CEO Corner:
Week of April 15

Welcome to this week’s CEO Corner. It’s been another whirlwind week in the 24/7 news cycle, and sometimes it’s tricky to know which developments will most directly impact our work to end homelessness. Here’s a rundown of what I’ve been watching:

USICH Update

The Alliance learned that the Department of Government Efficiency has placed all current U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) staff on administrative leave as of today.

I want to take a moment to thank our colleagues for their service to this nation.

USICH staff have played a key role in coordinating the federal response to homelessness, reducing federal bureaucracy across agencies, and maximizing the effectiveness of the federal government. Over many years, USICH has also provided invaluable guidance and support to communities across the country in their work to end homelessness. On behalf of the Alliance team, I want to extend my deep gratitude to all USICH staff, past and present, for their work to advance sound homelessness policy and practice. Be assured that your work has made a lasting impact on this nation.

As I mentioned earlier this year, I hope that state and local leaders will consider advocating for a state or local Interagency Council on Homelessness in your area to ensure local coordination and collaboration.

Federal Encampment Eviction Efforts

As criminalization measures (i.e., tickets, fines, arrests, camping bans, etc.) become more prevalent, unsheltered people may be forced to move into more remote locations, including federal forest land controlled by the U.S. Forest Service.

Recently, the U.S. Forest Service has been directed to evict upwards of 200 residents of an encampment in Deschutes National Forest in Oregon. There are national parks or forests in every state in this country; given the rise in criminalization nationwide, other communities may experience similar evictions.

Now is the time to start forging partnerships with federal land agencies and partners. Consider:

• Has your Continuum of Care engaged with local forest management personnel?
• Have you engaged with other local providers who may service areas adjacent to National Park Service land?
• Do you have relationships with other ambassadors who can work with you to de-escalate and prevent harmful evictions? Consider your board members, business owners, first responders, and legal experts, among others.

Knowing Your Rights and Keeping Your Eyes Open

Last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took an individual into custody from a homeless shelter in San Diego. More recently, the Alliance has confirmed that youth were detained by ICE outside of a shelter in California.

To best protect the people you serve, it is important to always have eyes on the areas adjacent to your facilities. This is especially important for the times when people are most likely to be lined up or otherwise congregating.

Please be sure to consult guidance from the National Homelessness Law Center on what to do before, during, and after a raid or ICE inquiry at a homeless services location. Keep in mind that protocols will be different for the public spaces outside of your property.

Good News

As I mentioned in last week’s email, it’s important that we continue to share the “glimmers” we see. Glimmers remind us that good work is happening everywhere, despite challenges. I encourage you to read the glimmers below, and think of the glimmers you may see in your own community:

• Ventura County, CA has shared preliminary Point-in-Time Count data showing homelessness is down 16 percent and unsheltered homelessness is down 11%.
• The Alliance has received reports that some Technical Assistance providers have received notification that their contract funding will be restored. As an example, Enterprise Community Partners has confirmed that it successfully appealed to reinstate nearly $40 million in Section 4 capacity building grants, which go directly to communities to help build and preserve affordable homes and communities. We hope this development means that homelessness Technical Assistance will be back online soon as well.

As always, we at the Alliance are deeply grateful for your efforts in such uncertain times. If your community has questions or if you’re seeking information from the Alliance, please send an email to info@naeh.org with the subject line “FIELD INFO REQUEST.”