named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Code Blue Collaborative
Emergency cold-weather response program providing outreach, transportation, shelter, and meals to unhoused individuals when temperatures drop to 32°F or below in Erie County and Buffalo.
Outreach Committee
Coordinates street outreach efforts, including "rise and shine" and night outreach, to connect unsheltered individuals with services and housing resources.
Project Homeless Connect
Event-based initiative connecting homeless individuals with housing, health, legal, and social services through coordinated provider participation.
Sister Jeanne Frank Award
Annual award recognizing individuals and agencies that demonstrate exceptional advocacy and service for homeless populations in Western New York.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 5 activities
- Advocates for homeless individuals through community liaison and policy engagementActs as a liaison between homeless individuals, service providers, and government agencies, including facilitating meetings with Department of Social Services officials to address systemic challenges.
- Conducts outreach to connect homeless individuals with housing and servicesCoordinates outreach efforts to improve access to housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness, including those living on the streets.
- Coordinates a regional network of homelessness service providersFacilitates collaboration among approximately 50 service provider agencies in Western New York to address homelessness through coordinated efforts and information sharing.
- Organizes annual one-day comprehensive service event for people experiencing homelessnessHosts an annual one-day, one-stop event providing a range of services to individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, a program adopted in 2009 to improve access and coordination of care.
- Provides emergency shelter during Code Blue seasonServed 1,439 individuals during the 2022–2023 Code Blue season who otherwise lacked shelter, offering critical emergency housing during periods of extreme weather.
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Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Support Services 1 activity
- Ensures equitable services for homeless LGBTQ individuals through dedicated committeeOperates an LGBTQ committee to promote safe and effective services for homeless LGBTQ individuals, addressing specific needs and improving service quality.
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Regular Membership Meetings 1 activity
- Hosts regular coalition meetings for collaboration and coordinationConvenes monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 9:30am, held both in person at Neighborhood Legal Services in Buffalo, NY, and virtually via Zoom, to support ongoing coordination.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Operates a membership program to support organizational engagementManages a membership program with an annual cycle from April 1 to March 31, fostering sustained collaboration and participation in coalition activities.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Organizes job fair for homeless services sectorPlans and hosts a HOMELESS SERVICES Job Fair scheduled for May 18, 2026, in Buffalo, NY, to connect job seekers with employment opportunities in the homelessness services field.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Presents annual advocacy award recognizing service to the poor and homelessRecognizes outstanding contributions to homelessness alleviation by presenting the Sister Jeanne Frank Award annually to an individual demonstrating advocacy, compassion, and commitment.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Provides trainings and educational programs on homelessness issuesDevelops and delivers trainings for service providers and the public to improve understanding of homelessness and available resources, supporting more effective interventions.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$82K
Contributions & grants$81K98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3370%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$92K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$80K
balance sheet
Total assets$56K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$56K
1 years on record · 2024–2024
relationships · 44
Who they work with
- 211 WNY Partner — Collaborates with the Education Committee; represented by committee chair Dawn Vanderkooi.
- 211 WNY Partner — Communicates daily Code Blue activation based on weather forecasts and provides shelter information.
- 211 WNY Partner — Partner organization linked for service connection and public outreach.
- 211 of Western New York Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Amherst Senior Services Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- BestSelf Behavioral Health Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Buffalo Center for Health Equity Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Buffalo City Mission Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Buffalo City Mission Partner — Provides overnight shelter during the Code Blue season.
- Buffalo Police Department Partner — Engaged in efforts to collaborate with the Buffalo Police Department to establish a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) unit, including fundraising and training coordination.
- Caz Recovery Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- City of Buffalo Government — Co-implements the Code Blue emergency shelter program.
- Code Blue Collaborative Coalition — Active participant in the Code Blue Collaborative, contributing to planning, implementation, and operation of winter emergency shelter services.
- Code Blue Collaborative Partner — Collaborative committee focused on emergency response to extreme weather for people experiencing homelessness.
- Community Action Organization of WNY Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Compass House Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Department of Social Services Government — Collaborates with the Department of Social Services through the DSS Dialogue committee to address service delivery issues.
- Erie County Government — Co-implements the Code Blue emergency shelter program.
- Erie County DOH Harm Reduction Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Erie County Department of Social Services Government — Provides follow-up services for individuals seeking ongoing housing assistance after Code Blue shelter.
- Erie County Medical Center Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Erie County Single Point of Access Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Family Promise of WNY Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Friends of Night People Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Gerard Place Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Harvest House Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Homeless Alliance of WNY Partner — Partners with the Homeless Alliance of WNY, as evidenced by shared award recipients and collaborative grant writing and outreach programming.
- Jewish Family Services Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Little Portion Friary Partner — Member agency of the WNY Coalition for the Homeless for 2026-2027.
- Marek Parker Partner — Contact person for participation in the LGBTQ committee
+ 14 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative Network Modelmethodology: collaborative_network_modelBy convening and coordinating service providers across Western New York, the organization creates a more effective and unified response to homelessness, reducing duplication and increasing coverage because systemic change emerges from aligned local action.
- Harm Reduction through Emergency Responsemethodology: harm_reductionBy providing emergency shelter, transportation, and meals during cold weather, the organization reduces mortality and suffering among unhoused individuals because immediate, life-preserving support enables longer-term engagement with services.
- Service as Equalitymethodology: service-as-equalityBy grounding service delivery in principles of equality, dignity, and shared humanity, the organization increases engagement and trust because treating people as equals—rather than subjects of charity—fosters mutual respect and reduces stigma.
- Systemic Advocacy for Policy Changemethodology: systemic-advocacyBy identifying and challenging harmful practices within institutions like the Department of Social Services, the organization removes systemic barriers to housing and services because policy-level change produces broader and more sustainable outcomes than individual interventions.