Welcome to Housing Is, a hub for generating effective programs and sharing innovative ideas.

Sign Up or Sign In
 

Housing Is Working Group 2023-2024 Calendar

Join the Housing Is Working Group to discuss special topics related to cross-sector initiatives and programmatic considerations particularly focused on the intersections of housing, health, and education.

This year’s public webinars cover topics such as the mobility asthma project, trauma-informed approaches to housing, resident-focused racial equity work, out-of-school time, and how FCC grantees are supprting voucher holders.

View Calendar
 

Elements of a Successful Partnership

With generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, CLPHA developed an in-depth report on regional housing-education collaborations taking place at housing authorities across the Pacific-Northwest.

Read the Multimedia Report
 
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Mar 1, 2023
Unfortunately, there are more youth experiencing homelessness than there are resources available. Up to 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). Homelessness is often the result of multiple factors including historical and present systemic racism, discrimination, and socio-economic inequities. Learn more in our new policy brief.

Authored by: National Network for Youth
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Racial inequalities, Safety, Stability, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jun 8, 2023
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
May 1, 2023
Federally funded Responsible Fatherhood programs work with fathers to promote healthy relationships and marriages, strengthen parenting practices, and help fathers attain economic stability. For programs to improve fathers’ outcomes, they need to be able to recruit fathers, engage them in services, and keep them actively participating in program activities. However, it is challenging for programs to achieve these participation goals. The Strengthening the Implementation of Responsible Fatherhood Programs (SIRF) study was designed to strengthen programs and build evidence on promising practices to improve the enrollment, engagement, and retention of fathers in program activities. Fatherhood programs participating in SIRF iteratively implemented and assessed promising approaches to addressing implementation challenges, with the support of and in partnership with the SIRF team.

Authored by: Charles Michalopoulos, Emily Marano, Becca Heilman, Michelle S. Manno, Patrizia Mancini, Scott Cody for MDRC
Topics: Family engagement, Healthy homes, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Research, Stability
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jun 1, 2023
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
May 8, 2023
The 2022 Federal Broadband Funding Report summarizes and analyzes FY21 data collected from across the federal government. Broadband funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was appropriated in FY22 and will be included as part of the 2023 Report. Due to the data collection timeline, Federal Broadband Funding Reports currently report on the previous fiscal year rather than the fiscal year they are released in. To accompany this report, NTIA developed a consolidated data dashboard to assist in the analysis and reporting for FY21 federal broadband investments. The full dashboard with comprehensive filters and data extract capabilities is below, links to the report data in Infogram®, a data visualization and infographics platform.

Authored by: National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Topics: Broadband, Data sharing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jun 1, 2023

2022 Federal Broadband Funding Report: Investing in Internet for All

Report
May 8, 2023
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The 2022 Federal Broadband Funding Report summarizes and analyzes FY21 data collected from across the federal government. Broadband funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was appropriated in FY22 and will be included as part of the 2023 Report.
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Jun 1, 2023
Every May, Ascend recognizes the importance of raising awareness about mental health and the multifaceted ways that it impacts family prosperity and well-being. Even as Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we are committed every day to uplifting the drumbeat across our community that calls for an end to mental health stigma, making strides to ensure that families can access quality services, and advocating for policies that support families' unique mental health needs. Join us in the national movement to raise awareness about mental health by exploring some of our new resources and sharing them with your community of changemakers!

Authored by: Ascend and the Jed Foundation for Ascend
Topics: Depression, Dual-generation, Education, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Research
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jun 1, 2023
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
May 17, 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life for children and families globally. The health, economic, educational and related stressors have contributed to mental health challenges for people of all ages, including our youngest and those who care for them. In a new report, the Children's Equity Project, in partnership with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska and Yale University, highlights the mental health of the early care and education workforce and the children they care for using data collected over the course of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The report focuses on depression and elevated stress, including racialized stress in early educators, and provider reported increases in child externalizing, internalizing, and somatic symptoms. We provide national data as well as state profiles that highlight trends across state lines. We end with a set of recommendations for Congress, federal agencies, and states in prioritizing the mental health of children, families, and the early educators who care for them.

Authored by: Cinthia Palomino, PhD, Ayse Cobanoglu, PhD, Jennifer Oppenheim, PsyD, Evandra Catherinr, PhD, Shantel Meek, PhD, Walter Gilliam, PhD, Eric Bucher, EdD for Children's Equity Project
Topics: COVID-19, Early childhood, Education, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mental health, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on May 17, 2023

Examining the Mental Health of Early Childhood Professionals and Children Early in the Pandemic

Report
May 17, 2023
Cinthia Palomino, PhD, Ayse Cobanoglu, PhD, Jennifer Oppenheim, PsyD, Evandra Catherinr, PhD, Shantel Meek, PhD, Walter Gilliam, PhD, Eric Bucher, EdD for Children's Equity Project
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life for children and families globally.
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
May 2, 2023
The Digital Equity Act (DEA) is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design systems that will enable true digital equity. Congress and NTIA outlined specifics for states to include in their digital equity plans. The NDIA State Digital Equity Plan Toolkit provides guidance on how to compile the plans. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) team combined our own subject matter expertise, lessons learned from our community of over 1,000 affiliates across the country, and our understanding of the DEA as it appears in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Notice of Funding Opportunity into what we hope is a particularly useful toolkit for you, the administering entities, as you embark on this planning process. Through best practices, recommended step-by-step processes, templates, and tools, the Toolkit supports administering entities and your partners in designing robust, comprehensive digital equity plans that lead to impactful digital inclusion programs, policies, and tools.

Authored by: NDIA
Topics: Broadband, Community development, Funding, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Partnerships
Shared by Sandra Ware on May 2, 2023
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Mar 28, 2023
Family separations and family detention have been used as part of immigration enforcement in the United States. These practices and policies are severely detrimental to child health and wellbeing and can cause lasting harm. This brief reviews the state of the research on the developmental, psychological, and physical toll of family separation and family detention on children and their caregivers. Grounded in this science, we provide a set of policy recommendations that protect child health and wellbeing.

Authored by: Kelly Edyburn, PhD & Shantel Meek, PhD for the Children's Equity Project
Topics: Child welfare, Early childhood, Health, Immigrants, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Mar 30, 2023
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Mar 21, 2023
Mental wellbeing affects all aspects of our lives and our society. Through the 2022 Signature Series, the Alliance centered a robust discussion of policy options, trade offs, and challenges around the experience of patients and their families by taking a listen first approach.

Authored by: Alliance for Health Policy
Topics: Homelessness, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Racial inequalities, SAMHSA, Workforce development
Shared by Sandra Ware on Mar 21, 2023
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Mar 2, 2023
Many students and families arrive in the U.S. from other countries without safe, stable housing, and experience homelessness and high mobility that can last for months. At SchoolHouse Connection, we recognize the crucial role that schools can play in providing stability and support to mitigate the disruption and trauma caused by homelessness. This page is dedicated to providing educators, policymakers, and advocates with valuable resources on how to best support these families and youth, and help ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in school and beyond.

Authored by: School House Connection
Topics: Early childhood, Education, Grade-level proficiency, Homelessness, Housing, Immigrants, Legislation & Policy, School-readiness, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Mar 14, 2023
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Mar 1, 2023
We are delighted to share a new research report in partnership with Child Trends: Data on Families with Low Incomes Across America Can Inform Two-Generation Approaches. In this new analysis, research experts Elizabeth Wildsmith and Marta Alvira-Hammond paint a detailed picture of how families in households with low incomes in the United States have changed since 2011. The report highlights 10 key findings from their analyses of family economic and social conditions related to financial security and mobility, family structure and living arrangements, education and employment, parental health, and community health indicators (for example, rates of child poverty, violent crime, child care costs). A deeper understanding of families with low-incomes will inform our collective work and strengthen how our 2Gen policy and practice recommendations can prioritize health, education, employment, and economic assets to ensure families have access to the resources they need to build intergenerational prosperity and well-being.

Authored by: Elizabeth Wildsmith and Marta Alvira-Hammond for Child Trends in partnership with Ascend at the Aspen Institute
Topics: dual-generation initiative, Early childhood, Education, Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Mar 2, 2023

Data on Families With Low Incomes Across America Can Inform Two-Generation Approaches

Report
Mar 1, 2023
Elizabeth Wildsmith and Marta Alvira-Hammond for Child Trends in partnership with Ascend at the Aspen Institute
We are delighted to share a new research report in partnership with Child Trends: Data on Families with Low Incomes Across America Can Inform Two-Generation Approaches.
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Mar 1, 2023
At this time of year, pull up to a busy intersection or pass by some popular public gathering place in and around Durham, and there’s a good chance you might find a sign advertising “PreK for All.” January kicks off Durham PreK’s annual recruitment campaign for the approaching school year, and if you have a rising preschooler in your life, you may be wondering what it means to offer pre-k for all. The resulting report, “Toward Equity in Durham PreK: Addressing the Accessibility of Wraparound Care as a Barrier to Universal PreK in Durham,” details the findings, identifies key program participation challenges tied to wraparound care access and availability, and offers conclusions and recommendations for addressing these challenges now and in the future.

Authored by: Child Care Services Association (CCSA)
Topics: COVID-19, Early childhood, Education, Funding, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Mar 2, 2023

Toward Equity in Durham PreK: Addressing the Accessibility of Wraparound Care as a Barrier to Universal PreK in Durham,

Report
Mar 1, 2023
Child Care Services Association (CCSA)
At this time of year, pull up to a busy intersection or pass by some popular public gathering place in and around Durham, and there’s a good chance you might find a sign advertising “PreK for All.” January kicks off Durham PreK’s annual recruitment campaign for the approaching school year, and if yo
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Feb 17, 2023
The findings from a Syracuse University study linking universal school meal policies with improved school attendance for young students provides a strong case for expanding free school meals, according to school nutrition and attendance experts.

Authored by: Anna Merod for K-12 DIVE
Topics: Attendance, Early childhood, Education, Food insecurity, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Nutrition, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Feb 23, 2023
0
0
0
0
Infographics
Community:
Feb 7, 2023
An analysis of recent trends in child and youth homelessness that show the impact of the pandemic, including a disproportionate decline in enrollment and increase in chronic absenteeism.

Authored by: SchoolHouse Connection and University of Michigan
Topics: Attendance, COVID-19, Disabilities, Early childhood, Homelessness, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities, School-readiness, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Feb 21, 2023

The Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Current Trends, Challenges, and Needs

Infographics
Feb 7, 2023
SchoolHouse Connection and University of Michigan
An analysis of recent trends in child and youth homelessness that show the impact of the pandemic, including a disproportionate decline in enrollment and increase in chronic absenteeism.
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Oct 6, 2022
How a national funder collaborative is empowering communities, expanding access to housing in BIPOC neighborhoods, and changing policies, narratives, and systems that perpetuate racial injustice.

Authored by: Bea de la Torre for the Stanford Social Innovation Review
Topics: Funding, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jan 3, 2023
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Oct 13, 2022
Is the future of philanthropy a more collaborative one? The leaders of Funders for Housing and Opportunity share lessons to help the field learn—and evolve—in real time.

Authored by: Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie & Jennifer Angarita for the Stanford Social Innovation Review
Topics: Community development, Funding, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jan 3, 2023
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Oct 20, 2022
Three social change leaders discuss how to move the narrative about housing away from a focus on individual actions toward values, racial justice, and the well-being of all.

Authored by: Glenn Harris, Michael McAfee, & Dorian Warren for the Stanford Social Innovation Review
Topics: Housing, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jan 3, 2023
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Nov 10, 2022
Two housing justice advocates discuss different approaches to policy change and the importance of centering the voices of people most affected by systemic barriers and inequities in housing.

Authored by: Amy Gillman, Liz Ryan Murray, & Mike Koprowski for the Stanford Social Innovation Review
Topics: Advocacy, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jan 3, 2023
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Dec 1, 2022
Local initiatives are breaking new ground to make access to housing and opportunity more affordable and equitable and to increase the resources dedicated to housing justice.

Authored by: Mercedeh Mortazavi & Alana Greer for the Sandford Social Innovation Review
Topics: Community development, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Partnerships, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jan 3, 2023
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Oct 17, 2022
Using data from the 2018 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP, which has monthly income amounts for 2017) and the National Bureau of Economic Research TAXSIM model, we estimate how accurately data from the first quarter of the year can predict credit amounts a person will ultimately qualify for based on their annual characteristics. Low-income people are more likely than higher-income people to experience financial difficulties, so we focus our analysis on families with children at some point in the year with incomes below 200 percent of (twice) the federal poverty level (FPL). If credits can be accurately predicted using data from the first quarter of the year, it may present a path forward toward advance payments of credits.

Authored by: Elaine Maag, Elizabeth Peters, Nikhita Airi, Karen Smith for the URBAN INSTITUTE
Topics: Legislation & Policy, Low-income
Shared by Sandra Ware on Dec 1, 2022

How Well Can Limited Data Predict Annual Tax Credits: The Importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and An Option for Advancing Credits

Report
Oct 17, 2022
Elaine Maag, Elizabeth Peters, Nikhita Airi, Karen Smith for the URBAN INSTITUTE
Using data from the 2018 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP, which has monthly income amounts for 2017) and the National Bureau of Economic Research TAXSIM model, we estimate how accurately data from the first quarter of the year can predict credit amounts a person will ultimately qual
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Nov 17, 2022
Homelessness is a traumatic experience with long-term consequences, particularly for infants and toddlers in their most critical stages of development. Yet homelessness among young children is hidden. Lack of shelter, fear of having children removed from parental custody, and restrictive eligibility criteria for housing programs mean that most young children experiencing homelessness stay in places that are not easily identified. To this end, SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan analyzed data from twenty states that have formed broad-based coalitions to move prenatal-to-3 priorities forward. This report describes the prevalence of homelessness among infants and toddlers in these twenty states; gaps in access to early learning programs; and recommendations for increasing enrollment and support.

Authored by: School House Connection
Topics: Child welfare, COVID-19, Early childhood, Education, Foster care, Homelessness, Legislation & Policy, Pre-natal, Racial inequalities, Research, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Nov 17, 2022

Infants and Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness: Prevalence and Access to Early Learning in Twenty States

Report
Nov 17, 2022
School House Connection
Homelessness is a traumatic experience with long-term consequences, particularly for infants and toddlers in their most critical stages of development. Yet homelessness among young children is hidden.
0
0
0
0
Communications
Community:
Oct 14, 2022
Medical debt is a critical challenge to Americans’ financial stability and well-being. People with medical debt are more likely to forgo needed medical care, have difficulty meeting basic needs, and face an increased risk of bankruptcy. Recent Urban research shows there are great disparities in who carries the most medical debt. Adults who live in communities where the majority of the population are people of color are more likely to have medical debt in collections reported on their credit reports. In particular, Black adults are more likely to have difficulty paying for family medical expenses. These inequities reinforce the racial wealth gap and contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

Authored by: Miranda Santillo, Breno Braga, Fredric Blavin, Anuj Gangopadhyaya for The Urban Institute
Topics: Asset building, Dual-eligibles, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Racial inequalities
Shared by Sandra Ware on Oct 27, 2022
0
0
0
0
Video
Community:
Jul 15, 2022
People with disabilities have a place to turn to find information on COVID-19. They can contact the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) to find vaccine locations, make appointments and arrange for transportation. Trained staff at DIAL can also help people with disabilities track down community supports to help with independent living, such as services that help with health care benefits, financial assistance, housing, food and more. DIAL, operated as a collaboration between a consortium of organizations serving people with disabilities and USAging, is funded by the Administration for Community Living. Staff at DIAL can also make referrals to local disability organizations. For more information, watch this short informational video.

Authored by: Administration for Community Living
Topics: Advocacy, Asset building, Disabilities, Legislation & Policy, Mobility, Stability, Supportive housing
Shared by Karina George on Jul 15, 2022
0
0
0
0
Interactive
Community:
Jun 29, 2022
In 2020 we launched a dedicated effort to learn more about legal issues surrounding unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness. This project was intended to guide both organizations’ ongoing work and advocacy and develop resources to help the field better prevent and end homelessness among minors. This toolkit includes: • Key issues and challenges for minors experiencing homelessness; • Strategies and lessons learned from advocacy for state minor consent to services laws (including questions to consider); • Legal issues and considerations relevant to host homes for minors; • Working towards equity while serving minors; • Child welfare and youth homelessness; and • Additional legal and policy issues.

Authored by: National Network for Youth
Topics: Advocacy, Child welfare, Community development, Education, Foster care, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities, Research, Supportive housing, Sustainability, Youth
Shared by Karina George on Jun 29, 2022

Toolkit: Overcoming Legal and Policy Barriers to serving minors experiencing homelessness - a collection of resources for youth advocates

Interactive
Jun 29, 2022
National Network for Youth
In 2020 we launched a dedicated effort to learn more about legal issues surrounding unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness.
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Jun 27, 2022
We have an abundance of talent that is ready to reimagine early childhood and well-being in America for our youngest children and families, but we do not have an abundance of leadership experiences that nurture, propel, and position them as the dynamic leaders our country urgently needs. Leadership that reflects the full diversity and genius of our communities, sectors, identities, and lived experiences matters now more than ever. In Toward A More Equitable Tomorrow: A Landscape Analysis of Early Childhood Leadership, we uncover the essentials for future leadership investments that value and center equity—especially racial equity and inclusion—to surface new possibilities and equitable prosperity moving forward. Insights from stakeholders including state and federal cabinet directors, service providers, funders, and parents offer powerful perspectives to guide the future early childhood field, and guide those who seek to accelerate families’ well-being, educational success, and economic mobility. Ascend at the Aspen Institute is embracing this moment as a renewal, and also as a redoubling of our commitment to remake our systems and our society. This means centering children and families with a focus not simply on eliminating persistent inequities such as poverty, polarization, and racism, but on ensuring pathways to prosperity and well-being. With support from the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Bezos Family Foundation, Ascend undertook a robust landscape analysis of the early childhood field. More than 80 leaders—from research, practice, policy, philanthropy, and families with young children—shared their insights for this report. It was augmented by a review of 20 mission-aligned leadership efforts. Our inquiry was grounded in an intentional focus on racial, economic, and gender equity; respect for the advances made; commitment to innovation; and an open mind to new approaches, possibilities, and power.

Authored by: Ascend at the Aspen Institute
Topics: Advocacy, Asset building, Child welfare, CLPHA, Early childhood, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities, Research, Supportive housing, Sustainability, Youth
Shared by Karina George on Jun 27, 2022

Toward a More Equitable Tomorrow: A Landscape Analysis of Early Childhood Leadership

Report
Jun 27, 2022
Ascend at the Aspen Institute
We have an abundance of talent that is ready to reimagine early childhood and well-being in America for our youngest children and families, but we do not have an abundance of leadership experiences that nurture, propel, and position them as the dynamic leaders our country urgently needs.
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Jun 27, 2022
A robust research base indicates the importance of high quality early care and education in relation to a host of long term health, education, and employment outcomes. The concept of “quality” in these programs has been the focus of much attention and resources, particularly over the last decade. Most states have established definitions of quality through quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) and allocated accompanying resources to support early care and education providers to progress toward higher levels of quality. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, definitions of “quality” have been sorely lacking attention to equity and to the unique experiences that disproportionately affect children from historically marginalized communities. This report addresses a fundamental content flaw in QRISs by operationalizing equity indicators. These indicators are grounded and organized by the CEP’s 14 priorities to advance equity in early care and education systems, published in a 2020 report, in partnership with eight national organizations. States can use these indicators to inform QRIS redesign efforts to advance equity and improve transparency for families.

Authored by: The Children's Equity Project (CEP)
Topics: Advocacy, CLPHA, Communications, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Metrics, Racial inequalities, Research, Supportive housing, Sustainability
Shared by Karina George on Jun 27, 2022

Equity is Quality and Quality is Equity: Operationalizing Equity in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems

Report
Jun 27, 2022
The Children's Equity Project (CEP)
A robust research base indicates the importance of high quality early care and education in relation to a host of long term health, education, and employment outcomes. The concept of “quality” in these programs has been the focus of much attention and resources, particularly over the last decade.