The Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare presents a policy briefing about homelessness, particularly addressing the needs of unhoused families.

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The Academy and the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis are hosting a policy briefing on December 12, 2024 to discuss the ‘invisible crisis’ of family homelessness in the United States, with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, Clark-Fox Policy Institute, Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy, and the William T. Grant Foundation.

The briefing titled "Families in Crisis - Research and Policy Solutions for Ending Family Homelessness,” will aim to address the ways that unhoused families often endure short and long-term physical and mental stressors. Difficult shelter conditions and daily uncertainty can undermine family well-being and cohesion. 

The 21st Century Research Agenda identifies critical gaps in research for community-based family support, child welfare, and early childhood education. This policy briefing will examine the intersection between the 21st Century Research Agenda and policy change.

This discussion will focus heavily on current research findings on family homelessness, including housing programs that work; policies that impact family homelessness in the current political environment; and, recommendations from an experienced peer educator and consultant with the Family Homelessness Coalition.

Panelists:

• Ben Henwood, PhD, professor at the Dworak-Peck University of Southern California School of Social Work
• Deborah Padgett, PhD, professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work
• Samantha Batko, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute’s Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center
• Rhonda Jackson, Community engagement consultant and Senior Fellow with the Family Homelessness Coalition

Moderator:

• Mary McKay, PhD, Vice Provost of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Washington University in St. Louis

Learn more and register for the event.