New Homeless Plan for D.C. Aims for Post-Pandemic Reset

Washington, D.C. is looking to build on some past success, and recover from some setbacks, with the adoption of a new plan to address homelessness called Homeward 2.0.

1 minute read

July 19, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Washington D.C.

bakdc / Shutterstock

"Mayor Muriel Bowser last week released the next five-year phase of her plan to end homelessness entirely in the District by 2025," reports Chelsea Cirruzzo.

The new plan, called Homeward 2.0, will have to work extra hard to overcome the setbacks dealt during the pandemic to an earlier version of the plan.

"Authored by the Interagency Council on Homelessness, the plan recommends further investment in permanent supportive housing, a program that provides chronically homeless people who meet certain eligibility requirements with a long-term housing subsidy," explains Cirruzzo. "It also introduces a focus on racial equity, a guiding principle born out of lessons learned from the original plan. And while D.C. has been relatively successful in its approach to housing families, advances in tackling single individual homelessness have lagged, prompting a sharper focus in the new plan."

More background and insight on Homeward 2.0 are included in the source article.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in DCist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today