Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once wrote that the world will only be changed by those with burning patience. Seven years ago, the National Alliance to End Homelessness issued a challenge to America to end homelessness in 10 years. Taking up our call to action, one intrepid community announced their plan to end homelessness. One plan turned into 10 and then 10 plans turned into hundreds of plans spread across the United States. Today more than 300 communities have undertaken planning efforts to end homelessness. Taken together, these community plans represent a nationwide effort to end homelessness.

Planning was the first step. After nearly five years of working diligently, implementing, and struggling to overcome challenges, communities are beginning to harvest outcomes. During 2005 and 2006, progress was made in the movement to end homelessness. And the results are palpable:

• From 2000 to 2004, family homelessness in Hennepin County, Minnesota declined by 43%.
• From 2002 to 2005, chronic homelessness in San Francisco dropped 28%.
• Homelessness among families in Columbus, Ohio dropped 46%.
• Portland, Oregon created 350 units of permanent supportive housing for people who are chronically homeless.

These communities reduced homelessness and created additional units of permanent housing despite an overcast of tight housing markets, persistent poverty, inadequate health care, and low wages. By working better and more efficiently, they stretched resources and then attracted new ones. These communities have leveraged their success to attract investments in permanent supportive housing, housing subsidies, and service funding.

A handful of communities are making progress and that is important. But it’s also critical to acknowledge that there are communities in which the number of homeless people is going up, not down. Our challenge is to make sure these communities have the knowledge and the tools to end homelessness once and for all.