Long Island Coalition for the Homeless

Since 1995, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH) has led regional efforts to end homelessness across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As the designated Continuum of Care (CoC) lead agency, we bring together service providers, advocates, and community partners to develop effective strategies, secure federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and strengthen Long Island’s response to homelessness.

Over the decades, homelessness on Long Island has grown more complex. This is shaped by decades of disinvestment in safety net programs, economic recessions, the war on drugs, natural disasters like Superstorm Sandy, an aging population, and the ongoing challenges of racial and economic segregation. Above all, the high cost of housing remains the leading cause of homelessness both locally and nationwide.

Today, the majority of people experiencing homelessness on Long Island are families struggling to afford rent in a region with some of the nation’s highest housing costs and lowest rental availability. We also see a growing number of older adults on fixed incomes who have been priced out of stable housing. Many spend months or even years in shelters before securing permanent homes.

At LICH, our mission is to end homelessness on Long Island. We pursue this goal through collaboration, advocacy, policy development, education, and direct support to those most in need. We lead with compassion, data, and partnership to ensure that every Long Islander has a safe and stable place to call home.