Diane Nilan, author of Changing the Paradigm of Homelessness on www.routledge.com

Diane Nilan

President/Founder
HEAR US Inc.
Naperville IL United States

Diane Nilan has more than 3 decades of experience running shelters; advocating for improved state and federal policies; filming/producing award-winning documentaries, My Own Four Walls; on the edge: Family Homelessness in America; writing her reader-friendly book on homelessness, Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness; and addressing audiences from Columbia University to Congress. Since 2005 she's lived in a van, traveling across the US chronicling family/youth homelessness.

Subjects

Adolescent Studies, Anthropology - Soc Sci, Cognitive Psychology, Consumer Psychology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Developmental Psychology, Education, Family Studies, Health Psychology, Health and Social Care, Law, Mental Health, Other, Psychological Science, Psychology, Research Methods & Statistics, Social Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Sociology & Social Policy, Sociology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Urban Planning, Urban Studies

 Author—Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness
 Award-Winning Filmmaker— My Own Four Walls; on the edge: Family Homelessness in America; REACH; Littlest Nomads; Worn Out Welcome Mat, films about homeless families/youth in TX, KS, OR, ID, WA, NH, NJ, HI
 Editor/photographer—The Charlie Book: 60 Ways to Help Homeless Kids
 Activist, homelessness issues

2005-present HEAR US Inc. Naperville, IL, President and Founder
national advocacy organization to give voice & visibility to homeless children & youth.
2003-2005 PROJECT REACH, 8 suburban counties outside Chicago, Founder and Director
lead liaison for McKinney-Vento implementation
1990–2003 Hesed House & Public Action to Deliver Shelter, Aurora, IL, Associate Director and
Program Director (Center for ministry to very poor and homeless persons)

Professional Affiliations Friends of Imiliwaha NFP (founding member, board of directors)

Education

BA, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Family Homelessness
Youth Homelessness
Homeless Education Laws and Policies

Personal Interests

Interests Photography/videography, travel, reading, disc golf, kayaking, hot air ballooning

Websites

HEAR US Inc.