February 22, 2022 (Deer Park) – The Siemer Institute has awarded United Way of Long Island $125,000 to provide navigation services to families with children who have difficulty maintaining self-sufficiency and have risk factors that can lead to homelessness. “The Family Support Project” will help families reach long-term stability with the goal of preventing academic disruptions for children by helping families move from crisis to stability.
Students who move frequently have lower than average grades in school. According to the 2020 Long Island Coalition for the Homeless Report 3,924 students were classified as homeless during the 2018-19 school year. However, it is reported that after students were asked about their housing status, it is estimated that child homelessness was above 12,000 which shows the hidden nature of family homelessness in the region.
“Children need a safe and stable place to call home to succeed in school,” said Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO for United Way of Long Island. “Through the generosity of The Siemer Institute we will be able to make an impact on families by preventing homelessness and helping them to create paths to long-term self-sufficiency. Our goal is to generate lasting change by strengthening the family unit for generations to come.”
With nearly 60% of all calls to United Way of Long Island’s 211 resource helpline related to housing, the organization is partnering with Housing Help in Huntington to implement the Family Support Project. Community Navigators will serve as advocates for the families and help connect them to available resources, combining necessary financial assistance and wrap-around support services. This will provide participants the opportunity to improve overall family success, by offering job training to maintain sustainable income, financial assistance, budget coaching and other services by leveraging the many community resources available through United Way’s network of care.
“Stability is critical for children to succeed and should never be compromised,” said Pilar Moya-Mancera Executive Director of Housing Help. “We have had a successful long-term partnership with United Way of Long Island and this new opportunity with the Siemer Institute will expand and enrich our impact supporting the needs many of diverse Long Island families.”
“We are grateful for the partnership with United Way of Long Island as we work together to stabilize families and provide opportunities for children to succeed in school and life. The implementation of the Family Support Project is key to the success of the Siemer Institute Family Stability program, which leads to positive impacts for the families.”
In its inaugural year, the program is projected to serve 100 local families representing approximately 300 children and adults, with the expectation that 77% of families will successfully remain in their homes and at least 97% of the children are expected to remain stable in their original school.
To learn more about United Way of Long Island’s work to help families remain financially stable and students succeed, visit www.unitedwayli.org/ourwork.
About Siemer Institute
Siemer Institute provides funds to stabilize families with children enrolled in school using a collaborative approach to enhance educational, financial, and housing opportunities for the whole family.