Helping Families Get Back to School

September is a busy time for any family, with school shopping and new schedules increasing workload for families. Just like any other family in our community, those in our programs find themselves very busy helping their kids get back to school. For families facing housing instability, though, heading back to school can pose unique challenges.

Loss of housing creates barriers to continued education. As families move from location to location, even just getting kids to school can be a challenge – and I don’t mean just making sure they’re dressed in time. One of the best resources available to families facing housing instability is the Mckinney-Vento Act which provides transportation to the school system of origin. While a great resource, in a few cases this can leave kids facing lengthy commutes. Marissa, a young girl in our Bridge Program was enrolled for the first time in her life in education and transported through this state program, but was facing a 1.5-2 hour commute to school by bus each day! As a 3 year old, she was afraid and tired, making an already difficult transition even more challenging. While her parents were already making significant efforts to rebuild stability, they also now had to face her anxiety around school – and their own worries for her commute. For families like Marissa’s, extra challenges also complicate long-term sustainability; education difficulties or transportation challenges can mean barriers to ongoing work.

It’s in these moments that I am especially thankful for the unique support we offer at Family Promise. Our programs adapt to the needs of our families, assisting families in our programs as they overcome their unique obstacles. Marissa’s family, for instance, showed extraordinary commitment in our Bridge Program, contributing significantly to their savings and workings towards career advancements. This family showed the dedication, discipline and drive that we’ve seen is required to start a new life, and we were glad to be able to offer them one of our New Leaf apartments. As they move in to one of our apartments, their housing costs will continue to be provided for, as mom and dad work hard to build up their savings, and dad pursues an opportunity to advance his career. In this case, the apartment also happened to be located closer to Marissa’s school, shortening her commute substantially. Marissa’s education will face fewer interruptions, giving her a better chance at her own stability – and allow her to enjoy going to school like any other kid her age.

Just like your family, we’re helping our families get back to school, and I’m excited to see how our support multiplies their efforts.