Homelessness

HHS is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and supporting the delivery of essential human services. HHS is committed to supporting the social and economic well-being of all Americans, including those individuals and populations at high risk of social and economic challenges. Poverty, unemployment, family disruptions, and disability can threaten independence and self-sufficiency and increase a person’s risk of homelessness.  Many HHS programs serve people experiencing homelessness through health care, behavioral health care and human services.

The coordination of services for people experiencing homelessness, both within the Department, as well as with our Federal partners who provide housing and complementary service programs, is a critical component of achieving the goal of preventing and ending homelessness. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) coordinates the Federal response to homelessness by partnering with 19 Federal agencies, state and local governments, advocates, service providers, and people experiencing homelessness.