An integrated response to homelessness. Over 70 American cities
participating. More than 650,000 Americans experience
homelessness on any given night. Common Ground, a social service
organization operating in New York since 1990, aims to address
the needs of this often forgotten population by creating high
quality permanent and transitional housing. Central to the
philosophy of its founder, Rosanne Haggerty, is that attractive
and affordable low-income housing can be joined up with other
related needs in health, education and jobs training through an
integrated program model. Salvaging historic buildings,
renovating them through creative financing from public and
private sources, and partnering with other organizations to give
residents more than just a roof over their heads, Common Ground
has had impressive results. In 2011 the organization is
approaching 3,000 units of housing created, with ongoing
operational costs significantly less than government-run
homeless shelters, jail cells or hospital wards. The