Interagency Government Council Unveils Strategic Plan to End Homelessness

The USrnInteragency Council on Homelessness (USICH) today unveiled what is being calledrn”the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and endrnhomelessness.” </p

The Council,rncomposed of secretaries and heads of 19 federal departments and agencies, is chairedrnby HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.  USICHrnwas charged by the President and Congress to develop a national strategic planrnunder the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housingrn(HEARTH) Act in May 2009. </p

The 19rnagencies, with responsibility for the nation's housing, health, employment,rneducation, and human services have set a goal of ending veterans and chronicrnhomelessness by 2015 and homelessness among families, youth, and children byrn2020.  Its report, Opening Doors:  Federal StrategicrnPlan to Prevent and End Homelessness, was presented to a representative ofrnPresident Obama at White House ceremonies Tuesday morning.</p

ThernCouncil says that its report reflects agreement by the member agencies on a setrnof priorities and strategies including six core values:</p<ul class="unIndentedList"<liHomelessness is unacceptable</li<liThere are no "homeless people" but ratherrnpeople who have lost their homes</li<liHomelessness is expensive; it is better to invest inrnsolutions</li<liHomelessness is solvable; we have learned a lot aboutrnwhat works</li<liHomelessness can be prevented</li<liThere is strength in collaboration and USICH can makerna difference </li</ul

ThernCouncil formed four working groups to develop strategies for specificrnpopulations; families with children, youth, veterans, and individualsrnexperiencing chronic homelessness.</p

Thernreport, which we will cover in more detail down the road, paints a picture of homelessnessrnand the systems that currently exist to address the problem and sets forth arnvision “No one should experience homelessness – no one should be without arnsafe, stable place to call home” and says , that, without a safe, decent,rnaffordable place to live, it is nearly impossible “to achieve good health,rnpositive educational outcomes, or reach one's economic potential.”  Further, the report says, “For manyrnpersons living in poverty, the lack of stable housing leads to costly recyclingrnthrough crisis-driven systems like foster care, emergency rooms, psychiatricrnhospitals, emergency domestic violence shelters, detox centers, and jail.  </p

The reportrnpresents a roadmap to addressing homelessness, laying out 10 specificrnobjectives within the following themes. </p<ul class="unIndentedList"<liIncrease leadership, collaboration, and civicrnengagement.</li<liIncrease access to stable and affordable housing</li<liIncrease economic security</li<liImprove Health and Stability</li<liRetool the Homeless Crisis Response System.</li</ul

“As the mostrnfar-reaching and ambitious plan to end homelessness in our history, this planrnwill both strengthen existing programs and forge new partnerships,” said Donovan. rn”Working together with Congress, state and local officials, faith-basedrnand community organizations, and business and philanthropic leaders across ourrncountry, we will harness public and private resources to build on therninnovations that have been demonstrated at the local level nationwide. No onernshould be without a safe, stable place to call home and today we unveil a planrnthat will put our nation on the path toward ending all types ofrnhomelessness.”</p

In recent years, over 300rncommunities have developed plans to end homelessness. “We know that thernFederal government alone cannot address this challenge,” said USICH VicernChair and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. “Achieving the goals in Opening Doors will require strong partnerships with Congress, states, localities,rnphilanthropy, and faith based and community organizations across the country.rnAfter all, the people of our nation are best served when we work as a team.</p

By combining permanentrnhousing with support services, federal, state, and local efforts have reducedrnthe number of people who are chronically homeless by one-third in the last fivernyears. </p

More on the lack of affordable low income housing and the growing homelessness issue….</p

Time For A Serious Look At Housing Problems And Policy. READ MORE</p

HUD & DOT Partner To Support Community Development. READ MORE</p

HUD Homeless Report: More Families In Shelters. Fewer People On Street. READ MORE</p

Gimme Shelter: Homelessness Rate Climbing. Low Income Rental Unitsrn Needed. READ MORE</p

The Dearth of Affordable Housing. READ MORE</p

HUD Allocates $58 Million To Help Homeless Veterans. READ MORE</p

HUD Chief Looks To Simplify Home Rental Assistance Program. READ MORE</p

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FDIC: More Attention Must Be Given To Affordable Housing and Borrower Education. READ MORE</p

FHFA Publishes Framework To Establish FHLBank Housing Goals. READ MORE</p

HUD Secretary Outlines Strategic Approach Toward Sustainable Housing Recovery. READ MORE</p

Homeownership Rate Hits 10 Year Low. Youngest Demographic is Biggest Drag. READ MORE</p

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