The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) has released its summary of the new Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.  USICH was charged by Congress to develop the plan under the HEARTH Act.   The plan will serve as the blueprint for coordinated action by Federal agencies to develop and implement programs to address the needs identified in the plan in a measureable manner.  USICH is composed of representatives from all the agencies in the President's Cabinet and will be responsible for overseing implementation of the strategic plan.  The plan includes a series of priorities and strategies agreed to by the participating agencies that will guide actions to be taken over the five-year time period covered by the plan.

USICH conducted an extensive outreach effort designed to obtain input from stakeholders throughout the nation as to the needs, strategies, programs and best practices that should be included in the plan.   Danbury Housing Partnership Chair Mark Nolan and Greater Danbury Continuum of Care Co-Chair Milena Sangut participated in the stakeholders meeting held in Boston earlier this year.  Other Danbury agencies submitted input through other avenues established by USICH to encourage comments and information sharing.  

USICH concluded from its outreach that the needs of the following populations were such that they should be given priority in development of programs and provision of funding:  families with children; young adults; veterans and persons who are chronically homeless.  USICH has submitted the plan to Congress for review and has begun working to implement the recommendations contained in the plan.  USICH also continues to seek comment and input from stakeholders.

Please click on the link to see a summary of the Federal Strategic Plan.