Earlier this summer, MPHA staff joined City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), and the YMCA of the North in announcing the Stable Homes Stable Schools (SHSS) program expansion. The SHSS program addresses homelessness among Minneapolis Public Schools students’ families through different levels of support: emergency short-term assistance, multi-year rental assistance, and case management.

During the pandemic, Knee’Sha lost her job due to a heath condition that made it impossible for her to work. Without work and needing a new place to live, she and her five school-aged kids moved in with Knee’Sha’s mom. Within months, Knee’Sha and her family were living in a shelter. Without stable housing and being located much farther from school, getting the kids there every day was a challenge.

“I was all the way in St. Paul and my kids went to school in Minneapolis, so they were missing school,” said Knee’Sha Lungelow.

That’s when the social worker introduced Knee’Sha to SHSS, a program that helps prevent homelessness for Minneapolis Public Schools students and their families.

“A social worker reached out to me, and was like, ‘Hey, there’s a program I want to let you know about because I noticed that the kids are missing school, and that’s not like you to have them missing school,’” said Knee’Sha.

The program covered the cost of a hotel stay for the family until Knee’Sha found a rental that fit their needs and was approved by the program. Soon, Knee’Sha had found a unit that had adequate space for her kids, and they were able to move in and have a place of their own to call home thanks to the program’s multi-year rental assistance.

Even though Knee’Sha did all she could to protect her kids from the family’s financial struggles, Knee’Sha saw the toll the lack of stability had on her kids. When they were homeless, Knee’Sha noticed her five-, seven-, nine-, 11- and 17-year-olds just weren’t themselves—not as happy, a bit reclusive, and quieter. But thankfully, once she connected with SHSS and her family got settled into their new home, Knee’Sha saw positive changes in her kid’s lives. Now, her kids are back to acting like healthy kids—running around, energetic, and unafraid to be themselves. And, their school attendance is up, too.

“My kids are more like, ‘OK, I want to go to school,” said Knee’Sha. “All around, [they are] just more happy, knowing like, ‘This is my house. Nobody is going to come and say, you have to leave.’ This is my house.”

“Stable Homes Stable Schools means everything to me,” said Knee’Sha.

For families like Knee’Sha’s, SHSS is a lifeline. With stable housing, Knee’Sha was able to focus on getting a new job and get the family back on their feet. With a new role helping people facing hard times and serving as on the SHSS parent advisory committee, Knee’Sha is using her success story to encourage others and is an advocate for the programs that helped her when she needed it most.