Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 12848: Federal Plan to Break the Cycle of Homelessness

President: Bill Clinton

Directed the federal homelessness council and member agencies to prepare one coordinated plan addressing programs and longer-term prevention within nine months.

Status: Completed/expired. Is Executive Order 12848 still in effect? No. Executive Order 12848 is completed or expired. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 12848 do?

EO 12848 directed the Interagency Council on the Homeless and its member agencies to develop a single coordinated federal plan. The plan was to propose administrative and legislative initiatives, improve program coordination, link housing with supportive services and education, and draw on consultation with governments, providers, advocates and people with lived experience. The plan was due within nine months; the council continues under statute, but this assignment was time-limited.

Administration position: The order said existing programs were fragmented and a coordinated strategy was needed to break the cycle of homelessness. That was the administration’s diagnosis and policy objective.
SignedMay 19, 1993
Lead bodyInteragency Council on the Homeless
Plan deadlineWithin nine months

Before and after

Before the order

Federal homelessness programs operated across multiple departments under the McKinney Act and other authorities.

After the order

Council member agencies were directed to prepare one coordinated plan and recommendations on program design and prevention.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Interagency Council membersDevelop a single coordinated federal planWithin nine months
Participating agenciesRecommend administrative and legislative initiativesAs part of the plan
Council and agenciesConsult governments, providers, advocates and people with lived experienceDuring plan development

What happened next

EO 12848 signed.

Official order and current council status rechecked.