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Addressing Family Homelessness in Massachusetts: Challenges and Workforce Development Strategies

A report presented to the Western Mass Network to End Homelessness Leadership Council on November 30, 2011, discusses critical challenges facing Massachusetts, including a 7.3% unemployment rate and rising family homelessness since 2008. Despite job growth, the most vulnerable demographic—those with low educational attainment—continues to suffer. The initiative emphasizes the importance of accessible education, sustainable housing through workforce development, and collaboration with diverse partners to break barriers to employment. Focus group discussions and data analysis aim to refine services and discover innovative solutions for addressing family homelessness.

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Addressing Family Homelessness in Massachusetts: Challenges and Workforce Development Strategies

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  1. Education and Workforce Development Capacity Planning Lindsay Koshgarian, UMass Donahue Institute Western Mass Network to End Homelessness Leadership Council November 30, 2011

  2. A Challenging Climate • Massachusetts 7.3% unemployment compared to 9.1% nationally • Massachusetts added nearly 38,000 jobs so far this year • Highest unemployment and least recovery among least educated, especially those with high school/ GED or less • Increase in homeless families since 2008 • Massachusetts’ right to housing • HomeBASE faces severe funding difficulties and uncertain future • Families continue to be housed in hotels/ motels

  3. Education pays… if it’s accessible.

  4. Education and Workforce Planning Grant Tasks • Focus on family homelessness and families at risk • Family housing sustainability through workforce development • Involve non-traditional partners to address barriers to employment

  5. Outreach and Research Goals • Identifying challenges and building partnerships • What services already exist? • Where does access to services break down? • How can existing services be linked, streamlined or otherwise made more accessible? • Data analysis and outcomes measurement • Who is being served? • What do we know about their employment histories, barriers and needs? • How can we use data to effectively measure progress and target emerging needs?

  6. Addressing Barriers to Employment, Potential Partners • Housing & Shelter providers • Employers • Career centers • Regional Employment Boards • Community colleges • Child care providers • Health care providers • Mental health and substance abuse providers • Literacy programs • Others…

  7. Planning Team Tasks • Identify recognized best practices and innovative approaches • Explore on-the-ground challenges and opportunities • Participant focus group(s) • Stakeholder focus group(s)/ listening sessions • Key stakeholder interviews • Data analysis • Obtain HMIS/ ETO ASIST from providers and other data • Identify outcome measures and establish baseline if data allow • Develop action plan • Match Western Mass resources/ strengths with best practices and approach for implementation

  8. Project Timeline

  9. Questions for Discussion • What services are available now? • What current/ past partnerships have been successful? Where were there “near misses”?

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