National Social Services DECLARATION: White House Edition
National Social Services Declaration
- Supporting a Coordinated Federal Strategy to Resolve Homelessness
- Aligned with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
- Prepared for Strategic Dialogue with the Executive Office of the President
Preamble
Homelessness in the United States has evolved beyond a localised social challenge into a national civic and governance concern affecting public health, economic stability, urban management, and national morale.
For decades, nonprofit organisations, faith communities, and public service institutions have carried the primary burden of responding to this crisis.
Their work has demonstrated remarkable compassion and effectiveness in emergency care and rehabilitation.
Yet the persistence and expansion of homelessness across American cities shows that fragmented efforts alone cannot resolve the underlying systemic drivers of the crisis.
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the nation has a unique opportunity to renew its commitment to the founding principle that government exists to secure the welfare and stability of its people.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) was established by Congress to coordinate federal action across departments and agencies.
Strengthening and activating this coordinating body provides an opportunity to unify national strategy while respecting the experience and leadership of existing service providers.
The EXODUS II framework, developed through decades of frontline experience and civic engagement, offers one potential model for integrating federal coordination, local service expertise, and private investment partnerships into a structured national pathway toward homelessness resolution.
This declaration is intended to encourage constructive dialogue and cooperative planning between social service leaders, civic partners, and federal leadership.
Declaration of Principles
We, the undersigned social service leaders, advocates, and civic partners, affirm the following principles:
1. Homelessness Resolution as a National Priority
Homelessness must be addressed as a national priority requiring coordinated federal leadership, community partnership, and sustained civic commitment.
2. Support for Strengthening the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
We support strengthening the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) as the central coordinating body responsible for aligning federal agencies, local governments, and national partners on a unified strategy.
3. Partnership with Social Service Institutions
The experience and infrastructure of nonprofit organisations, faith communities, and service providers must remain central to any national strategy. These institutions represent the frontline expertise necessary for practical implementation.
4. Development of Coordinated Pathways to Stability
The national strategy should focus on creating structured pathways that move individuals from crisis conditions to stable housing, productive engagement, and long-term reintegration into civic life.
5. Evaluation of the EXODUS II Model
We support thoughtful evaluation of the EXODUS II framework, including its proposals for public-private partnerships, voluntary opportunity communities, and structured pathways designed to restore dignity and economic participation for individuals experiencing homelessness.
6. Encouragement of Cross-Sector Collaboration
Lasting solutions require collaboration across government, philanthropy, private enterprise, and civil society. No single institution can resolve this challenge alone.
7. Commitment to Constructive National Dialogue
We commit to participating in respectful, constructive dialogue with federal leadership, including representatives of the Executive Office of the President, to explore coordinated strategies that can achieve measurable progress.
Invitation to National Cooperation
This declaration is intended as an invitation to social service professionals, civic leaders, policy experts, and federal authorities to work together toward a future in which homelessness is addressed through strategic coordination rather than fragmented response.
The approaching national milestone of America’s 250th anniversary calls for bold solutions that reflect both compassion and practical governance.
Closing Reflection
The success of any national effort must rest on the recognition that every citizen possesses inherent dignity.
As expressed in the wisdom of Proverbs:
“The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.”
— Proverbs 22:2
Guided by that principle, we affirm our commitment to pursue solutions that restore stability, dignity, and hope for all Americans.
Submitted in support of constructive dialogue with the
Executive Office of the President
and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness