Reimagining homelessness assistance for children and families

ABSTRACT

The homelessness response system in the United States is dominated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD’s definition of homelessness, program models, metrics, data, approaches, and goals have overshadowed those of other federal agencies. This policy brief argues that children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness have been poorly served by HUD’s dominance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It proposes that other federal agencies, specifically the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education, are better suited to provide comprehensive homeless assistance for children, youth, and families. The author draws from research, policy analyses, and testimonies of parents, service providers, and educators to make the case for a reimagined homelessness response that is child-centered and oriented toward long-term goals of economic independence, health, and wellness.

KEYWORDS:

• Family homelessness
• child homelessness
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• COVID-19
• housing assistance
• Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Barbara Duffield began her career as a tutor for children experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C., and is now Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection. For more than 20 years, she has bridged policy and practice in early care, education, housing, and homelessness, serving as the Director of Education for the National Coalition for the Homeless (1994–2003), where she collaborated with service providers, educators, federal agencies, and Congressional offices to address children’s issues, and later as the Director of Policy and Programs at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (2003–2016), leading national efforts to strengthen federal protections and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood through higher education.