WHAT
IS THE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS?
WHAT ARE ITS MISSION AND STRUCTURE?
Congress
established the Interagency Council on Homelessness in 1987 with
the passage of the Stewart
B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. The Council is responsible
for providing Federal leadership for activities to assist homeless
families and individuals.
The
major activities of the Council include:
- planning
and coordinating the Federal government's activities and programs
to assist homeless people, and making or recommending policy changes
to improve such assistance;
-
monitoring and evaluating assistance to homeless persons provided
by all levels of government and the private sector;
-
ensuring that technical assistance is provided to help community
and other organizations effectively assist homeless persons; and
-
disseminating information on Federal resources available to assist
the homeless population.
The
actions needed to carry out the policies and priorities established
by the Council are developed by a policy-level working group and
various task forces with the assistance of Council staff. The policy
group provides a forum for coordinating policies and programs, developing
special initiatives, and preparing recommendations for consideration
by the full Council.
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