Photo Credit: Max Breiteneicher
Most Americans underestimate how the problem of homelessness affects families. About 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States, making up almost half of the annual homeless population. Additionally, families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Homelessness has major impacts on children’s learning for example homeless children are almost twice as likely as their stably housed cohorts to repeat a grade.
Core Assumptions for Ending Family Homelessness
1. A sufficient supply of affordable housing is the central solution to family homelessness.
2. Many of the nation’s poorest families require access to supportive services and the means to improve their happiness and well being.
3. The desires of families must drive the interventions that are designed to help them.
4. The health and well being of children is closely linked to both the health and well being of their parents and to having a stable living environment.
5. The central strategy for ending family homelessness is to advocate for policies that incentive the development of affordable housing, and that increase affordable housing resources from local and federal government.
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