On November 18, 2007 Governor Patrick signed Executive Order #492 establishing the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness (ICHH). Since then, the ICHH has served as the body responsible for implementing the state’s plan to prevent and end homelessness, which was released by the Special Commission Relative to Ending Homelessness in the Commonwealth (Commission). Now chaired by Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein of the Department of Housing and Community Development, the ICHH is working on several initiatives to increase effectiveness and collaboration among state agencies and with community partners. All of this work is organized around the goal of ensuring all of our neighbors have a safe, affordable place to call home. The ICHH meets monthly and has five active committees focusing on ending homelessness for veterans, youth, individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, older adults, and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
This report documents the Administration’s progress in implementing the state’s plan to prevent and end homelessness. Formally that plan covered the five-year period of 2008-2012, but the ICHH has continued to rely on that plan even beyond the initial time period. This report discusses major initiatives implemented by the ICHH as well as its member agencies. It is intended to serve as an overview of initiatives, not to provide an in-depth evaluation of each program or initiative. The report will conclude with a brief discussion of emerging trends in the field of ending homelessness that may be considered for future implementation.
Click here to read the report.