Matthew Doherty is a homelessness consultant who is former executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. He currently advises the state of California and the city of Austin, Texas.[1][2] He is a proponent of the "Housing First" model, which prioritizes finding private housing for homeless people instead of shelters.[2]
Matthew Doherty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Executive director, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness | |
| In office 2015–2019 | |
Political career
editDoherty worked at the Corporation for Supportive Housing; the San Diego Housing Commission in California; and the King County Housing Authority of Washington state.[3]
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
editDoherty joined the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2012.[2] In 2015, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to lead the council, making him the top homelessness official in the United States.[3]
Doherty advised cities against forcibly dispersing camps of homeless people, which he said jeopardized "the ability to engage and develop trusting relationships to help them on paths to permanent housing."[4]
Doherty continued to serve through the Trump administration until he was fired in November 2019, as the administration prepared a crackdown on homelessness in California.[5]
Consulting
editIn December 2019, Doherty was hired by Governor Gavin Newsom of California as an advisor on homelessness.[1]
In February 2020, he was hired as a consultant by the city of Austin, Texas.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Real, Jose A. Del (2019-12-04). "Trump Fired Him. Now California Has Made Him a Homelessness Adviser". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ a b c d KUT, Andrew Weber | (6 February 2020). "Austin OKs Eight-Month, $95,000 Contract To Hire Homelessness Consultant Matthew Doherty". www.kut.org. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ a b "Trump administration ousts Obama-appointed homelessness official". UPI. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ Holland, Gale. "U.S. task force warns cities on efforts against homeless camps". courant.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- ^ Stein, Jeff (November 16, 2019). "Trump administration ousts top homelessness official as White House prepares broad crackdown". The Washington Post.