Overview

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, 171,670 people in families, including 107,069 children under the age of 18, were homeless on a single night in 2019. 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 reunification of children with parents. Reports indicate 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.

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 supports, such as supportive housing. One Roof is a national initiative designed around collaboration, partnerships, and common 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.

Under One Roof, Together, 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 building 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.

Goals

1. Strengthen collaboration between the child welfare and housing systems at the federal, state and local levels to integrate services and improve family stability.

2. Significantly expand access to affordable and supportive housing for families involved in multiple systems, including child welfare, at risk of separation due to neglect exacerbated by homelessness or housing instability.

3. Increase and sustain resources to provide and coordinate housing based services to ensure long-term success for vulnerable children and families.