Child advocates reveal plan to reduce number of homeless families

Salisbury, Md. – Educators, child advocates and legislators are working together to help families with school-age children get access to stable housing.

At Legislative Hall on Friday, advocates revealed a plan to allow schools the ability to directly refer families living in shelters or motels to subsidized apartment housing, dramatically reducing the number of homeless families with kids in school.

Advocacy organization Action for Delaware Children says the plan would be added as a line item in this year’s state budget.

“We would love to secure housing vouchers for families and families that have students that are school-aged and are experiencing homelessness,” School Teacher and ADC Board Member Karen Eller said. “I am a teacher, and I see firsthand the the impact that students face while experiencing homelessness.”

Eller said especially after the state legislature found almost $200 million in unexpected new revenue last week, the state would be able to afford the proposed plan.

Action for Delaware’s Children Board President Dr. Terri Hodges said in a statement, “With the state finding almost $200 million in new revenues for next year, it can afford to spend less than one half of one percent of that money helping the families of homeless school children to get stable housing for their kids. This is not a close call.’”