School’s Out, But School’s In for New Professional Development Course on Toxic Stress, Poverty, and Child Development

Once just an infographic, this research on child homelessness and toxic stress is now a full-fledged professional development class at Seattle University this summer for school and social-service professionals. <span class="s1"><a href="http://firesteelwa.org/wpsystem/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/big-brain-infographic.pdf" target="_blank">See the full infographic here.</span></a> — Once just an infographic, this research on child homelessness and toxic stress is now a full-fledged professional development class at Seattle University this summer for school and social-service professionals. See the full infographic here.

School psychologist Perry Firth has graced this blog many times with her research on the effects of child homelessness. Soon she'll share her insights with educators and service providers through a new professional development course she'll teach at Seattle University. Here, Perry writes about her motivations for teaching this course, and reminds us that, no matter our profession, we can all take steps to help end homelessness.

Advocacy Works!

Thanks to your advocacy, it should no longer cost an arm and a leg to apply for a home. The Fair Tenant Screening and Eviction Reporting bill passed the legislature!

The 2016 state legislative regular session wrapped up last week. Thanks to you, we've had some important victories. It's not over yet, though! Lawmakers are still in Olympia, and your ongoing advocacy is needed.

Architect Who Experienced Homelessness Now Advocates for Thriving Communities

Architect Poppi Handy (third from left) joined her Third Place Design Cooperative colleagues at Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day in Olympia last month. Their office regularly engages in housing advocacy.

Poppi Handy joined the high school swim team so she could get regular showers while her family experienced homelessness. School was an escape for Poppi, who did well in the classroom despite many challenges. Now an architect, Poppi designs inclusive communities and advocates for policies that will help people have the resources they need to thrive. Listen to her StoryCorps "Finding Our Way" conversation with her husband, Brent.

“Do I Pay My Legal Financial Obligations, Or Do I Buy Diapers?”

After more than a decade of struggling with addiction, and going in and out of incarceration, Coreen made the decision to change her life so she could care for her son. Image courtesy YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish.

“When you live on the streets, you have to do what you can to survive,” Coreen says. For her, that meant using drugs, as well as stealing clothes, food and cars. After a decade of struggling with addiction and going in and out of incarceration, Coreen turned her life around. Now she's a devoted mom, but court-imposed debt is keeping her from giving her son the life he deserves.

“To Be Unsheltered Is to Be Vulnerable”: A Volunteer Reflects on the One Night Count

Social work student Tara Lee Lange (far left) joined a team of volunteers at the 2016 King County One Night Count. Image courtesy Tara Lee Lange.

Shortly after volunteering at the One Night Count, social work student Tara Lee Lange reflects on the acute dangers that people who experience homelessness face every day. The rate of violence against a national sample of people experiencing homelessness was almost 25 times that of the general U.S. population.

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