May 23, 2024 | From City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans Director of Homeless Services and Strategy Attends National League of Cities’ Local Solutions to Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C.
NEW ORLEANS — This week, the City of New Orleans Director of the Office of Homeless Services and Strategy (OHSS) Nathaniel Fields traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Local Solutions to Ending Homelessness Convening, taking place May 22-23.
“This meeting will allow us to talk to other leaders who are dealing with the same issues related to homelessness in their cities,” said Fields. “This convening will also serve as a way to work together on developing strategies to effectively end street homelessness. As we all await the Supreme Court decision on City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, we want to ensure that we all have a plan in place to deal with the potential impacts of their ruling. With the plan we have been working on, cities will have a blueprint if we must move persons from encampments into housing or shelters. This work is meaningful, life changing and will ultimately change the life trajectory for all affected.”
Today, Director Fields participated in a panel discussion titled, “Future of Cities & Ending Homelessness.” This panel discussion highlighted inclusive strategies cities are implementing to end homelessness within their cities. Other panel participants include:
- Councilmember Carroll Fife, Oakland, CA
- Councilmember Doreen Garlidz, Tempe, AZ
- Councilmember Mike Laven, Mankato, MN
Other panel discussions and forums include: “The Path Home: Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness,” “Challenges and Barriers to the Housing First Model” and a “Fireside Chat with Dr. Margot Kushel.”
The City of New Orleans was recently recognized nationally for the 12 percent decrease in unsheltered homelessness. Since launching in February 2023, OHSS has decommissioned three large encampments and housed 145 individuals. The City’s approach, developed in partnership with Clutch Consulting, is to connect the unhoused population with housing opportunities and access to services and support.
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