Young families in poverty
Characteristics Abusive/neglectful home situations Substance abuse Mental illness Trauma
Structural barriers Access to basic resources (food, clothing, health care, etc) Child care Transportation Rental history Credit history
Barriers to staying housed Inconsistent family and community support Insufficient interpersonal/problem solving skills Adolescent behavior Violence as a norm Poverty ▫Incomplete education ▫Low-wage jobs ▫No safety net
How many families need housing?
Parents in Highschool Difficult to accurately track this population Minneapolis Public Schools has the TAPP program Longfellow: 96 students with 86 children Roosevelt: 31 students with 22 children South: 14 students with 9 children North: 5 students with 9 children Henry & Edison: 35 students Total: 181 students (April 2012)
What already exists? YouthLink ▫4 apartments in south Minneapolis ▫TLP program with subsidies Jeremiah Program ▫18 and over. Enrolled in post-secondary education. Spirit Valley Young Mother’s Supportive Housing Program in Duluth (YWCA) ▫Ages Seven efficiency apartments, rent based on income. ▫Childcare on-site, supportive family services, educational requirement.
St. Anne’s Place Young Family Aftercare Program Community case management ▫Families 21 and under ▫Up to 2 years Weekly peer support group Connection to resources Advocacy
Best practices for working with young families Flexible, quality schooling Case management & family support services Prenatal care & reproductive health services Quality child care linked to preventive health care Parenting and life skills education & support services Father involvement services and supports
Questions?