A Seat at the Table:
Homeless Liaisons Building
Collaborations on the Federal, State
and Local Levels.
25th NAEHCY Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
November 3, 2013
Why are we here?
Session Goals
I.
Participants will gain an understanding of federal, state
and local community based initiatives to enhance
program objectives.
II.
Participants will learn tools for engaging community
stakeholders and creating a “seat at the table.”
III.
Participants will gain insight on community
partnerships that result in the educational and housing
needs of students facing homelessness.
IV.
Participants will learn to navigate the differences in
McKinney-Vento definitions for education and housing
agencies to better serve families.
Dedicating Opportunities to End Homelessness:
Place – Based Strategies to Prevent and End Homelessness
Opening Doors – 2010 Obama Administration
First comprehensive federal strategic plan to
prevent and end homelessness that calls for
an alignment of federal, state, local, and private
resources with four goals.
Goals of 2010 Opening Doors Plan
1.
2.
3.
4.
Finish the job of ending homelessness by
2015;
Prevent and end homelessness among
veterans by 2015;
Prevent and end homelessness for
families, youth and children by 2020; and
Set a path to ending all types of
homelessness.
Opening Doors Strategies
End homelessness by leveraging
collaborations:
Mainstream Housing
2. Health
3. Education
4. Human Services
1.
Dedicating Opportunities to End Homelessness
(DOEH) Cont.
Joint effort between the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and
the United States Interagency Council on
Homelessness (USICH) – community based
strategy development to better and maintain
itself.
Ten Cities:
Atlanta, Chicago, Fresno County, Los Angeles
County, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia,
Phoenix/Maricopa County, Seattle, and Tampa.
DOEH & McKinney Vento Themes
 Awareness
– DOEH Families and
Children, Social Services and Public Affairs
subcommittees.
 Collaboration
and Coordination of
Services – DOEH collaborations gives
access to federal, state and local
resources needed.
DOEH – Agencies at the Table
HUD & USICH & Veterans Affairs
 Department of Community Affairs
 Continuum of Care
 County Government
 Shelters
 Transitional Housing Agencies
 Faith Based/ Ministries
 Law Centers for Homeless
 Mental Health Divisions of Hospitals

Why is it important to develop
community based partnerships?
 Parents
need multiple sources of support
to help their children succeed in school
and in their communities.
 Research
demonstrates that effective
schools/education programs have high
levels of parental and community
involvement.
Strategies for Developing Relationships:
All providers can:
 Learn each other’s definition of
homelessness
 Create a space for open discussion about
shared values and gaps in service
 Identify community stakeholders to partner
with on activities that advance common
values and goals
 Attend each others’ meetings
 Develop MOUs for cooperation and
information sharing
Promising Partnership Practices
Determine Shared
Vision and Values
 Develop a Plan
 Communicate
 Establish Connections
 Share Leadership
 Build Collaborations

Mutual Stakeholder Engagement
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Children – includes student and family needs.
Parent Teacher Organizations, Non Profit arm, Parents As Leaders
Teachers – instructional support insight.
M-V teacher tutors
Administration – instructional/ school supports.
Continued awareness and technical assistance
Community Based Non Profits – varied missions.
Early Child hood Education Centers, United Way, Big Brothers/Big
Sisters, Boy/Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Operation Hope, Junior
Leagues, Kiwanis Clubs
Neighborhood Coalitions – betterment of residents.
Business Associations, In Town Associations, Foundation Civic Sites
Faith Institutions – betterment of surrounding communities.
Churches, Mosques, Synagogues
Businesses – venues and consumer needs.
Corporate Foundations, Neighborhood Businesses, Future Business
Government Agencies – citizen services.
Police Department, Health Clinics, Social Services and Libraries
Universities – sporting events tickets for family bonding and attendance
incentives.
Atlanta Public Schools Example
Homeless Education Advisory Board
Mission:
The Atlanta Public School Homeless Education Program seeks to
actively and regularly engage key, Atlanta – based community
stakeholders in ensuring the academic success of students in
transition.
Vision:
The Atlanta Public School Homeless Education Program Advisory
Board will meet twice per school year to be updated on the issues
facing students in transition. The board will leverage their networks in
providing opportunities for students to gain life skills and exposure to
activities that ultimately boosts the academic esteem of this at-risk
population.
Other Partnership Results:
Community Agency
Yearly Outcome
United Way of Greater Atlanta
8 pallets of school supplies
Focus North America
1000 sneakers
Atlanta Police Athletic League
25 slots for homeless students
Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta
100 beds to families transitioning to
permanent homes
Georgia Campaign for
Adolescent Power & Potential
15 doulas and life coaches with housing and
child care
APS Central Office
30 families adopted for holiday giving
Georgia State University
150 tickets per home football and
basketball games
Assistance League of Atlanta
1800 uniforms for elementary school
students, 700 coats and 500 hygiene kits
Every year:
Atlanta Center for Self
1 week of transportation passes at about
Sufficiency, Georgia Law Center $10 – covers a school year for 550
for the Homeless & MARTA
students.
A case in housing:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
HEARTH Act: Initial Assurances:
The Continuum of Care (CoC)Applicant must
demonstrate collaboration with education
agencies.
The CoC must consider the educational needs
of children and not disrupt children’s education.
Project applicants must demonstrate practices
consistent with McKinney –Vento Act.
Applicants must designate staff to ensure
children are enrolled in school and connected to
services.
McKinney – Vento Data
HUD versus McKinney – Vento
Impact
Collaboration Experts Speak…
Jimyu Evans, Project Community Connections
Jatisha Marsh, Atlanta Public Schools
Stephen Vault, WellStar
Sustainability
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Share responsibility with schools and other community
organizations committed to engaging families in meaningful,
culturally respectful ways, as well as families actively
supporting their children’s learning and development.
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Continue across a student’s life, beginning in infancy and
extending through college and career preparation programs.
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Carry out everywhere children are raised and taught including homes, early childhood education programs,
schools, after-school programs, faith-based institutions,
playgrounds, and community settings.
Position Statement on School-Family-Community Partnerships for Student Success (2009). Connecticut State Board of Education.
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/LIB/sde/pdf/board/SFCP.pdf
Sonya O. Hunte, MSW
shunte@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Homeless Education Liaison
130 Trinity Avenue 2nd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Office (404) 802-2245
Fax (404) 802-1205