Fact
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, 161,070 people in families, including 95,440 children under 18, were homeless on a single night in 2022. For some of these families, lack of adequate housing contributed to the decision to open child welfare cases, place the child(ren) in out-of-home care, or delay the reunification of children with their parents. Reports indicate that up to 50% of children in foster care were removed from homeless or unstably housed families. Rates of housing instability, homelessness and related child welfare involvement are higher among Black, Indigenous and families of color.
In addition, 30,090 unaccompanied youth up to age 24, were homeless on a single night in 2022. According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Report, 19,130 young people were emancipated from foster care in FY 2021.
Our Mission
Through One Roof, CSH and partners emphasize the need for an improved cross-sector response for children, youth, and families that integrates housing solutions and support services, such as supportive housing. One Roof is a national initiative designed around collaboration, partnerships, and shared goals to ensure a better future for children, youth and families. We achieve this by creating conditions that allow child welfare, housing and other state and local agencies to address their needs collectively, holistically and safely through integrated housing and services solutions.
Together, through One Roof, we can safely reduce the need for children and youth to spend unnecessary time in foster care, helping to prevent youth from aging out without safe and stable housing and supporting thriving children, youth, families and communities.
CSH and partners that include leading national organizations, experts, and state and local communities across the country are collaboratively advancing One Roof.
Our Goals
How Does One Roof Work?
One Roof helps policymakers understand and implement housing solutions designed to ensure families at risk of or involved with the child welfare system are safely and permanently unified or reunified and stabilized in their own homes with access to services that improve the lives of children and their parents. Further, One Roof partners advance housing strategies to support young adults to transition from foster care successfully. There is an equal and intentional focus on housing, services and opportunities for children, youth and adults.
Housing
Having a safe, stable, and affordable home is important for everyone, but especially for children, youth and families impacted by the child welfare system. Supporting the housing stability of families and youth requires a range of strategies and resources, from prevention to supportive and affordable housing programs.
Services and Support
Having the needs of the children and their parents addressed together in a stable home through coordinated services leads to a multiplier effect that builds up the whole family. From the stability of a home, both families and young adults can engage more fully in services that support healthcare, recovery and education to create economic and social well-being that passes from generation to generation.
Partnership
Creating a more promising and equitable future requires bringing many sectors and systems together. including housing and child welfare, to align efforts and contributions. Systems that are coordinated and collaborative improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. Also, we want families and youth to be critical partners and leaders in advancing One Roof goals.