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Nebraska's Action Plan for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness

In October of 2003, a cross-section of stakeholders from Nebraska attended a Federal Policy Academy in Denver, CO. The Policy Academy was one of several in which all States eventually participated. The purpose of the Academy was to assist States in developing "10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness." Nebraska's resulting 10-Year Plan was titled “ Nebraska’s 10-Year Plan for Increasing Access to Mainstream Services for Persons Experiencing Chronic Homelessness.”

Nebraska's 10-Year Plan was unveiled in 2004 and was formally adopted by the governor-appointed Nebraska Commission on Housing and Homelessness. To ensured sustained and continued implementation of the 10-Year Plan, the Commission created a standing ad hoc committee titled the " Ad Hoc Committee on Ending Chronic Homelessness." The Ad Hoc Committee's membership includes State interagency personnel, nonprofit housing and homelessness prevention service providers, and representatives of various consumer demographics. The Ad Hoc Committee serves as a State level version of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Via Committee planning which occurred during calendar year 2010, the Nebraska Plan was revised to include five overall objectives. The Plan’s revised title is now “ Completing the Journey: Nebraska’s Action Plan for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness.”

Chronic Homelessness

Via the HEARTH ( Homeless Emergency and Rapid Transition to Housing) Act of 2009 , the Federal definition of chronic homelessness – and therefore the target demographic of the Nebraska Plan -- is as follows:  individuals or families provided the household is headed by an individual with any of the following: diagnosable substance use disorder; serious mental illness; developmental disability; post traumatic stress disorder; chronic physical illness or disability; and/or co-occurrence of two or more disabilities. This Federal definition of chronic homelessness includes individuals or families who will lose housing within 14 days andwho have no subsequent housing resources identified and who lack resources or support networks to obtain permanent housing. It also includes unaccompanied youth and families with children defined as homeless under other Federal statutes who: have experienced a long period without living independently in permanent housing; have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves; and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period.

The Vision of the Nebraska Ad Hoc Committee on Ending Chronic Homelessness is as follows:

The path to ending chronic homelessness starts where people are at risk of being homeless and involves meeting people where they are with a place for supports and connections to occur.

The journey to ending ending chronic homelessness begins when people are seen in relation to their values, when their choices are respected, when their strengths are recognized, and their trust, self-efficacy, and lasting connections develop through an array of housing, service, and treatment options best suited to address and sustain their core needs.

The journey is complete when proven strategies end chronic homelessness.

Plan Goals:

1. Maintain a statewide infrastructure to lead in statewide planning.
2. Create additional and appropriate supportive housing choices.
3. Increase access to mainstream services and resources.
4. Increase strategies addressing prevention and discharge planning.
5. Data collection and evaluation.

Nebraska’s Action Plan for Increasing Access to Mainstream Services for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness