Coalition for the Homeless (Louisville)

History and Background

The Coalition for the Homeless was originally founded through an initiative started in 1984 by two associate priests from the Cathedral of the Assumption and Christ Church Cathedral, who demanded increased community activism to address homelessness within the city. Following an appeal to then-Mayor Harvey Sloane (D), a community task force to address the issue was created which would become Coalition for the Homeless in 1986. The Coalition later received tax-exempt status in 1987. ¹

The Coalition argues that housing is a human right and has advocated policies that address homelessness and those it argues would increase tenant and renters’ rights against landlords. Such proposals include increased assistance to renters facing eviction, regulating rental application fees, sealing eviction records, and increased government spending towards assisting homeless populations.  ³

Finances

For the 2023 fiscal year ending in June 2024, Coalition for the Homeless reported $6,107,381 in revenue, of which $5,806,356 was from contributions and grants, $61,432 from program service revenue, and $111,013 from investment income. It reported $5,962,486 in expenses, of which $3,535,937 was allocated as grants to other organizations, $1,649,129 was paid out in salary and compensation, $174,755 in fundraising expenses, $98,739 in travel expenses, and $87,240 in shelter assistance. It ended the year with a net surplus of $144,895 and $2,563,826  in net assets. ⁵

For fiscal year 2023, the coalition received $4,812,393 in government funding, making up 78 percent of its revenue. ²

Projects and Initiatives

Continuum of Care

Coalition for the Homeless is the Louisville metro area coordinator for the federal Continuum of Care program under the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program has operated since 1997 and has provided assistance to community groups in applying for HUD grants, coordinated collaborative proposals for federal funding, and conducted an annual count of the homeless people within the Louisville region. ⁴

In January 2025, the coalition reported that through the Continuum of Care groups in the Louisville region had been awarded $23.3 million in HUD grants. ⁶

Advocacy

The Coalition for the Homeless promotes several policy proposals and urges supporters and members to contact local government representatives to increase legislative support. Such proposals include increased budget funding for homelessness programs, increasing the portion of the deed-recording fee that is allocated to the State Affordable Housing Trust Fund, changes to zoning ordinances to allow additional homeless shelters to be constructed, allowing religious institutions to build shelters, ensuring the sealing of eviction records, and increasing regulations on rental application fees. ³

Leadership

Natalie Harris is the executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, a position she has held since 2010. She previously worked as the CEO of Miami Valley Housing Opportunities in Dayton, Ohio; as Director of Specialized Housing Resources Department at the Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), and as director of the Homeless and Husing Coalition of Kentucky. She has also provided consulting services for the U.S. Census Bureau, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Urban Institute. ⁷