1. Engaging Families: At the Intersection of Race and Homelessness
YWCA Seattle-King-Snohomish PCHP 
2017 PCHP NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Presenters:
Debra Monroe, Services Program Manager
Cathy Nguyen, Operations Program Manager
Ayan Warsame, Program Coordinator

2. Agenda Welcome/Introductions Icebreaker
Setting Context and Exploring Best Practices
Scenarios/Small Group Discussions
Large Group Discussion
Close

3. Setting the Context

4. Racism and Homelessness
Jim Crow laws, segregation, zoning laws, redlining, and other de facto and institutionalized forms of racism
One-size fits all screening tools and criterion
Anti-black cultural stigma and stereotypes
Black/African-American people over-represent the homeless population
Intersections
How racism and homelessness intersect:
Jim Crow laws, segregation, zoning laws, redlining, and other de facto and institutionalized forms of racism -> current disproportionality in access and resources to housing for Black people and other people of color
While White people commit crimes at the same rates as African-Americans, African-Americans are profiled and incarcerated at greater rates than other racial groups -> criminal record bars many formerly incarcerated people from housing
Traditional mainstream service systems apply screening tools and criterion that often screen out African-Americans at greater rates than their non-black counterparts (e.g. criminal/eviction history, etc.)
Cultural stigma and stereotypes: private landlords screen out or deny housing applications to African-Americans (i.e. anti-black attitudes)
African-Americans make up a disproportionately larger number of populations that are homeless; homelessness services must involve anti-racist organizing!
Racism and Homelessness

5. Barriers faced by homeless families (Black/POC homeless families)
Dual experiences of oppression (racism and economic injustice)
Historical barriers to generating/maintaining generational wealth
Under-representation of racial/ethnic identities in mainstream service providers and programs
Cultural stigma (“dangerous”, “criminal”, “illegal”, etc.)
Cultural stereotypes (“lazy”, “dangerous”, etc.)
Newer immigrants and African-Americans often have no inheritance or wealth due to recency in citizenship and/or institutional anti-black racism
Language, cultural norms/values, physical likeness, etc.
Lack of culturally-sensitive or culturally-specific programs or resources tailored to needs and specific context of experiences

6. Exploring Best Practices

7. Strategies
Building partnerships with community-based organizations and groups
Community and cultural centers
Grassroots organizing groups involved in advocacy
Meeting people where they are at
Community centers or gardens
Schools
Community service offices
Social groups
Churches
Word-of-mouth
Foster relationships with parents/caregivers to support an expansive outreach network
OUTREACH

8. Strategies ENGAGEMENT Flexibility Mobility Wraparound Services
Ensure non-traditional hours are offered for home visits
Plan for cancellations (hold time for catch-up visits)
Rolling enrollment (open enrollment all throughout year; create “Mini” cohorts of Program participants)
Flexibility
Establish a variety of spaces to meet with families (public, accessible spaces) tailored to family needs/schedules
Provide transportation assistance for families, as possible
Mobility
Provide holistic support and resources for families
Wraparound Services
Regularly check-in with families
Follow-Up
Holiday baskets
Incentives
ENGAGEMENT

9. CULTURAL-SENSITIVITY
Strategies
Learn about families’ cultural customs, values, and traditions
Let families teach you, listen to what families share with you
Be humble, open, and gracious in your learning of the family’s unique culture and story
Provide continued training around trauma-informed advocacy and education related to social justice, institutionalized racism, and other forms of oppression
Trust and relationship-building with families
Rapport comes first, service comes second
Dedicated time and space for staff debrief and reflection
Cross-disciplinary case staffing and regular team check-ins
CULTURAL-SENSITIVITY

10. Example of a home visit

11. Group discussions
Small & Large

12. Scenario #1
Fatima is a child that was born in the U.S. Her parents only speak their native language. They  get discouraged and are shy to even try speaking English. Knowing this, how do you plan and conduct your first visit?
Question: How would you approach this?
Things to consider: being aware of the context of family situation; focusing on building rapport and trust; establishing client-determined meeting place, and scheduling; being sensitive to history and cultural identity of the family.

13. Scenario #2
You are conducting a home visit. You are reading to a child and the child refuses to give you eye contact. You’re thinking the child is not participating, so you keep asking the child to look at you, but the child continues to avoid eye contact. How do you work to understand the child’s communication?
Question: How would you approach this?
Things to consider: establish understanding of home norms, cultural practices, and communication styles; develop working style that fits the family’s background and situation; enlisting interpreters/staff members/volunteers who reflect the family’s culture to help facilitate;

14. Scenario #3
You’re working with a family who is currently homeless. They are having a hard time making it to the facility and they cancel many times. What do you do?
Question: How would you approach this?
Things to consider: Developing program expectations/agreements/commitments with family and revisit these throughout the year; building in check-in time; provide flexible hours; meeting people where they are; connecting to community resources to support family’s holistic needs and enhance engagement

15. Thank you! Stay Connected Debra Monroe: dmonroe@ywcaworks.org
Cathy Nguyen:
Ayan Warsame:
SONG: “Ooh, child” by the Five stairsteps”