Setting a Path to End Homelessness among American Indians and Alaska Natives

In November 2015, USICH and seven other federal agencies signed an historic memorandum of understanding to implement strategies that set a path to end homelessness among Native Americans. In March 2016, the group delivered the Action Plan, which will help drive progress in each of the strategic action areas identified in the MOU.

The memorandum commits USICH and the Departments of Interior, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development to work together on several key actions to address homelessness both on and off tribal lands. The memorandum was the culmination of work undertaken by the Interagency Working Group on Homelessness among American Indians and Alaska Natives and was informed by conversations with Tribal leaders, urban native communities, and experts.

These actions identified by the Interagency Working Group are organized around four strategic areas and presented in more detail in the Action Plan.

1) Improving access to housing and services through Administrative action, where possible, and provide guidance and technical assistance

2) Improving data collection on homelessness among Native Americans both on and off Tribal lands to better enumerate the size and scope of the problem

3) Ensuring that federal strategies and actions to set a path to end Native American homelessness are informed by consultation and engagement with Tribal leaders, urban native communities, and experts in the field

4) Elevating awareness of the crisis of homelessness and housing instability among Native Americans, both on and off Tribal lands