Families Experiencing Homelessness
Homeless Families and their children have been served by Head Start and Early Head Start local agencies for many years. Our programs are uniquely equipped to serve these families with our comprehensive service model.
The new Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) released in November 2016 include a provision [§1302.15(c)] allowing Head Start and Early Head Start programs to reserve one or more enrollment slots (up to 3% of the funded enrollment) for pregnant women and children experiencing homelessness in their service areas for a period of 30 days when a vacancy occurs. This provision complements the afore-mentioned regulations of the Head Start Act and can serve as one part of a program’s broader strategy for serving children and families experiencing homelessness. Details.
Furthermore, local program leaders report challenges on reaching and impacting this community in a meaningful manner. Here in Region IX, and across this nation, services to homeless families is complex and requires new innovations, partnerships and resources.
2020 Roundtable Discussion
Join us June 24, 2020, Riverside, CA at the Mission Inn for our second Roundtable on Services to Families Experiencing Homelessness. During this full-day session, we will hear updates from the Office of Head Star, Housing and Urban Development and Head Start/Early Head Start Grantees on the expansion of services over the past 12 months.
Click here to review the agenda.
Click here to register.
Click here to secure an overnight room at the Mission Inn, Riverside, CA. Ask for the Region 9 Head Start rate for the Site Directors Academy. $159. Reserve your room by June 1, 2020.
Contact the R9HSA office for details, 916-259-0971.
2019 Roundtable Discussion
In June 2019, programs from across the region gathered to discuss this issue, explore challenges and solutions. “A Conversation: Services to Families Experiencing Homelessness” is our report-out from that gathering: Click to view full report.
R9HSA produced the following commentary appearing in the Sacramento Bee that details a family’s rise out of homelessness, thanks to local programs like Head Start and SETA. Click here to read article.
