On any given night, more than half a million people are homeless in the U.S., and on Monday the White House released a new plan to reduce that number by 25% over the next two years.
The White House strategy, developed by the US Interagency Council on Homelessness and titled “All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness,” provides guidance to multiple federal agencies on how they can use billions of dollars provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide shelter and services for the homeless.
The White House says its approach is based on policies implemented during the Obama administration between 2010 and 2016, during which time there were significant reductions in homelessness. The plan calls for a coordinated effort across agencies to address the multiple causes of homelessness, including a housing shortage, slow wage growth, lack of access to support services, and fatigue among service providers. Racial disparities among the homeless will be a particular focus.
“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,” President Joe Biden said 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.”
