Ending Street Homelessness
Great Britain's "rough sleepers initiative" reduced street homelessness by over 2/3rds in three years. Common Ground adapted this strategy and achieved similar results on Manhattan's west side. Common Ground founder and President Rosanne Haggerty and Director of Innovations Becky Kanis will describe this strategic approach to ending street homelessness and how it is becoming the new standard of practice in New York City and is spreading to other communities.
Rosanne Haggerty founded Common Ground in 1990. It is the largest developer and operator of supportive housing in New York and a national leader in developing strategies to end homelessness. Common Ground's work includes outreach and housing placement services for chronically homeless individuals, the creation of innovative housing programs to accommodate those with special support needs, and community-based homelessness prevention initiatives.
Becky Kanis oversees Common Ground's research and development activities to create and spread innovative and effective practice in ending homelessness. A West Point graduate, she joined Common Ground after a career in the US Army, where she retired with the rank of Captain. She created and implemented Common Ground's Street to Home program, which has been replicated nationally and internationally.
