Georgia Mjartan
This month, Our House launched a new initiative that will
help hundreds of families with school-aged children avoid
homelessness. The Central Arkansas Family Stability
Institute at Our House is funded by a $300,000 three-year
grant from the Siemer Institute for Family Stability and is
matched with a $100,000 grant from the Heart of Arkansas
United Way.
Our House believes that every child deserves stability at
home and at school. It is on the basis of this principal and
our knowledge of the gravity of need that we have taken on
this tremendous programmatic expansion.
The series of events that leads families into homelessness
often begins with a job loss. Mom can no longer pay rent.
She moves across the river to stay with a friend. Her kids
end up sleeping on a couch, missing school and eventually
changing schools mid-year. When that temporary living
situation is now no longer an option, mom calls Our House
seeking shelter. But our shelter is full.
Last month, 225 people called Our House seeking shelter.
Seventy-three of those in need were children. (We only have
40 beds in our women and children’s dorm—and most of
them were full.)
continued on pg 28
Photo: Monica & her three sons, Mariquarius, Marcus (pictured here with
his mom during a family event at Our House), & Jamal, were one of the
first families to join the new Central Arkansas Family Stability Institute at
Our House.