Funders Together to End Homelessness responds to the newly released United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

Funders Together to End Homelessness is encouraged by the recently released United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, All In.. We applaud the Plan’s goal to reduce homelessness by 25 percent by 2025 through evidence-based solutions and approaches like Housing First, addressing the affordable housing supply, and an intentional focus on prevention of homelessness.  

We also believe that it is important to name the absence of the principle of housing justice from the Plan. While leading with racial equity in all federal strategies is a key component to preventing and ending homelessness, it is just the start. Addressing the root causes of homelessness requires us to go beyond equity to center justice – and deepen our analysis on the difference between the two. 

“As we name in our strategic framework, housing justice means everyone has assurance of safe, secure, affordable, and dignified living conditions where they have power and agency over how and where they live,” said Amanda Andere, Funders Together to End Homelessness CEO. “While the principle of housing justice isn’t explicit in the Plan, we know that ending homelessness is only possible when we create policies and take actions rooted in justice. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership between philanthropy and USICH to support the strategies within the Plan as well as build a field-wide understanding and commitment to housing and racial justice for all.” 

See our full statement in conjunction with our partners in the National Coalition for Housing Justice below: 

National Coalition for Housing Justice Responds to Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness 

Today, the U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness released its new Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, All In. We are encouraged by the agency’s leadership through the Plan which promotes an evidence-based Housing First approach that includes housing and supports, choice, and voice.

These are important and effective strategies and approaches that reinforce what is proven to work within our systems as they currently stand and help to reduce harm and trauma on people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Likewise, the implementation of these best practices should always be supported with robust funding from government partners at all levels.

The Interagency Council holds an important role in keeping progress moving forward to prevent and end homelessness; their role is critical and should continue to be supported. At the same time, we need to collectively invest resources and energy towards solutions that are rooted in justice. We also must acknowledge that our systems and structures in their current form will not lead us to housing justice. Housing justice-oriented solutions should be created in the context of repairing historical harms, and always be driven by people who are most impacted, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. 

We appreciate the plan's focus on expanding housing supply and look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to realize that goal and focus on a sufficient supply of quality housing that is affordable to people with the lowest incomes. Housing justice-oriented solutions must be paired with policies that require compassion, choice, and healing through a safe and stable place to call home and access to voluntary services.

Through authentic partnership with people with lived expertise, we can co-create pathways to achieve housing justice and a future where housing is a human right for all.

Statements from the Field

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: Statement on the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness’ Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness 
• National Coalition for the Homeless: Statement on the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness' Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
• National Coalition for Housing Justice: National Coalition for Housing Justice Responds to Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
• National Health Care for the Homeless Council:National Health Care for the Homeless Council Welcomes New Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
• National Low Income Housing Coalition: NLIHC Statement on Biden-Harris Administration's Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness 
• National Homelessness Law Center: As Homelessness Crisis Continues, New Strategic Plan Condemns Criminalization, Calls for Housing as a Human Right