Metropolitan King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert traveled to Washington, D.C., yesterday to accept an award on behalf of Washington State’s counties from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH).

The award recognized the efforts of Washington counties to implement the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Washington is the first state to have all counties participating in the effort and implementing their own plans. As the chair of the King County Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee, Councilmember Lambert was invited to represent the state’s counties at the national USICH conference this week in Washington, D.C.

“In Washington state, we understand that a lack of adequate housing is one of the first challenges facing many of our neediest citizens,” Councilmember Lambert said in accepting the award. “We recognize the need for wrap-around services that will treat the causes of homelessness in addition to the symptoms.”

Councilmember Lambert gave examples of the local efforts to end homelessness, such as the approval of King County’s Veterans and Human Services Levy. She also thanked the many people and organizations who have been instrumental in the efforts, such as the King County Committee to End Homelessness.

“The efforts to end homelessness have been bipartisan, with a broad spectrum of government, faith communities, non-profits, business and the general public agreeing that a lack of adequate shelter is an issue of human dignity, not a political question,” Councilmember Lambert said. “We are grateful for this recognition, but more for the opportunity to share our experiences and renew our determination to end homelessness across the country.”

Conference participants also heard success stories from homelessness advocates across the nation, and Councilmember Lambert brought back ideas for more strategies for ending homelessness.

“We also heard from Louise Casey, who was director of the homelessness program in England,” Councilmember Lambert said. “She told us how they reduced homelessness by two-thirds in two years. It was amazing and inspiring.”

Congress established the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in 1987 with the passage of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. The mission of the Council is to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership at every level of government and every element of the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation. The Council provides technical assistance to states and local agencies in the development of 10-year plans, including the dissemination of innovative best practices. For more information, go to www.usich.gov.