State and Local Government
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness believes partnerships with local communities and states are vital partners in ending homelessness. Through collaboration at all levels of government, the nation can harness public resources and build on the innovations that have been demonstrated in communities nationwide to employ cost effective, comprehensive solutions to homelessness.
Since the release of Opening Doors in June 2010, there has been unprecedented collaboration from federal agencies with one another, and with state and local governments and nonprofits in our efforts to implement the Plan. We need to accelerate our progress to reach the goals in Opening Doors, which is why USICH is encouraging all states and local communities to join us in Opening Doors Across America, a USICH call to action. By taking the steps outlined, your state and community can join this national effort and achieve results, and will be recognized as a champion for leadership in ending homelessness. USICH has developed toolkits and guidance for communities to implement this initiative.
The Council has established a broad range of intergovernmental partnerships:
Federal Regional Interagency Councils
The Interagency Council has encouraged the development of Federal Regional Interagency Councils through which key regional representatives of Federal agencies are convened to mirror the work of the federal partners in Washington to increase collaboration and make resources more available and accessible to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
State Interagency Councils on Homelessness
Every State and territory has been encouraged by the Interagency Council to establish by Governor's Executive Order or legislative authority a State Interagency Council on Homelessness with representation at the Cabinet level from the mainstream income support, health care, behavioral health, human services, Veterans, housing, corrections, transportation, education, and labor departments and agencies.
- Fact sheet on how to develop a State Interagency Council
- Toolkit on developing a State Interagency Council
- List of States with Active Interagency Councils
Jurisdictional Community Strategic Plans to End Homelessness
Effective communities are implementing strategic plans to prevent and end homelessness tailored to their local needs. USICH strongly encourages the development and implementation of these plans; and they are a requirement of the HEARTH Act of 2009. Community-wide strategic planning is a pivotal step in ending homelessness and has been shown to demonstrably result in decreases in homelessness when the plans are well-crafted and implemented. For those do not already have a Ten Year Plan, USICH calls on communities to develop a Community Strategic Plan to prevent and end homelessness guided by best practices and aligned with Federal goals. The Council encourages communities to align their plans with Opening Doors, the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness by adopting the four major goals and tailor the plan to your community by adopting the objectives and strategies the plan offers to help you meet your goals.
- Toolkit for Action: Local and Community Strategic Planning
- Guidance on developing and implementing strategic plans to prevent and end homelessness
- Communities with a strategic plan
Field Operations and Support
USICH’s regional coordinators serve as principal representatives and points of contact for USICH in the field. These coordinators play instrumental roles in encouraging State and local coordination through such vehicles as Community Strategic Plans, Regional and State Interagency Councils, and providing technical assistance in these and other areas as required by USICH’s statute. As part of implementing and rolling out Opening Doors, USICH’s regional coordinators are building upon their previous work in communities across the country. The regional coordinators are now engaging local and state officials, as well as other community stakeholders on Opening Doors’ strategies and how their communities can pursue and achieve the four key goals of the Plan.
- Learn which regional coordinator covers your region
Below you will find information and resources focused on ways that state and local governments can leverage their resources and expertise to end homelessness:
Blog
In the Fishbowl: Community Strategic Planning Charrette in Indiana
New Mexico: Steps to Make a Plan Come to Life
Fact Sheets
Opening Doors Overview
An overview of Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, background for its development, key elements of ...
Opening Doors: State and Local Government Partners
Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness proposes a set of strategies that call upon the federal ...
Helpful Websites
Find Youth Info
http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/index.shtml Find Youth Info is the homepage for the Obama Administration's Interagency Working ...
Speeches
Presentation - Pre-Conference Session at NAEH 2012 Annual Conference: Maximizing the Opportunity of Interagency Councils on Homelessness
7/16/12 USICH Regional Coordinators presented this session on State Interagency Councils on Homelessness as a preconference workshop ...
USICH Webpages
State and Local Governments
"State and local stakeholders must be active partners with the Federal Government, and their work will inform and guide our efforts ...
Videos and Webinars
State Interagency Councils on Homelessness December Webinar: Hawaii's Experience Building an Interagency Council Aligned with Opening Doors
USICH's Anthony Love and Laura Zeilinger introduce the Opening Doors Across America initiative and discuss state level actions ...
Opening Doors Across America: a USICH Call to Action
USICH has introduced a new initiative called Opening Doors Across America. The goal of this initiative is to increase local ...
USICH Webinar: Increasing Access to Mainstream Assistance Programs
On February 23rd, USICH hosted a webinar on using consolidated online enrollment systems such as the Ohio Benefits Bank to increase ...
State Resources
