This paper provides an overview of the DeKalb Kids Home Collaborative, which is an example of a successful partnership forged between homeless service providers, the school system, and an employment service provider. The partnership emerged after school leaders and homeless service providers came together to help a mother and son struggling with homelessness. Their collaborative effort helped the family escape homelessness and inspired the providers to develop a formal partnership to help children avoid or quickly escape homelessness.
EE Article Type: Solutions Brief
The Role of Child Welfare Agencies
This brief is intended for child welfare agencies that are responding to the housing needs of families involved in the child welfare system. It examines the research that documents the link between inadequate housing and child welfare involvement and highlights some of the innovative practices child welfare agencies have developed to respond to the housing needs of families in their care. Finally, it provides early lessons gleaned from some of these practices.
Fostering Financial Literacy and Security
Individual assets are the total resources a person holds. The ability to build and maintain assets is a crucial component of achieving financial security, which can facilitate housing stability. This brief includes two strategies for achieving this end, banking initiatives and asset building initiatives.
Facilitating Workplace Success for Disconnected and Disadvantaged Youth
Disconnected youth face multiple barriers to employment compared to their stably connected peers, which can increase the burden on social services agencies. This brief includes an overview of the scope of youth unemployment and the challenges it generates, including its nexus with education and criminal activity, and lessons learned from the American Recovery and Investment Act about employing disconnected youth.
Making Effective Use of TANF
The resource provides an overview of how some communities are using TANF funds for short-term rent assistance and how TANF agencies can help improve the self-sufficiency of families.