Who We Are
History of RISE UP
The RISE UP Campaign was born from the leadership of advocates with lived experience of homelessness. Individuals who have long fought for dignity, safety, and equal treatment in every space of daily life. For years, advocates with Care For the Homeless and Urban Pathways raised urgent concerns about the discrimination and violence they faced simply for being unhoused. While the Homeless Protection Act (HPA) had existed in the state legislature for years, it was these lived-experience leaders who stepped forward to champion it, shaping the campaign through their stories, frustrations, and determination.
As the work evolved, advocates made clear that addressing violence alone was not enough. Through their leadership and informed by a review of existing legal frameworks, the campaign expanded beyond a single bill to confront the broader patterns of exclusion faced by people experiencing homelessness. This insight led to the creation of the Homelessness Non-Discrimination Act (HONDA), ensuring comprehensive protections against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, employment, education, and other critical areas of daily life. Together, the HPA and the HONDA form a unified, evidence-based legislative package that combines proven policy approaches into a comprehensive framework for accountability, recognition, and inclusion.
What began as one piece of legislation ultimately became the RISE UP Campaign, Rights, Inclusion, Safety, and Equality for Unhoused Persons, because advocates clearly articulated the gaps that needed to be addressed. With the partnership and leadership of Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and Senator Luis Sepúlveda, these bills were introduced to establish baseline legal protections that are currently absent in New York State. Crafted not just for people experiencing homelessness but with and by them, RISE UP positions New York to both align with emerging national efforts and lead the way in advancing justice, dignity, and safety for unhoused New Yorkers.
About RISE UP Champions
Care For the Homeless (CFH) and Urban Pathways are longtime New York City–based nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending homelessness through integrated services, housing, and systemic advocacy. Founded in 1985, CFH delivers high-quality health care, shelter, and social services grounded in dignity, compassion, and respect. Established in 1975, Urban Pathways combats homelessness through street outreach, drop-in centers, transitional and supportive housing, and a housing-first approach that meets people where they are. Together, the organizations support thousands of New Yorkers each year. Beyond direct services, CFH and Urban Pathways advocate for policies that prevent and end homelessness. The RISE UP campaign is led by the organization's lived experience advocates, ensuring that those most impacted by homelessness are at the forefront of shaping solutions and driving change.