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Ralph da Costa Nunez, PhD, serves as President and CEO of the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, a New York City-based think tank focused on the impact of public policies on poor and homeless children and their families. Dr. Nunez is also President and CEO of Homes for the Homeless, a leading social services provider in New York City. Founded in 1986 with the belief that it takes more than housing to end homelessness, Homes for the Homeless operates four family shelters that serve both homeless families and the surrounding communities through a family-based, child-centered, and education-focused approach. Dr. Nunez has long supported the belief that homelessness is a multifaceted issue, requiring integrated services in education, employment, housing, and other areas to help homeless families achieve independence and self-sufficiency. Prior to Homes for the Homeless, Dr. Nunez was Mayor Koch’s Deputy Director for the Mayor's Office of Homeless and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Services, overseeing the policies and services administered by all city agencies serving those experiencing homelessness. In addition, he served as a First Deputy Commissioner of the Human Resources Administration, and held executive positions with the Mayor's Youth Bureau, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the Legislative Office of Budget Review. Dr. Nunez was also a mayoral appointee to the New York City Water Board and the Mayor's Commission on the Homeless during the Dinkins and Giuliani administrations. Dr. Nunez is the Vice President of the Academy of Political Science Board of Directors and the Treasurer of the Community Service Society. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Columbia University where he has served as professor at the School of International and Public Affairs since 1980. He is the editor of the "Journal of Children & Poverty" and has authored numerous reports, countless articles, and several books. An academic volume of his most recent book, "The Poor Among Us: A History of Poverty and Homelessness in New York City," was recently released by www.facebookPalgrave Macmillan.