Head Start on Housing event, March 2024

Program Overview

In April 2022, the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare launched Connecticut’s Early Childhood Housing Outreach Head Start on Housing Program (HSOH), an initiative aimed at addressing housing insecurity among families with young children. 

HSOH identifies children facing housing insecurity within Head Start and Early Head Start programs and connects their families with permanent housing solutions. In doing so, HSOH alleviates pressure on the child welfare system, helps maintain family structures, and ensures that children have the best possible chances of success through the supportive services provided by Head Start.

The origins of this initiative can be traced back to 2007 when President George W. Bush signed the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act. This act was a response to growing evidence that homelessness negatively impacts the academic performance of children in the U.S. It mandated that Head Start and Early Head Start programs prioritize the recruitment of homeless children, ensuring all students have access to communities of opportunity. However, while this act was crucial in promoting educational success, it did not resolve the permanent housing needs of these families.

HSOH bridges this gap by directly addressing housing insecurity while bypassing the Connecticut Department of Housing’s Coordinated Access Network.  As of August 2024, HSOH has successfully housed more than 246 children in over 113 families.  This achievement is the result of close collaboration with Connecticut's statewide Housing Authority contractor, John D’Amelia and Associates (JDA), which provides permanent housing vouchers to families on-site once their needs are identified.

 

Program Goals


Head Start on Housing aims to…

  • Rapidly house children and families in Head Start and Early Head Start programs struggling with stable housing to support child development and family success.

  • Maintain family structures and prevent child welfare involvement based on housing insecurity and related concerns.

  • Provide families with the environment and support systems to thrive long-term and maximize the benefits they might derive from their Head Start programs (employment services, financial literacy, educational attainment, etc.).

The Connecticut HSOH Partnership:

Head Start on Housing is made possible through an unprecedented partnership between the Connecticut Head Start Association, the Connecticut Department of Housing, the Connecticut State Department of Education, and the Office of Early Childhood. The program grew from 4 to 19 programs within 12 months. Together, the HSOH partnership works to offer stable housing and essential services to families across Connecticut.