Legislative Advocacy
The Florida Coalition to End Homelessness (FCEH) members stand as one voice to improve policy and increase funding to prevent and end homelessness in the State of Florida.
Become an Advocate
Legislative Advocacy begins with you! FCEH welcomes you to join our team and advocate for our legislative priorities with your Florida State Representatives and Senators.
FCEH Members provide input and suggestions for each year’s State Legislative Priorities. Our Advocacy Committee will prepare suggestions for our CoC Members, who will approve FCEH priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session.
Members are encouraged to join the Advocacy Committee. For more information, please email Leeanne Sacino at info@fchonline.org
For more information about last year’s session, please visit:
Florida Coalition to End Homelessness Advocacy Goals
Secure Funding
Florida Coalition to End Homelessness (FCEH) has been instrumental in securing recurring Challenge Grant and CoC Staffing Grant contracts. This work has resulted in a three-year unified contract for all CoC staffing, Challenge Grant, ESG, and TANF dollars. These funds are provided directly to all of the Continuum of Care Lead Agencies in the State of Florida. This allows the CoC to plan ahead and to identify and fund homeless programs throughout the State.
FCEH worked with the State Office on Homelessness to reduce the number of homeless contracts to the 27 Lead Agencies. The goal was to move all funding streams to a unified RFA for lead agencies with a 3-year contract. This has resulted in an extension of the expenditure window to a full 12 months year to year. This has also reduced the dollars being returned unspent.
Improve Policy
FCEH is a leading voice on state homeless policy. From advocating for improved state policy to analyzing enacted and proposed legislation, FCEH actively engages in the legislative process. FCEH works collaboratively with public, private, and nonprofit partners to develop, analyze, and advocate for policy solutions to end homelessness.
Sadowski Coalition Affiliate
FCEH is a Sadowski Coalition affiliate, one of 30 statewide organizations which agree that the state and local housing trust funds should be used for only one thing: Florida’s housing programs.
The State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP), provides funds directly to local Governments for eligible activities included in their Local Housing Assistance Plan. We strongly encourage our members to participate in the planning for affordable housing.
The State Apartment Incentive Loan Program (SAIL) provides low-interest loans on a competitive basis to affordable housing developers each year. FCEH continues to advocate for the homeless and special needs set-asides. FCEH also advocates for RFP policies for housing projects to have minimum requirements for application. Including allowing those with zero income, those with poor credit or eviction histories, or those with criminal backgrounds is key to moving those experiencing homelessness into housing.