The federal plan to systemically end homelessness in America targets longstanding racial and ethnic disparities.
The Biden administration announced this week plans to address homelessness in America, with the goal of reducing it by 25 percent by 2025. The plan, All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, was developed by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and aims to serve as a blueprint for state and local governments to address homelessness within their communities. The plan consists of strategies proven successful in previous years, such as the “Housing First” model, which prioritizes stable housing as a catalyst to all other aspects of an individual’s life, as well as new tactics to combat systemic racism causing racial and ethnic disparities in homelessness.
“My plan offers a roadmap for not only getting people into housing but also ensuring that they have access to the support, services, and income that allow them to thrive,” said President Biden in a statement. “It is a plan that is grounded in the best evidence and aims to improve equity and strengthen collaboration at all levels.”
The All In plan was created based on public feedback the USICH gathered from more than 500 people who have experienced homelessness as well as leaders, providers, advocates, developers, and other partners from more than 600 communities, tribes, and territories. The feedback included more than 1,500 online comments and more than 80 listening sessions.
Key takeaways from the feedback underscored the need to:
- Address the basic needs of those in crisis
- Increase accessibility to affordable, quality housing
- Establish better systems to prevent people from losing their homes
- Cross-sector collaboration on systems and jurisdictions
- Leverage data and evidence to show the methods that work
- Involve people who have experienced homelessness in the policymaking process
Following the All In initiative, the USICH, which is comprised of 19 federal agencies, will work with state and local governments to accelerate the strategies to address homelessness across the country.
“The evidence shows that stable housing is essential to health and well-being. Like many health conditions, homelessness is preventable, and I am proud to be part of an administration that acknowledges the power of prevention,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who serves as vice chair of USICH, in a statement.