The Winter Plan describes how District government agencies and providers within the Continuum of Care will coordinate to provide hypothermia shelter and other services for those who are homeless in the District of Columbia, consistent with the right of consumers to shelter in severe weather conditions.

Winter Plans are developed by the District of Columbia’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) in compliance with the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 (HSRA), which mandates that each year, a plan be in place describing how those who are homeless will be protected from cold weather injury. 

It is important to note that the purpose of the Winter Plan is protection from cold weather injury. The Winter Plan is being implemented within the context of the broader systems change underway in the District to move from a shelter-based system to one focused on rapid stabilization and connection back to permanent housing. The strategies outlined in Homeward DC, however, will take time to implement, and as such, the District is committed to ensuring we have effective strategies in place to protect individuals and families experiencing homelessness from cold weather injury.