The Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) is a group of cabinet-level leaders, providers of homeless services, advocates, homeless and formerly homeless leaders that come together to inform and guide the District’s strategies and policies for meeting the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless in the District of Columbia.
The ICH Organizational Chart below captures the structure of ICH Committees and Workgroups. There are 18 forums, including the ICH Full Council. The Chart highlights Standing Committees and their Workgroups, including proposed forums.
PRIORITIES BY COMMITTEES and WORKGROUPS
The following provides an overview of Committees and Workgroup priorities.
Executive Committee and Workgroups
Executive CMTE
• Planning for and tracking efforts to meet locally and federally legislated mandates.
• Tracking key issues/concerns surfacing across ICH forums as well as adjacent systems and
• Supporting essential ICH governance functions.
Consumer Advisory WG
• Establishing a comprehensive Consumer Advisory Group or Lived Experience Advisory Group.
• Mapping client experience and aligning the work of ICH forums to center critical constituent grievances.
• Addressing highest-priority constituent concerns.
Racial Equity & Inclusion WG
• Reviewing System Operations, which includes advancing equitable practices and performance management.
• Establishing REI Assessment Tool.
• Advancing Housing as a Right.
Expanding Opportunities WG
• Centering employment, entrepreneurship, and other critical sources of expanding income (ex., benefits) with the homeless services CoC.
• Expanding access to and improving delivery, navigation, and performance management of critical service.
Supporting Justice WG
• Centering public safety concerns and improving the administration of justice for victims and justice-involved individuals within the homeless services CoC.
• Expanding access to and improving delivery, navigation, and performance management of critical services.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE & SHELTER OPERATIONS (ERSO) COMMITTEE & WORKGROUPS
ERSO CMTE
• Seasonal Planning, including the annual Winter Plan.
• Performance Planning for relevant activities under HWDC2.0 Implementation and CoC Operations.
• Reviewing priorities and projects led by the associated workgroups.
Front Door Services WG
•Improving service delivery at the Front Door (particularly outreach and day centers) for all populations.
•Transforming the Front Door for Single and Young Adults.
•Ending/preventing unsheltered homelessness, especially at encampments.
Shelter Solutions WG
•Improving service delivery and operations for all populations in temporary housing.
•Transforming temporary housing (shelter, bridge, and transitional housing) for Single and Young Adults.
•Ending/preventing sheltered homelessness, including housing-focused case management.
Shelter Capacity WG
•Supporting seasonal planning, including the Winter Plan.
•Expanding shelter capacity at the front door for year-round access.
•Performance planning, especially relative to improving utilization reports and reviews to support performance planning goals.
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE & WORKGROUPS
Strategic Planning CMTE
•Strategic Planning to End Homelessness (5-Year), including Annual Updates.
•Performance Planning for relevant activities under HWDC2.0 Implementation and CoC Operations.
•Reviewing priorities and projects led by subsystem (Family, Single, Veteran, and Youth) workgroups and regional coordination efforts.
Family WG
•Ending and preventing homelessness in the District for families.
•Targeting and prioritizing housing resources dedicated to families.
•Improving service delivery to clients served by dedicated housing.
Single Adult WG
•Ending and preventing homelessness in the District for single adults.
•Targeting and prioritizing housing resources dedicated to singles.
•Improving service delivery to clients served by dedicated housing.
Veterans WG
•Ending and preventing homelessness in the District for Veterans.
•Targeting and prioritizing housing resources dedicated to Veterans.
•Improving service delivery to clients served by dedicated housing.
Youth WG
•Ending and preventing homelessness in the District for young adults.
•Targeting and prioritizing housing resources dedicated to young adults.
•Improving service delivery to clients served by dedicated housing.
HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE & WORKGROUP
Healthcare CMTE
•Ending and Preventing Disparities in Health Care Outcomes for People Experiencing Homelessness by improving access to and delivery of the appropriate healthcare services.
•Leveraging Medicaid to Address Social Determinants of Health and Transform Homeless Services.
•Performance planning for relevant activities under HWDC2.0 Implementation and CoC Operations.
Behavioral Health WG
•Ensuring that people experiencing homelessness have access to the appropriate behavioral health services and supports.
•Supporting effective crisis prevention/intervention and
•Addressing concerns related to the opioid epidemic, especially the risk of fatality while experiencing homelessness or residing in housing.
HOUSING SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
•Evaluating opportunities for expanding and improving affordable housing and housing dedicated to homeless services.
•Focusing efforts to coordinate with DCHA to this forum.
•Performance planning for relevant activities under HWDC2.0 Implementation and CoC Operations.