and the addition of other services to those without housing.

Homelessness is an economic problem

We understand everyone has issues, the difference between those with and without shelter is economic.

Understanding the Data means we recognize inaccuracy.

There are multiple errors in the data supplied to the public about those without housing. Only education can correct this.

Services

Education cont…

Education benefits everyone. We provide trainings for the community and also target trainings for groups who most need it.

Advocacy

Hundreds of issues from minimum wage, to affordable housing, to the criminalization of poverty need immediate attention.

We identify unmet needs and seek to address those needs. Our greatest need is for more prevention.

Services

Vary based on the needs and opportunities in the community. There are not enough of any service to meet the needs of the growing population without shelter.

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Much has changed: We Remain. We continue to be the voice of those without shelter, acting passionately in collaboration with them.

Advocacy

Partnerships and Collaboration

Education cont…

Truth

One of the most damaging trends of our time is the collapse of shared truth. People cannot even agree on what is real anymore. There are separate channels for each opinion.

Working collaboratively with agencies throughout the U.S. to change the systems that create and perpetuate homelessness.

Collaborating with other organizations to educate communities and promote solutions..

The Coalition is a national leader in the provision of education that changes minds.

Data and Research

Tracking trends in the number of people without housing, and program effectiveness allows us to better understand effective solutions to the problem. There are two: Prevention and Housing.

Solutions

There is only one solution that truly ends the lack of shelter and that has always been housing.

Cognitive Bias

Confronting our universal thinking fallacies allows everyone to see the lack of shelter much more clearly.

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Some of our Convictions

Homeless and formerly homeless people must be involved in our efforts.

Families should not be punished for poverty. Children belong with their parents whenever possible.

We must handle donations with care and ensure transparency in our work.

In 2025 we received Candid’s Platinum seal of transparency for our commitment to diversity and transparency. Only 1 in 1.7 million nonprofits receives this award.

Discrimination in any form, including race, gender, economic, or housing status, cannot be tolerated.

We believe that those who have lived unsheltered must be included in all our work at every level.

Ignoring or minimizing homelessness perpetuates the problem. We call attention to inaccurate data.

Collaboration with like-minded organizations is essential for change.

Housing, like Healthcare is a human right. Housing is not a commodity, but part of community infrastructure. Housing, like roads must exist for all for any community to function.

Those without shelter are experiencing an emergency and deserve an immediate response.

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Some of our Convictions

Being unable to afford housing is not a crime. Individuals and families should not be punished for poverty. Criminalization of homelessness makes it much worse.

It is a national shame that so many veterans experience homelessness.

Pets are often the closest tie people living outside have. Shelters should accommodate pets whenever possible.

Currently, to get into any shelter, any pet must be surrendered to the humane society.

The number of individuals and families living without shelter is far greater than what is reported by government sources. Minimizing the number of people suffering from severe poverty is comforting to the general public. However, it is not true. Minimizing the problem results in a lack of necessary funding and support.

It takes courage to admit you have been without shelter in our judgmental society. Some with that courage include Jennifer Lopez, Dr. Phil, Benjamin Franklin, Jesus, David Letterman, Chris Pratt, Buddha, John Green (former governor of Alaska), Suze Ormond, Eckhart Tolle, Harry Houdini along with countless Noble prize winners, federal representatives and billionaires. It can happen to anyone and anyone can overcome a season without a home with help.

We must have the courage to speak with resolute honesty.

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Lacking shelter? Who are we talking about?

The Federal government has three different definitions for the condition homelessness. The department of housing and urban development defines homelessness the most strictly as “lacking a fixed, regular nighttime residence, or living in places not meant for human habitation or in shelters.” The federal government also has a variety of different types of this condition: chronic, episodic, etc.

The lack of a unified definition, the different causes often associated with the lack of shelter, and the various types defined by government only make the condition of homelessness seem impenetrably complex. Prevention is the least expensive way to reduce the number of people without housing. When a person has already lost their housing, the least expensive and most effective answer is housing first. Housing, all by itself improves many of the conditions we associate with the condition of homelessness.

We understand homelessness as an economic condition that happens to anyone who cannot afford housing. The solution to homelessness, and many other issues, is affordable housing. You might define homelessness as poverty so severe that rent is unattainable. We avoid categorizing people without shelter or focusing on the multiple issues that all human beings face.

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Terminology, Nuance & Stigma

Those who have experienced a season without shelter, and many others, believe that being called “Homeless” leaves them with even less dignity. We would not call a person “Housed”. This term is part of a pervasive social stigma that those without shelter are less human.ⁱWhile there are times that “homeless” is the best word to describe a condition, when describing a person, it is best to use another term, like the man in the blue sweater.

The term "homeless" reduces a person to a single characteristic—lack of housing—overlooking their complexity, dignity, and humanity. The bias of recalling the most egregious example of something is known as the availability heuristic, which is often amplified by the negativity bias.
This bias means our minds automatically associate the condition of homelessness with the worst example of it we have ever seen. We have probably met dozens of people experiencing the condition of homelessness without knowing it, because they did not “look” homeless. We may have also seen people experiencing homelessness without obvious severe issues. Our mind does not recall this well.
While each person has a unique mind, cognitive biases are common to us all. Over time, the term “homeless” has been associated with negative stereotypes such as laziness, addiction, or mental illness because of one example we recall.
This bias fuels discrimination and dehumanization. Having a whole society of people that only recall the worst example of homelessness they have ever seen perpetuates fear, NIMBY, and the criminalization of homelessness. This thinking makes solving the issue much more difficult. In a tourism destination this discrimination is even more extreme.
The term also fails to capture the diversity of experiences, such as people living in shelters, couch-surfing, or staying in unstable housing. Alternatives like "unhoused" or "people experiencing homelessness" emphasize that homelessness is a condition, not an identity. This linguistic shift reflects efforts to combat stigma and advocate for more humane, compassionate approaches to addressing homelessness.

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Housing costs are increasing nationally, but more sharply in tourism areas like South Florida. This means that more households than ever are struggling to pay for housing.

When households pay more for housing, they have less for things like college, dentists, self-care, and home maintenance.

And some households cannot make the payments.

Studies show that prevention costs a quarter as much, and is four times more effective at ending the condition of homelessness..

For those who have already lost their housing, most issues resolve soon after housing is restored. Permanent Affordable Housing is the solution to the condition of homelessness.

Affordable Housing is the Solution to Homelessness

and many other social problems.

The number of people without shelter is directly related to the cost of housing.

Studies show that every day lived without shelter worsens any issues a person might already have and creates additional problems.

The longer a person is homeless, the harder it is to help them and the more it costs.

Criminalization Against Homelessness

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People cannot begin working on issues of employment, health, connection, and education while physiological needs remain unmet.

Despite this understanding, a huge infrastructure of emergency shelter, special transitional shelter, buildings and jobs has been created that now depend upon ongoing homelessness for survival.

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The understanding to recognize that all people have different gifts.

The courage to explain their perspective to others, who do not agree for sake of being agreeable, and who have the courage to speak truth to power.

The humility to learn from those who have been there, and keep learning.

More than anything else we need people with the

persistence to not give up even when progress stalls,

Initiative to see what is missing and work to address it,

And the willingness to bring all their resources to bear.

The lack of housing is a huge problem – solving it requires a large response.

Changing the growing number of individuals and families living on the street means joining together. We need people with

The love to value all humanity,

The flexibility to work with those who show up.

The curiosity to keep learning, to ask questions and to know what they do not know.

The patience to listen to diverse perspectives.

Criminalization Against Homelessness

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ADVOCACY

EDUCATION

SERVICES

OUR THREE PRIORITIES

Specific Initiatives can change

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Volunteer Responsibilities

Do what you say you will, even when something comes up. The Coalition is a volunteer agency. We only work through our volunteers. We depend upon you.
Advocacy and representation – We believe volunteers are responsible for actively promoting the mission and vision of the Coalition within personal and professional networks. Volunteers also represent the Coalition to stakeholders, including donors, community members, and policymakers.
Funding and resource development – this means volunteers participate when they can. If you know people who can help, please tell them about us. Volunteers also leverage professional skills to enhance organizational capacity in marketing, technology, media, or legal compliance.
Community Engagement - Ensure the organization reflects the diversity of the communities served, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, income levels, age, abilities, and geographic representation. Support outreach efforts to build partnerships and increase the Coalition's impact.
Commitment – Stay a while and dedicate a meaningful amount of time. Our best volunteers are committed to the mission for the long-term, often working to end homelessness throughout their lives.

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Board Members Responsibilities

Governance and oversight – we interpret this to mean that board members are responsible for attending a majority of board meetings and that each board member should actively serve on one committee.
Advocacy and representation – We believe board members are responsible for actively promoting the mission and vision of the Coalition within personal and professional networks. Board members also represent the Coalition to stakeholders, including donors, community members, and policymakers.
Funding and resource development – this means board members participate in fundraising efforts, including grant writing, donor cultivation, and events. Board members also leverage professional skills to enhance organizational capacity in marketing, technology, media, or legal compliance.
Community Engagement - Ensure the board reflects the diversity of the communities served, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, income levels, age, abilities, and geographic representation. Support outreach efforts to build partnerships and increase the Coalition's impact.
Commitment - Serve a two-year term, renewable by board approval and dedicate 5-10 hours monthly for meetings, committee work, and organizational support. Our best board members are committed to the mission for the long-term, often working to end homelessness throughout their lives.

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Board Members Responsibilities (continued)

A board role and responsibilities document outline duties, expectations and authority of board members. This understanding is critical to expectations, enhances efficiency, improves accountability, and facilitates training when needed.
Supports Strategic Alignment: A well-defined roles and responsibilities document helps align all team members with the nonprofit’s goals and mission, ensuring that everyone works in support of the organization’s priorities and values. Working as a team is essential to our success.
Guides Conflict Resolution: When there are disputes or misunderstandings about responsibilities, this document serves as a reference point, helping to clarify and resolve issues based on predefined roles.
For nonprofits, having a roles and responsibilities document is essential for fostering a structured, accountable, and mission-focused team, helping to maximize impact and efficiently use resources in service of the organization’s goals.
Our Roles and Responsibilities Document can be found on our internal SharePoint site at the address below:

CTEH Internal SharePoint > Official Documents > Board R&R - 2024 Final.pdf

https://homelessfl.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/TCEH/EbS5oITLCnZHsIU37-9rpBEBhpGqnjm3aFffaWU7sizraw?e=VeHeSu

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The object of the Coalition shall be to improve the general welfare of the homeless through advocacy, public education and/or the provision of essential services. Objectives include but are not limited to: Determining the needs of the homeless, Initiation and encouragement of coordinated planning, among service/advocate/activist organizations, and developing a social conscience, stimulating public opinion and interests, and motivating community action.

OUR BYLAWS:

“Improve the general welfare” of all those living without a home,
“Through Advocacy, Public Education and/or the provision of essential services.”
“Objectives are not limited to” allows us the flexibility and spontaneity to respond to current needs,
“Determining the needs of those without shelter,” supports research, study, and responsiveness,
“Initiation and encouragement of coordinated planning” supports collaborative efforts with other organizations.
“Developing a social conscience,” guides our community education programs and helps us stay humble.
“Stimulating public opinion and interests,” is behind our consistent response to events that impact those without housing whether it be a new law, an event, or a statement made on television.
“Motivating community action,” supports our recruitment of volunteers, partner organizations and collaboration. We understand that motivating community action and creating the political will to end the condition of homelessness requires a broad base of support and understanding.

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Why do you have so many goals?

Homeless population 1980

Homeless Population 2020

Homeless Population 2025

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Our Bylaws

Bylaws are the internal rules that govern the operations and management of a nonprofit organization. These rules set the framework for how the organization functions, outlining essential guidelines such as the roles and responsibilities of board members and officers, procedures for holding meetings, voting protocols, and how decisions are made within the organization. Essentially, bylaws serve as the nonprofit’s operational “constitution.”

Bylaws are important for nonprofit organizations because:

Legal Compliance: Many states require nonprofits to have bylaws to ensure they operate with transparency and accountability. Bylaws help the organization comply with state laws and IRS requirements for tax-exempt status.
Structure and Clarity: Bylaws define the roles and responsibilities of board members, officers, and committees, reducing ambiguity and ensuring everyone understands their duties, which promotes smoother operations.
Consistency in Governance: They establish consistent procedures for meetings, voting, decision-making, and managing board changes. This consistency is vital for maintaining stability and continuity, especially as board members or leadership change over time.

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Our Code of Ethics

A code of ethics is a set of principles and guidelines that outline the ethical standards and values governing the behavior of a nonprofit organization and its members, including board members, employees, and volunteers. It reflects the organization’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and respect for stakeholders. Our code of ethics

Prohibits discrimination for any reason and makes clear that board members are responsible for furthering the cause not their own interests.
Provides clear guidance to all stakeholders on ethical behavior, the importance of confidentiality, our prohibition of harassment in any form, and our duty to honesty, and transparency.
Encourages all Board members, Staff, and Volunteers to continually assess and improve upon any limitations, character defects or biases and act in accordance with standards of professional integrity
Ensures that stakeholders, regardless of background or perspective, are treated with equal respect, courtesy and dignity.

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Way of Working

Board Meetings

Virtual Board Meetings: Held on the third Tuesday of odd months at 6:00 p.m.

January 20, 2026
March 17, 2026
May 19, 2026
July 21, 2026
September 15, 2026
End of Year Meeting – November 17, 2026

In-Person Meetings:

Beginning of Year Retreat - January
End of Year Meeting – December
Special events throughout the year

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Board Resources

▪ SharePoint: Centralized platform for all board documents

Board members are expected to be proficient in using SharePoint
Reference SharePoint for meeting minutes, agendas, and relevant materials
Training resources and support available for SharePoint usage

Participation Expectations

Active engagement in discussions and decision-making
Attendance at scheduled meetings
Reading available materials prior to decision-making
Timely communication with fellow board members and committees
Collaboration with committees and contribution to initiatives
Board members are expected to actively participate in at least two committees and contribute innovative ideas to enhance overall board effectiveness and client services.

Way of Working (Continued)

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Conflict of Interest

A Conflict of Interest policy is a document that outlines procedures for identifying, disclosing, and managing situations where an individual's personal interests might conflict, or appear to conflict, with the interests of the nonprofit organization. It applies to board members, staff, and volunteers, helping to ensure that decisions are made in the organization’s best interest rather than for personal gain.

Here’s why a Conflict of Interest policy is vital for nonprofits:

Protects Integrity and Trust: A Conflict of Interest policy reinforces the nonprofit’s commitment to ethical behavior. By preventing decisions influenced by personal interests, it helps build and maintain public trust, which is critical for donor and community support.
Promotes Transparency: This policy requires individuals to disclose potential conflicts, ensuring transparency in decision-making. When staff, board members, and volunteers are open about their affiliations or potential personal benefits, the organization can act transparently with all stakeholders.
Guides Ethical Decision-Making: A Conflict of Interest policy provides clear guidelines on how to handle situations where conflicts may arise, ensuring decisions are always aligned with the nonprofit’s mission and values, not personal interests.

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Conflict of Interest (continued)

Prevents Legal and Financial Risks: Nonprofits are subject to regulatory scrutiny, especially regarding financial management and conflicts of interest. Having a policy in place reduces the risk of unethical practices that could lead to financial penalties, legal consequences, or loss of tax-exempt status.
Protects Organizational Reputation: If conflicts of interest go unchecked, the organization’s reputation can be severely damaged, leading to lost donor support and community trust. A strong conflict of interest policy helps safeguard the organization’s reputation by prioritizing integrity.
Ensures Accountability: With a Conflict of Interest policy, board members, staff, and other stakeholders are accountable for maintaining ethical standards. The policy clarifies the process for disclosing conflicts and outlines actions to manage or resolve them.

All board of directors are responsible to raise potential conflict of interest issues to the attention of the CEO and the President of the Coalition. In considering whether an issue falls within this policy, all board of directors are urged to disclose the facts if there is any doubt rather than fail to disclose a conflict of interest.

To disclose a potential conflict of interest please complete the online form that can be found on SharePoint at the location below:

CTEH Internal SharePoint > Conflict of Interest Disclosure

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References

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Thank You

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VALUES

AUTHENTICITY

COMPASSION

COURAGE

CURIOSITY

DIVERSITY

FLEXIBILITY

IMAGINATION

INITIATIVE

LEARNING

PERSISTENCE

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