Stoneleigh Fellow Nan Feyler published an article in NACC’s The Guardian on the role of housing in families’ child welfare involvement.
Inadequate housing represents a significant challenge to the child welfare system and the families it serves. Too often, unsafe housing is the sole or a contributing reason that a child is placed in foster care and once in care, a lack of adequate housing can delay family reunifications.
Child welfare agencies across the country struggle to respond to this crisis. Inadequate funding, a lack of housing expertise, and the sheer magnitude of the problem can overwhelm already overworked agencies. Addressing family housing problems could mitigate harm to children, reduce agency caseloads, improve family well-being, and result in significant cost savings.
