ICH Overview
The President of the United States has made ending homelessness a domestic policy priority for his administration. The mission of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), which is part of the Domestic Policy Council of the White House, is to develop and implement a comprehensive national approach to end homelessness in the United States. A key element in the ICH strategy is to have a state Interagency Council on Homelessness appointed by the Governor of each state or commonwealth. This document sets forth recommendations relating to the establishment of the New Hampshire State Interagency Council on Homelessness (New Hampshire ICH).

ICH Mission
The mission of the New Hampshire State ICH is to develop and coordinate state planning, policy and resource allocation with the purpose of ending homelessness in New Hampshire.

ICH Functions
  1. Serve as the single statewide homelessness planning and policy development resource for the State of New Hampshire.
  2. Develop a state ten-year plan to end homelessness for the State of New Hampshire.
  3. Articulate an implementation strategy for the New Hampshire 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.
  4. Recommend policy and regulatory changes to accomplish the goals of the New Hampshire 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.
  5. Ensure accountability and results in implementing the New Hampshire 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

ICH Priority Activities
  1. Create a New Hampshire 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.
    • Develop short and long-term statewide strategies and plans to end homelessness.
    • Partner with cities that have developed 10-year plans to end homelessness in order to identify resources and common strategies.
    • Coordinate the activities of statewide continuums of care.
    • Assemble accurate fiscal and demographic information and research/data to support policy development and track outcomes.
  2. Establish priorities (action steps) for the New Hampshire 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.
    • Recommend interagency strategies (e.g. funding, homelessness prevention, discharge planning).
    • Review all state activities and programs assisting homeless persons.
    • Support and replicate collaborative state homelessness initiatives that demonstrate measurable outcomes.
    • Promote systems integration (health, services, and housing) to reduce duplication among homeless assistance programs.
    • Identify funding opportunities, including mainstream resources, for homeless persons.
    • Involve non-traditional stakeholders, including representatives from corporations, business, philanthropy, faith-based organizations, and other community institutions.
    • Recommend statutory and regulatory changes to enhance strategies.
    • Bring problems and concerns relating to homeless people to the attention of appropriate state agencies.
  3. Promote the Plan and Evaluate Progress
    • Provide an Annual Progress Report on the New Hampshire 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness for the Governor, Cabinet Secretaries, the Legislature and the citizens of New Hampshire.
    • Disseminate information (data and best practices) to educate state officials and the public regarding issues related to homelessness and ending homelessness.