Dec13
Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) releases the nation’s first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness.
As President Barack Obama has said, in a nation as wealthy as ours, "it is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families, and our nation's Veterans to be faced with homelessness." We believe it is important to set goals, even if aspirational, for true progress to be made.
Evidence points to the role housing plays as an essential platform for human and community development. Stable housing is the foundation upon which people build their lives—absent a safe, decent, affordable place to live, it is next to impossible to achieve good health, positive educational outcomes, or reach one's economic potential.
More recently, researchers have focused on housing stability as an important ingredient for the success of children and youth in school. When children have a stable home, they are more likely to succeed socially, emotionally, and academically.
The Council affirmed six core values to be reflected in the Plan (see actual plan):
- Homelessness is unacceptable.
- There are no "homeless people," but rather people who have lost their homes who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Homelessness is expensive; it is better to invest in solutions.
- Homelessness is solvable; we have learned a lot about what works.
- Homelessness can be prevented.
- There is strength in collaboration and USICH can make a difference.
- Categories // : Blog, Related News
- Tags: Barack Obama, government, HomeAid, homeless, homelessness, legislation, Opening Doors, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, USICH, veterans, video
Comments (1)
Legislators interested only in their own pockets have turned people who need help out of mental facilities,into prisons or on the streets. Local laws in Miami won't allow citizens to give them food or money. That's NOT the American way!