Helping Homeless Youth Find Stability: Chase's Story

When high school senior Chase* needed help finding safe, stable housing, United Way stepped up.  

Chase had been experiencing homelessness, living in an unstable environment that forced him to couch-surf at friends’ houses.  When he enrolled at Belding School District in Belding, Michigan, school staff recognized his situation and began working to create stability for him. That’s when Jody, Community Impact Manager with United Way of Montcalm-Ionia, stepped in to provide critical support.

Jody worked alongside Chase, helping him navigate housing assistance applications, apply for federal student aid, and connect with essential local resources. With this guidance, Chase secured stable housing and set himself on a path toward graduating high school and pursuing higher education.

This approach is rooted in collaboration between United Way and schools. Through a partnership with their local school district, United Way of Montcalm-Ionia and United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties used grant funding to deploy community impact managers like Jody as homelessness liaison specialists.  

“We’re deeply connected to the needs of our communities,” explains Annie Sanders, President and CEO of United Way of Gratiot & Isabella counties. “Our daily work with nonprofits and human service agencies allows us to be a vital resource hub. By integrating our community impact staff . . . with school liaisons, we ensure homeless youth, and their families, receive the support they need. Schools know they can rely on us to connect them with the right resources.”

Breaking Down Barriers

At last count, U.S. public schools were educating 1.2 million homeless students.  But the stigma surrounding homelessness often leads families and students to hide their struggles out of fear or shame. And youth experiencing homelessness may not match the stereotypical image of homelessness: instead of living on the streets, many are “doubled-up,” couch-surfing with friends or relatives, or staying in motels.

It matters to United Way because we bring people together to help everyone have an opportunity to succeed. And research shows that homeless students have a tougher path: they’re more likely to be chronically absent, have lower grades, and lower graduation rates than their peers with stable housing.

Once identified, homeless students can benefit from critical support through federal law ensuring that PreK-12 children and youth experiencing homelessness have equal access to educational opportunities. School liaisons like Jody play a crucial role in enrolling these students and helping them succeed.

Chase’s story is just one example of how community collaboration and dedicated support systems can help shift the odds for struggling youth. By working together, schools and organizations like United Way can help young people chart a stable path forward.  

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