Winter - the time of year when we keep the home fires burning. Yet, despite $2 billion in federal funding to combat homelessness, one million Americans will be homeless tonight. While the nation commits $38 billion to create "Homeland Security," the security of home is moving out of reach for all too many of us.

Rising job losses and housing costs coupled with falling federal support for affordable housing have intensified the crisis. State and local communities are strapped for funds, forcing cuts vital services including emergency shelter and affordable housing programs. Studies conclude that:

• Requests by cities for emergency shelter assistance are up 19%, the steepest rise in a decade. Yet the federal housing assistance budget has dropped 51% since 1976.
  
  
• Working families who spend more than half their incomes on housing has jumped 30% in just two years. 1 in 7 Americans either live in substandard housing or spend over half their incomes on housing.
  
  
• Families with children comprise 39% of the homeless population.
  
  
• There is a nationwide shortage of 5 million affordable rental units.

While cities and towns across the nation struggle to alleviate homelessness and housing shortages, many community leaders have developed innovative housing and employment programs that give Americans the real security of a place to call home - and prove that we can end homelessness.

The "Bringing America Home Act," to be introduced in Congress next month, would provide funding to replicate these programs. Will Congress back President Bush's pledge to end homelessness in ten years? What can we learn from leaders who have catalyzed their communities to resolve longstanding challenges to long-term affordable housing?