Idaho Homelessness Coordinating Committee (IHCC)

The Idaho Homelessness Coordinating Committee (IHCC) is a collaborative of homelessness service providers, resource administrators, housing providers, State Department officials, and other key stakeholders who adopted the collective mission of combating homelessness. The IHCC is instrumental in the development and implementation of comprehensive statewide strategies to reduce, and ultimately end, homelessness. As the governing body of this response network, the IHCC plans and provides, as necessary, a system of outreach, engagement, and assessment; emergency shelter, rapid re-housing; transitional housing; permanent supportive housing; and prevention strategies to address the various needs of persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

The IHCC’s jurisdictional coverage includes regions one (1) through six (6), to the right. The IHCC is supported by multiple sub-committees and regional housing and homelessness coalitions. Committee input ensures that scarce resources devoted to alleviating homelessness are maximized by filling identified service gaps in communities throughout Idaho.

General membership of the IHCC includes: nonprofit homeless assistance providers, victim service providers, faith-based organizations, local government officials, private businesses, advocates, public housing agencies, school districts, social service providers, mental health agencies, hospitals, universities/colleges, affordable housing developers, law enforcement, veterans’ service organizations, US Congress representatives, HUD representatives, United Way representatives, and state representatives. The IHCC has a standing open invitation for new member participation.

Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) is designated by the IHCC to serve as the Collaborative Applicant for the CoC. The Collaborative Applicant is responsible for coordination, communication, recordkeeping of meeting agendas and minutes, annual reporting, completion and submittal of the annual CoC program application, general program administration and oversight, monitoring, and other duties as assigned. IHFA is also the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead for Regions 1-6.

National Perspective on Homelessness

In response to an increase in homeless issues nationally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants funding to nonprofit and governmental bodies across the United States to combat homelessness. Idaho Housing and Finance Association is the recipient of the majority of federal homelessness assistance funds awarded to Idaho and is responsible for the grant administration and oversight of several predominant programs. Homelessness assistance funds are used to support a comprehensive and coordinated crisis response system that includes homelessness prevention, emergency shelters, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing.

Initiatives