As students across the Big Bend head back to school, advocates say the occasion can bring both positives and negatives to families facing housing insecurity.
Johnna Coleman, executive director of the Big Bend Continuum of Care, says for some families, kids heading back to the classroom means parents can head back to work.
“Maybe we can find a job while my kids are in school," she said, "and we have kids who were not going to kindergarten being able to go to kindergarten.”
Coleman says that could mean parents have more time to earn or aren’t facing as much in childcare costs. But she also says there are other expenses associated with the start of the school year, like buying new clothes and supplies, that could put a family with a tight budget over the edge.
“We do see an increase in the need for homelessness prevention dollars because households have used extra money that they did not have to clothe their kids and get them ready for school," said Coleman. "So, we do see that.”
Coleman says there could be an added need for emergency funding to help keep those families in their homes.
