Preventing homelessness is more cost-effective than trying to resettle a homeless family. Many fragile families could be kept in housing if quick access to funding for utilities, one or two months' rent, or help with health issues could be accessed. Our public schools are often the first and only contact fragile families to access help. Schools need funding to employ social workers who can help needy families access resources to keep them housed.

School staff identified at each school to be liaison who is there for the homeless family/student and can provide resources and information as well as the go-to person for the staff and educator for staff who become aware of potential homeless students. This staff person should not be someone who is already wearing too many hats to be really available and helpful.

Early education intervention is a proven component in childhood development and academic outcomes. Programs like Head Start are great but there needs to be more slots - and more programs that are free and don't cut off vouchers for parents who have part-time or low-wage full time jobs. It's so hard to maintain the empolyment if you don't have preschool/childcare.

Implement home visiting programs that promote the safety, education, health, and development of low-income and at-risk children in high need communities. Homeless providers and advocates should encourage agencies implementing these programs to actively target these services to children experiencing homelessness.

The trouble with rallying an end to youth homelessness is that most resources are driven to "at risk" categories-- truancy, engagement with criminal justice, substance use, after school programming, etc. The role of stable housing isn't a factor in these programs. Ensuring that housing stability is a part of these funding streams would go a long way to linking housing to positive outcomes for youth.

Child development is influenced by many contexts - one of the most important being parental involvement. However, it's difficult for parents to be connected to learning when they are focused on meeting basic needs, and this affects the educational success of the child. Schools cannot do this alone so communities need to step up and help parents learn about their rights and resources (and so schools don't take advantage of them). Most parents want to be involved, they just don't know where to start.

Increase standards of education within foster care group homes. So many youth lack the educational needs based on their level. When a youth turns 18 they are released from the center and expected to continue their education and housing needs on their own. So many (almost all) drop their educational goals. Forming transitional teams (including community members in identified areas (housing, education)) for each youth who meets with them continually before turning 18 and will continue assist and meet after being released from the home.. (Connecting to your Community)

Our continuum has partnered with children serving programs to ensure that young homeless children are given the best chance to succeed when they enter school. The standard benchmarks are used to measure readiness that are used with non-homeless children. Early screening of hearing and visual impairments have also helped support readiness to learn. School age children's academic performance is monitored in our shelter to ensure tht resoruces are accessed if a child needs tutoring or other special assistance.

There need to be a federal program working in collaboration with various state entities to ensure youth or young adults persuing their education be allowed to enter into a (SRO) -Single resident occupancy. This agreement should be introduced to various developers willing to invest in communities .This development should be a project that targets "homless youths or young adults.

While homeless youth are eligible to attend any school they wish while homeless, in many locations once that youth becomes housed, they are required to change schools and attend their district school. While for some youth this is the best option, for others, this represents yet another disruption to schooling. Some states, such as IL, have passed legislation allowing homeless youth to stay in their schools for the remainder of the year once housed, but this legislation needs to exist everywhere.

More than often some school systems complain of not having enough funding for school bus transportation of homeless students to and from school of origin. It is key that these children/youth get to and from school in a safe manner as well as to enhance attendance and school success.

Often school homeless liaisons help enroll homeless students, assist with arranging transportation to school of origins, help with school supplies, collaborate/advocate with parents, school staff and administration and community resources on behalf of homeless students, monitor movement of homeless students and more. The homeless liaisons need to be maintained and funded in order to help homeless children/youth and their families in order to end the cycle of homelessness.

Youth need someone that knows them and can help them understand their options, work with parents, advocate for support services, and develop individualized plans that support the individual child. Many homeless youth experience unique educational challenges that a trained advocate would understand and have strategies to address.

Encourage public-private partnerships between nonprofits, government, health care organizations, local businesses, and schools that seek to integrate diverse yet important supports and resources for children and youth. Efforts to support and educate young people must be aligned among a wide array of stakeholders - from afterschool and summer programs and youth development organizations to parents themselves – and should be recognized as part of a seamless pipeline of providers who educate and develop the whole student.