Grand Challenge:
Ending Homelessness

In 2015, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare introduced the Grand Challenge to End Homelessness (GC2EH). Ending homelessness was one of twelve initial Grand Challenges that were identified as major, societal issues that have scientific evidence suggesting the issue is solvable and that require interdisciplinary collaboration and significant innovation to solve.

This blog provides an overview of the Grand Challenge to End Homelessness and a summary of the recently released Grand Challenge to End Homelessness 2024 policy recommendations.

GRAND CHALLENGE TO END HOMELESSNESS

The Grand Challenge to End Homelessness focuses on complementing the work being done in the homelessness sector by translating research into evidence-based interventions, social innovation, and policy recommendations. Since inception in 2015, End Homelessness Grand Challenge Network members have engaged in a significant number of activities to advance the work to end homelessness. These activities include but are not limited to publishing policy essays and recommendations; conducting research dispelling the myth that people living unsheltered are service resistant and examining the role of homeless services programs in reducing COVID-19; developing a curricular guide for social work teachers and students to ensure content related to addressing homelessness is integrated into social work education; and advocating for legislation that funds housing and supportive services for people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.

MEETING THE GRAND CHALLENGE TO END HOMELESS

Last month, the End Homelessness Grand Challenge Network released their 2024 Policy Brief. The brief highlights three key policy recommendations to expand access to supportive and affordable housing and enhance local homeless service systems.

The first recommendation calls for supporting legislation that removes barriers to supportive housing by facilitating alignment between housing and healthcare resources. Such legislation would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issue joint guidance including eligibility criteria, determination processes, and outcomes to Medicaid, public housing authorities, Continuums of Care, and Housing Finance Agencies on how to connect Medicaid clients to housing related services. The legislation also calls for a national study to determine appropriate rates for these services to ensure that staff are paid a living wage and that caseloads are in alignment with the current evidence base.

The second recommendation is to support legislation that increases access to affordable housing through housing creation and voucher program expansion. The legislation call for 250,000 additional housing vouchers for families with minor children and mandates increasing investment in the National Housing Trust fund, housing vouchers, and public housing.

The third and final recommendation calls for increasing wages and funding for organizational and professional development opportunities for members of the homeless services workforce. Specifically, the network suggests increased funding for the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grants programs to align wages with cost-of-living standards. Additionally, this recommendation calls for allocating CoC and supplemental funding for organizational development focused on improving organizational culture and enhancing staff retention; and professional development that ensures staff have access to training on evidence-based models and best practice supervision.