USICH appreciated all of the thoughtful comments and ideas. Please visit www.usich.gov to read Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

USICH wants to hear the best ideas that its stakeholders have to offer on ending homelessness. Explore each of the forums below and submit your own ideas to ensure that no one should experience homelessness - no one should be without a safe, stable place to call home.(click for site instructions)
Close Window

About USICH/Frequently Asked Questions

This discussion forum, powered by a tool called UserVoice, allows people to come together, share ideas in response to a question, discuss those ideas, and vote the best ones to the top for consideration by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. In this case, we are using the tool to get your ideas on the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Stakeholders from across the country will weigh in -- make sure your voice is heard!

What is the mission of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness?

The mission of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is "to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal Government in contributing to the end of homelessness."

BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

What is the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness?

The President and Congress charged the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) via the HEARTH Act to develop and submit the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness to Congress by May 20. The Plan will serve as a roadmap for joint action by Council agencies to guide the development of programs and budget proposals towards a set of measurable targets. The Plan will reflect interagency agreement on a set of priorities and strategies the agencies will pursue over a five year period.

USICH is centering its plan on the belief – the moral foundation – "no one should experience homelessness – no one should be without a safe, stable place to call home." The Council has charged the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness' planning process to align federal resources effectively and appropriately toward four key objectives: 1) finish the job of ending chronic homelessness; 2) prevent and end homelessness among Veterans; 3) prevent and end family homelessness; and 4) set a path to ending all types of homelessness.

BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

Were there public meetings to discuss the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness?

The process to create this plan is designed to be transparent and provide multiple opportunities for input, feedback and collaboration. More than 400 people participated in regional stakeholders meetings held in February with several more meetings to take place during the first week of March. They were intended to engage leaders of regional and state interagency councils, as well as stakeholders from throughout the multi-state regions. These meetings have been a great opportunity for USICH to hear directly from external and Federal Government stakeholders regarding challenges, priorities and different perspectives on how to prevent and end homelessness in the United States. The input from these sessions is incredibly valuable and will be incorporated into the development of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

For more information, please see http://www.usich.gov/images_uservoice/FSP_Overview_Summary.pdf

BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

What will the outcome be from the stakeholder and electronic input for the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness?

USICH will jointly create -
a set of targeted, solutions-driven goals and collaborative strategies

  • a roadmap for joint action to guide the development of programs and budget proposals toward a set of measurable targets
  • a set of priorities the agencies will pursue over the five year period – FY 2010 through FY 2014

    • BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    How are you expecting people to engage with the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness?

    Each of the six key questions for the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness has its own forum that participants can submit their best ideas to and engage in. Through this UserVoice site, USICH is able to:

    • Engage stakeholders in an open and transparent process to ensure every stakeholder has a voice in the creation of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
    • Collect innovative input and perspectives on key goals and strategies that have worked in communities across the United States

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    What kind of feedback are you looking for?

    The UserVoice application will allow all stakeholders to:

    • Submit ideas related to the six key questions of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
    • Rate and comment on the ideas of fellow stakeholders

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    How does voting work?

    When you visit the site, you will automatically be sent to the first of the six areas on this site, a discussion of how local communities can contribute to the vision of preventing and ending homelessness? As a new user, you will have 30 votes in each of the six areas to express your support for others' ideas, or for your own. You can give any idea 1, 2, or 3 votes, depending on how strongly you support it. As you allocate votes, you will see the number of votes you have left, which is displayed on the right-hand sidebar, decrease. Votes are not permanent; you can reallocate votes away from one idea and towards another at any time, as many times as you like. To do this, simply click the vote display next to an idea you've voted for, and choose 0, 1, 2, or 3 from the vote selection menu that pops up.

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    Why do I only have 30 votes in each forum?

    This site's voting system is based on the idea that, when people have a finite number of votes to "spend", they tend to think more carefully about what they really support and how much they support it. You should use your votes to support the ideas you think are most important, so that the overall best ideas and top priorities emerge!

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    How can I add my own idea to what's already here?

    To add an idea, make sure you are in the right forum and simply begin typing the "title" of your idea - a brief (5-10 word) summary of the idea - into the big search box in the middle of the page. As you begin to type, the system will automatically search for similar ideas that have already been created. If something comes up that is similar to what you're suggesting, you may want to simply vote for that idea instead of creating your own. If you determine that your idea is not a duplicate, click the "Create New Idea" button, and elaborate briefly on your idea in the "Description" box that appears. Assign 1, 2 or 3 votes to your idea, as you deem appropriate, and click "Suggest it!" Your idea will be posted immediately, along with your username.

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    How can I learn more about an idea?

    In order to save space and make the site usable, the front page of each discussion area only lists the titles of ideas, part of their descriptions, the number of comments they have received, and their overall score. To see more in-depth information, including the actual comment thread as well as a list of who has voted for the idea, simply click on any idea's title.

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    What's that orange symbol I see around the site?

    You mean this: That's a link to an RSS feed of all the "action" in a particular area of the site, including ideas and comments, etc. To learn more about what RSS is and how you can use it, check out this helpful video.

    BACK TO TOP | CLOSE THIS WINDOW

    I suggest ...

    ← How can we prevent and end homelessness for families with children?

    Provide Access to Permanent Solutions By Funding the Solutions University Model

    The Solutions University is a new model, ten years in the making, funded by six California Cities and supported by all sectors (faith, civic and business) serving a community of over one million in population. Homeless families live in apartments (not shelter) "on-campus" for about 500 days, are equipped with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to solve the root causes of homelessness and then move "off-campus" for an additional 500 days. At the end of 1000 day Solutions University, families have permanently solved homelessness. The model uses a blending of affordable housing, educational opportunities and health related solutions within one cohesive strategic partnership. The university has solved family homelessness for 542 families in its first ten years.

    105 votes
    Vote 0 votes Vote Vote
    Vote
    Sign in
    Check!
    (thinking…)
    Reset
    or sign in with
    • facebook
    • google
      Password icon
      Forgot password?
      Create a password
      I agree to the terms of service

      You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to create a password (optional).

      Signed in as (Sign out)
      Close
      Close
      You have left! (?) (thinking…)
      Chris MegisonChris Megison shared this idea  ·   ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →

      11 comments

      Sign in
      Check!
      (thinking…)
      Reset
      or sign in with
      • facebook
      • google
        Password icon
        Forgot password?
        Create a password
        I agree to the terms of service

        You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to create a password (optional).

        Signed in as (Sign out)
        Close
        Close
        Submitting...
        • Kelly GutierrezKelly Gutierrez commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          The Solutions University model has proven itself over and over again, addressing the core issues and causes of family homelessness.The clients of Solutions for Change succeed on a daily basis by conquering their old negative behaviors and cultivating new, positive life changing behaviors and attitudes.

        • Chris McNallChris McNall commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          Rather than just food and a blanket they give education, and hope. Curing the disease, not masking the symptoms. I am impressed and would love to start the same idea on the east coast where I live.

        • Antonea PetersonAntonea Peterson commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          Amazing stories and accomplishments by previously homeless families, thanks to the Solutions for Change University model. Permanently solving family homelessness for kids and communities is what we need everywhere.

        • Barbara AltermottBarbara Altermott commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          Solutions University gave me the opportunity to address alot of my issue that kept me stuck for so many years. I was given tools to learn to live life on life"s terms. I was held accountable in all areas of my life. And the really great thing about all of this... Is that I get to be a positive role model for my kids and grandkids and show them how to do the right thing.

        • Liliana KuchinskyLiliana Kuchinsky commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          Solutions for change has been a blessing , I came in hopeless with no direction in my life and I was terrified of failure, Little did I know that my life would forever change. Solutions gave me the tools that I needed to end my homelessness, Thank you so much for giving me a chance at a real life.

        • tamara.troyertamara.troyer commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          I am supporting Solutions because they have actually solved homelessness for more than 500 families using the Solutions University model - the impact is significant and so simple - the parents of those children are working and are able to provide housing and a healthy life for them. This model really works - let's do it everywhere!

        • Robin CarryRobin Carry commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          I can honestly say that Solutions For Change has given me my life back in so many ways...I am so grateful to be apart of this program and feel it has saved my life and made life worth living and my kids lives so much better! Without this program I would of given up what little hope i had left in me and probably not even be here to write this today.....THANK YOU SOLUTIONS!! THANK YOU CHRIS AND TAMMY!!~HUG~

        • Shelly Robertson BarrettShelly Robertson Barrett commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          I am a graduate of Solutions For Change. I am so grateful for all that I learned while I was a resident. Today I am self-sufficient. I am a productive member of society. I have a great job and I am able to budget money and religiously make deposits into a savings account. Best of all, I am a better mother. Thank you so much, Solutions For Change.

        • april floresapril flores commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          I came to Solutions For Change Homeless in 2007 and I have successful ended my homelessness . They provided me with tools that I use daily in my life I have became a better person. I became and accountable and learned how to hold a job and maintain my bills on my budget. Thank you Solutions.

        • Angelique DonnayAngelique Donnay commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          i am a client at Solutions For Change...and the name says it all..They are helping me solve my families homeless issues and I will be forever grateful

        • Dennis BoneDennis Bone commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

          We must be willing to take a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of homelessness, and through a partnership of mutual support and accountability leads a family to permanent and lasting solutions. The Solutions' University is a model that works and should be duplicated.

        How can we prevent and end homelessness for families with children?

        Knowledge Base and Helpdesk

        (thinking…)
        Reset