Family Promise of Gallatin Valley’s Post

SchoolHouse Connection estimates that more than 5,000 infants and toddlers in Oregon are experiencing homelessness, and that only 1 in 6 of them is enrolled in an early childhood program. Homelessness causes significant harm to young children (and people of all ages), especially when they are not receiving services. Other studies have found eviction closely linked to homelessness, and research cited in this paper shows that nationwide, "the rate of eviction for families with children (10.4%) was more than double the eviction rate of those without children (5.0%). Racial disparities in eviction risk are staggering: about a quarter of Black babies and toddlers in rental households face the threat of eviction in a typical year." https://lnkd.in/gnQC62w3

As of Dec. 2023, Metro Nashville Public Schools estimated 2,760 of its ~81,000 enrolled students are homeless. This is a 50% increase from the previous year. And it’s likely a drastic underestimate as older kids are unlikely to report themselves as being homeless for fear of being taken away from their families or being shamed by their peers. Worse yet, this number is likely to climb higher because of expiring pandemic-era aid programs. If this isn’t a call to support more #AffordableHousing initiatives in #Nashville, I’m not sure what is. Children are the future of our city and country. Without a safe, stable place to lay their heads, it’s really hard for kids to focus on their math and English assignments or perform on their standardized tests. Without more affordable housing the achievement gap widens. I saw this firsthand as a former teacher, and it is the reason why I jumped into affordable housing. Support more affordable housing and more affordable housing financing tools. Budget season is just around the corner. Read more here about the great work MNPS is already doing for kids in need:

Homelessness causes countless disruptions to a child’s education. The impact of housing instability is the greatest barrier to a student's success in school. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2021 "Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs, Homeless Populations, and Subpopulations" report for Pennsylvania, from the Point-in-Time Survey, there were 2,441 children under the age of 18 identified as residing in emergency shelter or transitional housing, or living in unsheltered conditions. However, the Point-in-Time Survey is but only a glimpse at the landscape and magnitude of housing instability, and its negative effects on our students. Help HCEF build a brighter, safer, more equitable future for our students. Only together can we succeed!💙

The holidays should be a time of joy and celebration for all, but let's not forget that for children and teens experiencing housing instability, this season adds an extra layer of stress and exacerbates a sense of loss. With schools closed during the holidays, the lack of routine and school meals can magnify an already stressful time for children in crisis. As a community, it's crucial that we come together around the holiday season to support organizations and initiatives that work tirelessly to ensure safe housing and winter-time care for #JacksonCountyKids. Learn more about our partner organizations that function in our service areas for Temporary Shelter and Transitional Living Services; during the holidays, they go above and beyond to make the holiday season a little brighter for children and youth experiencing housing instability. Which Jackson County organizations do you know of that are serving people experiencing housing instability? Reach out to them to see how you can participate in bringing a little joy into the lives of children in crisis this season. Remember, our collective empathy and action can make a world of difference in the lives of kids.💙 #HomeForTheHolidays #MentalHealthMatters #HungerAndHomlessnessAwarenessWeek

Back to School, But Different for Some 🎒 As kids head back to school, remember this time of year is filled with challenges for those without stable housing. In the DC region, families represent 36% of all people experiencing homelessness, many of them with students who: - lack basic essentials like clothes, shoes and backpacks - struggle with being on time or making it to school - miss out on a good night's sleep, making it hard to focus in class. Homeless students are 87% more likely to drop out of school and only 64% graduate. This back-to-school season, let's be more aware of the problem of homelessness and what it looks like. #WhatHomelessLooksLike #BackToSchool #HomelessStudents #EndHomelessness #PathwayHomes

November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month, which calls for raising awareness & garnering more resources for children experiencing #homelessness. It seems far too easy to take for granted a stable shelter when you have it. But when it comes down to it, housing instability can majorly impact youth & particularly, their #academic journeys. ▶︎ They may not be able to stay for after-school supplementary programs due to a lack of transportation. ▶︎ They may not get quality sleep, & thus can’t be present in class. ▶︎They may not have access to enough food, & thus can’t focus in class. Our business model is rooted in the fact that ALL students—regardless of their housing status—deserve access to the resources they need to succeed in school. Which is why, by partnering with incredible organizations to provide free tutoring to students living in their emergency shelters & transitional homes, we’ve made it a major part of our mission to support students experiencing homelessness.   We’re thrilled to see that, between 2020 & 2022, the number of people under age 25 who experienced homelessness declined by 12%! (Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) That said, there's still so much work to be done. We’re here & we’re ready to continue eliminating barriers for #students experiencing homelessness.✊🏼

There are many reasons why some students in the Madison School District lack a home. But Jani Hoester and Shannon Stevens from the Transition Education Program of the Madison School District say a lack of affordable housing is the primary issue. Other factors include mental illness, domestic violence and generational poverty. Homelessness strikes African American students the hardest, being the highest percentage of students suffering this way. When homeless, students are often forced to change schools, and each time they do, they lose 4-6 months of educational progress. Ultimately, they also suffer much lower graduation rates. The Transition program helps provide transportation for the students and provides a liaison to advocate for their rights. Hoester says these homeless students often feel invisible in society because people don’t even want to look their way if seen asking for help. She urges us all at minimum to acknowledge them and say hello, if we’re not able to help in some way. The presenters also urged everyone to support efforts to create affordable housing. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gTsR8F4F

Criminalizing homelessness is not the answer. Read SchoolHouse Connection's full statement on City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson: https://lnkd.in/dfb6FtNC Today’s historic levels of homelessness represent a massive failure of public policy across multiple systems – including the homeless assistance system itself. Many homeless adults first experienced homelessness as children or youth, did not graduate from high school, and/or suffered various adverse events at the earliest stages of life. To truly stop the cycle of homelessness, we must expand our vision: policymakers and leaders must focus equal attention and resources on children, youth, and families: infants, toddlers, school-age children, young adults, expectant parents, and caregivers. Every person who experiences homelessness – from before birth through old age – deserves respect and dignity. We urge local leaders to reject criminalization and to instead embrace tailored solutions to prevent and address homelessness along the full continuum of life.

Challenges facing students experiencing homelessness have increased since the pandemic, creating an even greater need for support from schools. Districts have until September 30th to spend their share of $800 million in one-time federal aid that Congress dedicated to that work. This huge influx of funding gave districts greater flexibility, allowing many to adopt creative approaches to supporting students and families experiencing homelessness. Here's how some schools are using it: https://lnkd.in/gNfWCfJC

https://lnkd.in/eeiHmTXf 12,000 students in metro Atlanta, across Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties, are experiencing homelessness, according to data from the Georgia Department of Education compiled by Neighborhood Nexus. This number is equivalent to filling almost 400 classrooms or packing major venues like Georgia Tech’s basketball stadium. The staggering figure, representing nearly 2% of the region's 631,274 public school students, highlights the severe impact of the housing shortage, the end of eviction prevention programs, and gaps in the foster care system