NLIHC Supports Call for Communities to Join Effort to Implement Federal Homelessness Plan

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released the “2011 Annual Update to Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness” on October 3. “Opening Doors” was released in June 2010.

The update provides baseline data that will allow the Administration to mark progress on the goals outlined in “Opening Doors” in future years. With only one year of data collected, it is not yet possible to track annual progress against the goals in the report. However, USICH reports that noteworthy steps have been taken in six categories: breaking down silos, better data collection analysis and reporting, adoption of proven tools and effective practices, better use of targeted resources, improved access to mainstream resources, and increased engagement with states and communities.

USICH also released an appendix to the annual update that provides information on programs in every federal agency targeted to people experiencing homelessness. Information provided includes “a description of the program, how it is funded and awarded, the number of people served, any planned studies or evaluations of the program, and where available, a discussion on any impediments to the program with corresponding recommendations for improvements.”

USICH recently launched “Opening Doors Across America,” a call for communities across the country to align their strategies to prevent and end homelessness with the goals outlined in “Opening Doors.” NLIHC has endorsed the “Opening Doors Across America” initiative (see Memo, 9/23). 

The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) issued its own report on progress made on the goals in “Opening Doors”. NAEH’s report found that progress has been made on 39 of the 52 strategies in “Opening Doors” and that there has been measurable progress made on 18 of the 52 strategies.

The 2011 Annual Update is available at http://epaperflip.com/aglaia/viewer.aspx?docid=1716b9b8b5594ac69796592db95d53de

The Appendix to the 2011 Annual Update is available at http://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Annual_Update_2011_Appendix.pdf