Worcester Homeless Action Committee

WHAC was formed in the fall of 2003. For years, leaders in the homelessness field in Worcester, such as Buddy Brousseau, Ellen Laverdure, Joe McKee, Colleen Hilferty, Dave McMahon and others had watched a small NIMBY advocacy group attack the homeless and the institutions that support them, undermining the social safety net that houses and treats the poor. Determined to become a "pitbull" for this disenfrachised group, WHAC was formed with the express mission of advocating for sensible policy with regards to the estimated 3000 homeless in New England's second largest city.

Since Fall 2003, WHAC has spearheaded campaigns to defend the city's only emergency shelter, revised city plans to address homelessness, graded candidates for public office based on their record for the homeless, and sat at the table to work with many other leaders in the city to draft policy to end homelessness in our time.

WHAC looks for positive approaches for our city and examines other city and regional approaches that have worked in limiting or ending homelessness, and WHAC intends to push for duplication of these successful efforts.