In the U.S., we no longer talk about managing homelessness, but about ending it. That doesn’t mean no one will ever again become homeless. What it does mean is that every community can have a system in place that matches the needs of their homeless population. The goal of that system is to quickly identify persons who become homeless, engage them in services, return them to permanent housing as quickly as possible, and to provide additional information and support if needed to help them increase their ability to maintain their housing from now on.

To make this change in thinking, factual information is needed about who is homeless, the reasons they became homeless, and what types of services are the proven methods to help the homeless regain and maintain permanent housing. Also, communities must be accountable for how many people become homeless and how well the systems serve them.

Read more at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Solutions to Homelessness