When Ciera Alexander talks about Stable Homes Stable Schools (SHSS), she can’t help but get emotional because its impact on her family is so significant.

Last spring, Ciera was going through a lot. She had lost her car, was struggling to pay her bills, and was worried about what would happen if she couldn’t pay her rent. Needing help, she reached out to a social worker at Whittier Elementary School, where her son was a student, to see if they could provide any guidance. The social worker helped connect Ciera with SHSS.

Through SHSS, Ciera received emergency financial assistance to help her pay rent, followed by one-on-one financial and employment coaching to help her family escape the threat of housing instability.

“I know for a fact, if [Stable Homes Stable Schools] hadn’t stepped in when I needed the help, I know we would be on the street right now,” said Ciera Alexander, a Stable Homes Stable Schools participant.

Once the immediate financial challenge was addressed, Ciera began working with a SHSS housing stability coordinator to improve her interviewing, negotiating, and self-advocacy skills as she aspired to advance her career. With a newfound confidence in her abilities, Ciera earned the promotion she wanted, significantly increasing her income and delivering a deeper sense of stability and security for her family.

“[SHSS] helps you get going in the right direction,” said Ciera. “I’m confident now. I know what I need to do now. I’m extremely thankful for the program for that.”

Not only did SHSS help stabilize housing for Ciera’s family, but it also gave her the tools and confidence to reach higher. Now, Ciera isn’t just thinking about the first of the month – she’s budgeting her money and saving to secure her long-term financial stability.

“I’m saving money now,” said Ciera. “I’m separating needs from wants. And I didn’t think like that before. I never got any budgeting help growing up so, getting it through the program was great.”

SHSS is a pioneering partnership between MPHA, the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) that helps families like Ciera’s when they needed it most. But the program goes beyond emergency short-term financial assistance, helping equip families with the tools and skills to build resilience and self-sufficiency. Since 2019, SHSS has supported more than more than 2,300 families representing over 6,400 children.

The program has been so successful, in fact, that it has received national and local attention, and even inspired other cities to replicate the model. And, earlier this year, SHSS received a $350,000 grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation supporting its housing stabilization programming.

Ciera’s story is just one example of how Stable Homes Stable Schools is transforming lives—not just by keeping families housed, but by helping them thrive. As the program continues to grow, so does its impact, helping even more families build a foundation for lasting stability.