USICH Releases Guidance for Creating and Sustaining State Interagency Councils on Homelessness

Today, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released federal guidance to help states create, sustain, and innovatively leverage their own interagency councils on homelessness (ICHs) to prevent and end homelessness in states and communities across the country.

"Homelessness is a multi-system failure, and neither the homelessness service nor housing systems can solve it alone. USICH encourages every U.S. state and territory to establish a state interagency council on homelessness. They bring together departments and sectors involved in both the causes of and solutions for homelessness—from housing and health care to labor and criminal justice," said USICH Director of National Initiatives Beverley Ebersold. "We hope this new guidance helps states launch and maintain ICHs—even through leadership transitions. Homelessness is a life-and-death crisis, and the efforts to prevent and end it should never be put on hold."

This guidance, "Creating and Sustaining State Interagency Councils on Homelessness," provides:

• An overview of state interagency councils’ goals; establishment models; members, leaders, and staff; and lived experience involvement
• Guidance for navigating leadership transitions
• A state-by-state chart of information about currently active ICHs
• Spotlights on select innovative and impactful ICHs in Arizona, California, Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota

Want more news like this? Subscribe to the USICH newsletter.