Who we are

Mission

Community Alliance for the Homeless unites partners and coordinates a comprehensive response system to end homelessness in Memphis and Shelby County.

Vision

We are devoted to ending long-term homelessness and ensuring that future homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time.

Guiding Principles

We believe that housing is a basic human right.
We believe that homelessness is a solvable problem.
We believe that our community is equipped with resources to impact positive change.

Organizational History

Community Alliance for the Homeless was formed in February of 2010 as a result of a merger between Partners for the Homeless and the Greater Memphis Inter-Agency Coalition for the Homeless (GMICH). Originally known as the Homeless Resource Coordinating Council, Partners was established in 1995 and assumed responsibility for preparation and submission of the local Continuum of Care application process in 1996. The Continuum of Care application is the mechanism required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to secure federal funding for housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Greater Memphis Interagency Coalition for the Homeless was founded in 1988 as a community-wide collaborative, including homeless service providers, public and private donors, and community and faith-based organizations.

Staff

Administrative Team

Dr. Sydne Taylor

President & CEO

sydne@cafth.org

Joining the CAFTH Team in 2016, Dr. Taylor has worked on several local initiatives, including working toward ending chronic homelessness, veteran homelessness, family homelessness, youth homelessness, and individual homelessness. Dr. Taylor has over thirteen years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, fourteen years in the academic setting, and has served three terms as an AmeriCorps member. Dr. Taylor is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but has called the Memphis Metro Area her home for nine years with her family. Dr. Taylor has experience in strategic planning, operations, community engagement, grant writing, and human resources. Dr. Taylor firmly believes that housing is a fundamental human right and that homelessness is a solvable problem. She looks forward to her new role with CAFTH and working towards the goals of ending homelessness in Memphis and Shelby County. Dr. Sydne Taylor believes that Memphis and Shelby County are equipped with the resources to actively work toward ending homelessness in our community. Along with the CAFTH team and the Memphis and Shelby County community, Dr. Sydne Taylor looks forward to expanding possibilities, driving innovation, and ensuring that every person in our community can thrive.