No Place to Grow: Rethinking Homelessness Through a Whole-Child, Whole-Family Lens 

Imagine trying to raise your joyful, curious two-year-old in a walk-in closet. There’s no room for toys, no space to play, and every sound echoes too loudly. You’re constantly on edge—not because you’re hiding your child, but because you’re worried that the typical noise of a developing toddler might be too much for the homeowner. The fear of losing even this small, temporary space looms during everyday moments, from enjoying your child’s laughter to dealing with their tantrums. This is what homelessness can look like for families across the country—living in cramped, unstable conditions that threaten not just housing security, but a child’s developmental foundation.

In the first of a two-part series, School House Connection and BUILD invite you to the June session of the Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole System Webinar Series, “No Place to Grow: Rethinking Homelessness for Children and Families.” We’ll consider how homelessness in all forms—shelter, unsheltered, hotels/motels, and sharing the housing of others (“doubled-up”)—leads to lack of a safe, nurturing space that affects both children and their caregivers. This webinar will explore the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in addressing family homelessness from early childhood systems to housing, health care, and education. We will also explore the powerful levers that early childhood advocates, policymakers, and service delivery partners can activate to address homelessness in families with young children.