At Catholic Charities, we walk alongside families, seniors, and individuals facing homelessness every day. We hear their stories, witness their struggles, and help them find hope in the face of uncertainty. That’s why we are deeply concerned about the recent executive order dismantling the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) - the only federal agency dedicated solely to ending homelessness.
Here in our six-county region, approximately 5,700 people don’t have a place to call home. More and more, we’re seeing families experiencing homelessness for the first time, along with a heartbreaking increase in seniors struggling to survive on the streets. These are our neighbors, parents, and grandparents - people who never imagined they’d be in this position. The USICH plays a critical role in ensuring strong, coordinated solutions, helping organizations like ours provide life-changing services. Without it, communities like ours will face even bigger hurdles in accessing the resources needed to help those who are struggling.
At Caritas Village, we’ve seen what’s possible when housing, healthcare, and support services come together under one roof. We know that when people get the help they need, they can find stability and hope again. Homelessness is one of the most complex social issues that is facing our nation, and will only be solved through coordinated, cross-sector partnerships. Losing an agency like USICH makes it harder, not easier, for us and other organizations to provide these life-changing services.
At a moment when homelessness is at an all-time high, we need more solutions, not fewer. As we see more change at the federal level, it will require closer coordination and support at a local level so we do not lose the progress that has been made. We remain hyper-focused on serving those who are most vulnerable by providing real, lasting solutions to homelessness. We also ask our community to stand with us - by learning more, speaking up, and helping us continue this critical work.
Together, we can ensure that no one stands alone.
