HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra reiterated his commitment to addressing homelessness among youth and young adults during the second quarterly meeting of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) held on May 1. Becerra, speaking at the meeting, emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government strategy to tackle homelessness, stating, "For the last three years, we’ve been working around the clock to advance a whole-of-government strategy to address homelessness. At HHS, we know – and the research shows – that homelessness and other forms of housing insecurity are key social drivers of negative health outcomes."
The meeting, which focused on preventing and addressing homelessness among youth and young adults aged 12-24, showcased the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration in this area. Participants discussed efforts to prevent and end homelessness among youth, highlighting opportunities for new partnerships centered around youth homelessness. One significant development highlighted during the meeting was the update of Youth.gov’s website to feature programs serving youth experiencing homelessness, in collaboration with several federal agencies and USICH.
Since assuming the role of USICH Chair, HHS has taken proactive steps to combat homelessness. In partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HHS launched the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator program to support housing-related services for Medicaid-eligible individuals at risk of homelessness. Additionally, HHS awarded funding to programs aimed at preventing homelessness and released guidance to assist communities in leveraging resources for vulnerable populations.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra also highlighted the approval of an amendment to New York’s Medicaid program by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which aims to address critical social needs for Medicaid recipients, helping to prevent homelessness.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, comprising 19 federal agencies, is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. The council collaborates with state and local efforts to drive a coordinated federal strategy on homelessness.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various federal agencies, including HHS, the Department of Agriculture, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Census Bureau, and others. The participation of multiple agencies underscores the commitment to a collaborative approach in addressing homelessness across the country.
