THE 10-YEAR PLANNING PR

TO END CHRONIC HOMELES

IN YOUR COMMUNITY 

A Step-by-Step Guide

United States Interagency Council on Homel

451 7th St. SW, Suite 2200 

• Washington, D.C

Phone (202) 708-4663 

• www.ich.gov 

• Fax (202) 
SUPPORT FOR 10-YEAR PL

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the 10-year planning process acities to create and implement... strategic plans to end chronic homeless

– Resolution passed unanimously by the U.S. Confere

“NACo endorses the Bush Administration’s national goal of ending chronic hyears...NACo encourages counties to develop 10 Year Plans incorporating 

prevent and end chronic homelessness.” 

– Resolution adopted by the National Association 

“We have to do more than just manage homelessness. Our objective [is] t

and ultim

ately end it. [That is the] intent of this plan.” 

–

Mayor Richard Daley, o

“The National League of Cities (NLC) supports the Bush Administration’s 

homelessness in the United States in 10 years and will help advance the 

by the Administration.”

- Resolution adopted by the National League 

“Five years ago the notion of cities having 10-year plans to end homelessnNo one thought it was possible. But the new research and new technologie

movement and innovation on this issue that it may now be naïve and risky 

– Executive Director Philip Mangano, US Interagency 
The United States Interagency Council supports and encourages the development of 

chronic homelessness. Planning to end homelessness – not to manage or maintenan

President’s call to end this profile of homelessness and by city and county 10-year plaacross our country – Atlanta, Chicago, and Maricopa County to name a few – these plnew resources, new collaborations, and new energy to create solutions. BY mid-2004 

committed to such 10 year plans. The Council’s work with federal departments and agencies promises new collaborative opportunities at the national level. Our encouragement of Governors to create state inhomelessness will create new state level opportunities. Again, by mid-2004, 46 Govercommitment.Most importantly, the new research and new technologies offer performance based, rereduce and end homelessness. We have prioritized people on the streets and in long experiencing “chronic homelessness.” They are the most vulnerable, visible, and costlThis document is designed to guide your community through the steps of developing a

plan to end chronic homelessness.We are indebted to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for their assistance in creating this 

Alliance to End Homelessness for their innovative work in developing the 10-year planSecretary Alphonso Jackson and his staff for their support in endorsing and promoting Homelessness is a national problem with local solutions. Working together, we can enAll the best,Philip F. ManganoExecutive Director U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 What Is Chronic Homeles

sness?

 What Are Characteristics of Individuals Experie

Chronic Homelessness?

 Why Focus o

n Chronic Homelessness?

 Why Focus o

n Chronic Homelessness Now?

 How Can You End Chronic Homelessness In Y

Community?

 What Are the Elements of a Successful 10-Yea What Results Can Your Community Expect?

 Where Can You Find Additional 10-Year Plann

Resources?
WHAT IS CHRONIC HOMELES

•

The most visible f

homelessness; ofthe streets of our and communities

•

Experienced by 1

Americans each y

•

A subgroup that c

of the homeless p

•

A condition found 

cities, suburbs, a
WHAT ARE CHARACTERIS

OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIEN

CHRONIC HOMELESSNES

•

Unaccompanied individual

•

Homeless for a year or mo

times over a several year p

•

Disabled by addiction, men

chronic physical illness or ddevelopmental disability

•

Frequent histories of hospi

unstable employment, and 

•

Average age in the early 4
WHY FOCUS ON CHRONIC HOME

Chronic 

Homelessness

Add

th

r

incl

This group consumes a 

disproportionate amount 

of costly resources.*

Chronic homelessness 

has a visible impact on 

your com

munit

y’s safety

and attractiveness.

This 

of a

It is 

Effective new technologies 

exist to engag

e and ho

u

se 

this population.

* Described in more detail on following page
INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING C

HOMELESSNESS CONSUM

DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF 

10% of the homeless population consumes over 50

90%

50%

10%

50%

P

opulation R

e

s

our

c

e

s

Chronically homelessOther homeless subpopulations • E

se

• P• D• S• L

C

Individchroniheavy resour

Burt, Martha R., Laudan Y. Aron and Edgar Lee. 2001. Helping America's Homeless: E

mergency Shelter or Affordab

Urban Institute Press. Kuhn, R. & Culhane, D.P. (1998). Applying cluster analysis to test of a typology of homelessneadministrative data. 

The American Journal of Community Psychology, 17 (1), 23-43. Community Shelter Board. Rebu

House Homeless Men. Columbus, OH: Emergency Food and Shelter Board. 
WHY FOCUS ON 

CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS 

New technologies exist to move streets and keep them housed (eFirst Strategies, Assertive Comm

A new spirit of partnership on this issue that trumps partisanship

New federal funding 

Solution-oriented strategies offer alternative to expensive police/cointerventions

A new commitment by the Presidand his Administration to end chrhomelessness 
HOW CAN YOU END CHRONIC HOM

IN YOUR COMMUNITY? 

Step 1: Commit to Developing a 10-Year Plan Step 2: Identify StakeholdersStep 3: Convene a Working Group Step 4: Gather Research and Data on HomeleStep 5: Define Your Community’s Homeless PStep 6: Develop Strategies to Address these PStep 7: Solicit Stakeholder Feedback and FinaStep 8: Create an Action Plan to Implement StStep 9: Announce and Publicize the PlanStep 10: Implement the Plan 
STEP 1: COMMIT TO DEVEL

A 10-YEAR PLAN

A strong commitment from the Mayor or Cou

is critical, although many parties can initiate 

The 10-Year Planning Proces• Long-term commitment fro

steps to full implementatio

•

Staff time and energy

•

Willingness to engage dive

and forge new partnership

•

Ability to think creatively a

and existing resources
STEP 2: IDENTIFY STAKEHO

The most successful efforts have broad s

participation from the public, private, and no

May

or/

Co

u

nty Executive

Agenc

y /

Department Heads

Business & Civic 

Leaders

Law Enforce

men

Officials 

Indivi

d

uals 

experiencing Chronic 

Homelessness 

Housing Dev

elopers 

& Service Providers

Hospital 

Administrators

Non-profits / 

foundations
STEP 3: CONVENE A WORKING 

The working group coordinates the planning 

should include representation from different 

• The working group should 

facilitate broader communiparticipation throughout the 

• Individuals chosen for the w

-

Have authority to make decisions

-

Have relevant expertis

-

Be committed to the pl

-

Be well respected by s

larger community 

• Chair and co-chair should 

regularly to Mayor or Coun
STEP 4: GATHER RESEARCH A

ON HOMELESSNESS

Accurate, timely data and research will cr

foundation for your community’s p

•

Existing research on homelessness 

(local/national)

• Local homeless counts•

Service and housing capacity

• 10-Year Plans from other communities•

Availability of funding resources
STEP 5: DEFINE YOUR COMM

HOMELESS PROBLEM 

Identify and assess the root causes o

homelessness in your commun

• Difficulties in engaging this • Inadequate service capaci• Lack of appropriate suppo

housing 

• Poor discharge planning fr• Inaccessibility of mainstrea• Fragmented systems of ca• Historical leadership vacuu• Investment in stop-gap me

permanent solutions

Problems identified by other c
STEP 6: DEVELOP STRATEGIES T

THESE PROBLEMS

Strategies to end chronic homelessness fall into tw

Prevention and Intervention 

PREVENTION

“Close the Front Door”

INTER

“Open th

Reduce the number of people who 

become chronically homeless 

Increase plac

housing of peo

experienci

C

L

O

S

E

D
STEP 6: DEVELOP STRATEGIES T

THESE PROBLEMS (contin

Effective strategies used by other commun

guide and inform your community’s a

PREVENTION

“Close the Front Door”

• Assertive Com

(ACT): multi-dbased teams experiencing on the streets 

• Permanent su

low threshold mentally ill pe[Pathways to Hou

• Direct access 

supported housers of acute [Direct Access to 

INTERV

“Open the 

• Centralization of funding and 

service delivery to increase coordination [Community Shelter Board, Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio]

• Dedicated resources to house 

individuals discharged from psychiatric care institutions [Special Initiative to House the Homel

ess M

entally Ill, State of 

Massachusetts]

• Discharge planning protocols 

that prevent homelessness
STEP 7: SOLICIT STAKEHOLDER 

AND FINALIZE STRATEGIC 

Input from stakeholders is particularly critica

ensure support for and consensus on th

D

RAFT

P

LAN
STEP 8: CREATE AN ACTION 

TO IMPLEMENT STRATEG

Translate high-level strategies and goals in

actionable steps to achieve the

The Action Plan S

•

Specific activi

parties responexecuting them 

•

Costs and fun

•

Timelines/Ben

•

Performance 
STEP 9: ANNOUNCE AND PUBLICIZ

Plans should be publicly endorsed and anno

Mayor / County Executive to ensure maxim

•

Host a special press co

Mayor/County Executiv10-year plan 

• Leverage print, TV, an

maximize press covera

•

Encourage participatin

organizations to active

•

Enlist the support of co

and local celebrities to 
STEP 10: IMPLEMENT THE 

The final step is to execute the identified strate

steps to begin ending chronic homelessness in 

•

U

s

e the plan to guide y

recognize that it is a livshould be updated as 

•

Regularly track your co

progress using the ide

•

Continue to innovate a

activities in other comm

•

Encourage ongoing sta

community input 

•

Continue to build new 
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS 

SUCCESSFUL 10-YEAR PL

1. Collaborative Planning Proc2. Research and Data-Driven 3. Performance and Outcome 4. Innovation and Creativity5. Endorsement by Top City / 6. Involvement of Stakeholder

Enhancement

7. Planful Implementation Stra
WHAT RESULTS CAN YO

COMMUNITY EXPECT?

 Significant savings in public systems 

services including hospital emergencand EMT services (San Diego study

 Savings in other service systems

shelters, acute psychiatric serviccan result from placement of indihousing (Culhane et al.)

 Enhancement of quality of life for bot

housed and homeless 

 Supported housing retention rates of  More resources to address other hom

subpopulations, including youth and 

 Inspiration and energy from working 

neediest neighbors 
WHERE CAN YOU FIND ADDITION

PLANNING RESOURCES

United States Interagency Council on Homelessn• ICH Regional Coordinators have specific local ex

in ten regions nationwide (see map on next page)

• ICH Website (www.ich.gov) has links to 10-Year 

on interagency and agency-specific activities and 

• ICH’s weekly 

e-newsletter headlines new develop

and resources focused on ending chronic homelewww.ich.gov

National Alliance to End Homelessness• Website (www.endhomelessness.org) 

• “Ten Essentials Toolkit”

–

comprehensive set of re

communities prevent and end homelessness 

United Way (http://national.unitedway.org/)Foundations and Non-Profits
UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS R

SanFrancisco

AZ

NV

CA

PACIFIC/HAWAII

AR

LA

SOUTHWEST

Ft. Worth

NM

TX

OK

ID

OR

NORTHWEST/ALASKA

Seattle

WA

Atlanta

FL

KY

NC

TN

SC

MS AL GA

SOUTHEAST/CARIBB

MI

OH IN

IL

MN

WI

MIDWEST

Denver

SD

ND

MT

WY

CO

UT

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Ph

PA

VA

WV

MID-A

KansasCity

KS

NE

MO

IA

GREAT PLAINS

X

IX

VIII

V

IV

VII

HI

VI

AK

Chicago

Region X

Paul Carlson

206-220-5362

paul_carlson@hud.gov

Region VIII

Contact ICH at

202-708-4663

Region V

Daryl Hernandez

312-353-6236 x2090

daryl_l._hernandez@hud

Region IX 

Eduardo Cabrera

415-436-6501

eduardo_cabrera@hud.gov

Region VI

Sally Shipman 

817-978-5984

sally_shipman@hud.gov

Region VII

Contact ICH at

202-708-4663

For more information, visit our web site at: www.ich.
The federal United States Interagency Council on Ho

develops and implements comprehensive and innovative natio

homelessness through interagency, inte

rgovernmental, an

collaborations.