How Does Housing Impact Family Wellness?

Thank you for the invite to this space, Mark. We see a clear gap in supportive emergency programming for single fathers with children; so often "family shelters" as well as our DV shelters assume a s

Thank you for the invite to this space, Mark. We see a clear gap in supportive emergency programming for single fathers with children; so often "family shelters" as well as our DV shelters assume a single parent with children will be a woman with children. We don't spread the word well enough, or provide specialized services, for men with children. More of our providers are realizing this and making more space for single fathers with children, but I still don't think we're providing adequate services directed to fathers (single or not).

We often have the opportunity to serve in the intersection of mental health, forensics, and homelessness. In that space, we discover that having housing can restore dignity and not having access to h

We often have the opportunity to serve in the intersection of mental health, forensics, and homelessness. In that space, we discover that having housing can restore dignity and not having access to housing delays or hampers the restoration of dignity. The success of so many initiatives in communities that aim to bolster the success of families requires housing solutions and affordable housing in order to realize success. Housing, therefore, becomes a basic need that deserves our attention and investment.

Great post Mark. Being the current Director of Street Outreach in the county I reside in, the realities of the points you made above ring all too true as we manage a long family shelter waitlist with

Great post Mark. Being the current Director of Street Outreach in the county I reside in, the realities of the points you made above ring all too true as we manage a long family shelter waitlist with not enough resources to go around. The truth is, when housing is scarce, our most vulnerable are who are left affected. Our children, our disabled, our elderly. Family homelessness in particular sits heavy as it has been shown to play such a pivotal role in the outcomes of children’s lives. Homelessness, unstable housing, and poverty in general can lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, responsible for regulating cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body. When this dysregulation occurs for long periods of time, this can significantly negatively impact an individual’s physical and mental health trajectory for their lifetime. Knowing what is at stake, it keeps me inspired to continue serving my community and creating meaningful change for our society when given any opportunity.

Thank you for the invite to this space, Mark. We see a clear gap in supportive emergency programming for single fathers with children; so often "family shelters" as well as our DV shelters assume a s

Thank you for the invite to this space, Mark. We see a clear gap in supportive emergency programming for single fathers with children; so often "family shelters" as well as our DV shelters assume a single parent with children will be a woman with children. We don't spread the word well enough, or provide specialized services, for men with children. More of our providers are realizing this and making more space for single fathers with children, but I still don't think we're providing adequate services directed to fathers (single or not).

We often have the opportunity to serve in the intersection of mental health, forensics, and homelessness. In that space, we discover that having housing can restore dignity and not having access to h

We often have the opportunity to serve in the intersection of mental health, forensics, and homelessness. In that space, we discover that having housing can restore dignity and not having access to housing delays or hampers the restoration of dignity. The success of so many initiatives in communities that aim to bolster the success of families requires housing solutions and affordable housing in order to realize success. Housing, therefore, becomes a basic need that deserves our attention and investment.

Great post Mark. Being the current Director of Street Outreach in the county I reside in, the realities of the points you made above ring all too true as we manage a long family shelter waitlist with

Great post Mark. Being the current Director of Street Outreach in the county I reside in, the realities of the points you made above ring all too true as we manage a long family shelter waitlist with not enough resources to go around. The truth is, when housing is scarce, our most vulnerable are who are left affected. Our children, our disabled, our elderly. Family homelessness in particular sits heavy as it has been shown to play such a pivotal role in the outcomes of children’s lives. Homelessness, unstable housing, and poverty in general can lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, responsible for regulating cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body. When this dysregulation occurs for long periods of time, this can significantly negatively impact an individual’s physical and mental health trajectory for their lifetime. Knowing what is at stake, it keeps me inspired to continue serving my community and creating meaningful change for our society when given any opportunity.

Mark, thank you for this post. I have been astounded around the lack of affordable housing in our communities, which makes it super hard for families to find stability. Then you add in the risks you h

Mark, thank you for this post. I have been astounded around the lack of affordable housing in our communities, which makes it super hard for families to find stability. Then you add in the risks you have named, and I can only imagine that the circumstances seem hopeless. I have a family member who, along with his wife and three children, were displaced from their home due to a severe black mold condition. Their landlord refused to fix the situation, and they were without housing for 7 months. Fortunately, he is a working dad and was able to pay for a hotel room, but barely. This family of 5 spent 7 months living in one room while they looked for a new home to rent in a state with a high cost of living. They already deal with mental health issues and found the stress, anxiety, and pressure of their circumstances extremely challenging. Knowing how hard it was for them I cannot imagine how families without income and other family support are able to find the path forward.