Planet Gumbo is committed to being a clearinghouse for information about Homelessness in America and to provide Resources to help those in need.

Planet Gumbo, Inc. is a 501c3 Non-Profit Foundation founded by Bill "Sauce Boss" Wharton. We encourage all who are interested to do your part to help the homeless in your community and to advocate for the homeless. Here are some resources we have found. If you would like to be added to this list or if you know of links we should add, please email to info@planetgumbo.org.

National Healthcare for the Homeless Council http://www.nhchc.org/

Homeless Children's and family advocacy http://www.standupforkids.org/

Homeless Assistance Agencies http://www.hud.gov/homeless/hmlsagen.cfm

Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) - Members of the Interagency Council on Homelessness develop innovative $35 million funding opportunity to improve the delivery of federal resources to help end chronic homelessness

Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) - an agency of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services, whose mission is to increase access to comprehensive primary and preventive health care and to improve the health status of underserved and vulnerable populations. The Bureau administers the

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This site includes health data standards, scientific and surveillance data, health statistics, laboratory information, and information about grant and cooperative agreement funding opportunities.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - an agency of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services, which administers two targeted homeless grant programs

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - provides information about HUD programs, community and marketplace issues, housing options, and research on housing and community-related materials.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - provides information about veterans' benefits and services including an online Directory of Veterans Service Organizations

Community Connections Information Center - provides information for the HUD office of Community Planning & Development, including consolidated work plan summaries and funding information.

National Housing Institute - covers housing and community development issues, includes articles from Shelterforce, and provides links to other housing development sites.

National Housing Law Project - works to advance housing justice for the poor by increasing and preserving the supply of decent affordable housing. This site contains helpful information on public housing, Section 8 and other housing resources.

National Housing Trust Fund Campaign - a growing national campaign for a trust fund to support the construction or rehabilitation of 1.5 million units of affordable housing over the next 10 years. This site directs you to legislative advocacy opportunities to support the fund and to increase the availability of housing that is affordable for low-income people.

National Low Income Housing Coalition - a national advocacy organization for affordable housing. This site contains background information on housing issues, policy updates, and NLIHC activities.

Homelessness Marathon - a radio broadcast that enables homeless people speak to the nation from an overnight program that has originated from a different city each year. Host "Nobody" broadcasts from outdoors to dramatize the plight of people with nowhere to go to get out of the cold. For 14 hours he interviews experts on various aspects of poverty in America (e.g. health care, hunger, public housing, etc.) and takes calls from around the country, in addition to talking with homeless people.

Institute for Children and Poverty - an independent research and policy think tank based in New York City that conducts national research on the causes of family homelessness, the demographics of this growing population, and the programs most effective in assisting homeless families to transition to stability and self-sufficiency. This site contains information for policymakers, the non-profit community, education institutions and the private sector.

National Center for Homeless Education - provides numerous resources on homelessness and education for homeless children and youth - the Stewart B. McKinney legislation, fact sheets on homelessness, resources for advocates, links to other organizations that work with homelessness issues, a monthly feature of a model program, listings of upcoming events, and a variety of other information and resources on homeless children and youth.

National Center on Family Homelessness (previously The Better Homes Fund) - a non-profit organization working towards long-term solutions that help homeless families become self-supporting and active participants in community life. Their mission is to translate research findings and field experience into innovative programs benefiting homeless families across the country.

National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness - a coalition of students and community members across the country to end hunger and homelessness through service projects and action. NSCAHH trains students on strategies to improve or create service projects that meet their community ís needs.

Association of Clinicians for the Underserved - provides information relevant to clinical practice, research and training for clinicians and organizations serving uninsured or medically underserved populations.

Balancinging Act: Clinical Practices that Respond to the Needs of Homeless People - a paper by Marsha McMurray-Avila, Lillian Gelberg and William R. Breakey, describing special adaptations to clinical practice that are necessary to address the most common health problems experienced by homeless people. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law - includes information about mental health law and public policy related to mental health care and supportive services for persons with mental disabilities, including those who are homeless.

Health Disparities Collaboratives - an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to eliminate health disparities and improve functional and clinical outcomes for minorities, poor people and women through changes in health care delivery systems. The HCH Clinicians' Network is a national partner in this effort.

Homeless Veterans and Health Care: A Resource Guide for Providers - compiles current information about health care issues and resources for veterans, explicates the complex array of services provided by the Veterans1 Administration, explores barriers that exist, and describes helpful collaboration between the VA and homeless service providers in some communities.

National Health Law Program - a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves organizations and providers who work to preserve a health care safety net for uninsured or underinsured low-income people.

National Resource Center on Homelessness & Mental Illness Resources include publications, annotated bibliographies, and information about training opportunities on issues related to homelessness and mental illness.

National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) - a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to solving the problems of homelessness and to preventing its continued growth. The Alliance web page contains information on programs, practices, legislation, and NAEH activities.

National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) - a national advocacy network of homeless persons, activities, service providers and others committed to ending homelessness through public education, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and technical assistance. The site includes a searchable bibliographic database with reference to research on homelessness, housing, and poverty; calendar of events; legislative alerts, and links to local state and national homeless/housing organizations

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) - provides legislative advocacy, public education and technical assistance for service providers of homeless veterans.

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty - advocates to protect the rights of homeless people and to implement solutions to end homelessness in America. To achieve this mission, the Law Center pursues three main strategies: impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. This site provides information on homelessness and describes current projects, publications, and activities.

National Network for Youth - provides Washington D.C.-based advocacy to protect key legislation and funding for community-based youth programs, including those for homeless and runaway youth.

Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) - a non-partisan, voluntary organization that advocates for a universal, comprehensive, single-payer national health care program. PNHP has over 9,000 members and chapters across the United States.

THOMAS - online information about federal legislation. Maintained by the U.S. Library of Congress, THOMAS provides a searchable database of bills introduced in the 104th and 105th Congresses. It also contains the Congressional Record, searchable by keyword.