Research has shown strong links between children’s academic performance and the stability of their housing. When children have stable housing, they attend school more regularly and experience less stress and emotional problems. This allows them to stay focused and attentive in class and perform better academically.
This is why we were so pleased to see Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis City Council investing in the Stable Homes Stable Schools program. It’s a smart investment in stable housing for our youngest learners, as a means to decrease poverty and improve children’s academic outcomes.
There’s just one problem, it doesn’t go far enough to address the tremendous need for stable housing among Minneapolis families. Currently Stable Homes Stable Schools is limited to working with families from just 18 elementary schools. In a publicity video announcing the program’s launch, Mayor Frey noted that in the 2018 school year, more than 3,000 children across the Minneapolis Public Schools faced or risked homelessness. In other words, Stable Homes Stable Schools ignores thousands of students who need support.
Currently, there are over 30 charter public schools in Minneapolis, enrolling almost 13,000 students. Compared to district-operated schools in the city, Minneapolis charter schools serve a higher percent of low-income students (68.8% charter, 56.62% MPS); English language learners (29.16% charter, 20.52% MPS); and students of color (76.35% charter, 64.60% MPS). In North Minneapolis, half of the schools that serve elementary aged students are charters. Schools like Sojourner Truth Academy, Harvest Best Academy, KIPP, and Mastery School serve low-income students of color almost exclusively. Thus, the Stable Homes Stable Schools program systematically ignores a large percentage of low-income students and students of color and deprives them of the aid they especially need.
Another group neglected are students who live in Minneapolis but are enrolled in other districts. At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, according to statistics compiled by the Minnesota Department of Education, more than 83,000 students (or 9% of all Minnesota students) were enrolled in districts outside their own—a phenomenon that is disproportionately prevalent in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Finally, yet another group overlooked by the plan is homeschooled students.
We know that investing in housing helps to reduce opportunity gaps, regardless of whether one attends a traditional district school, a public charter school, or is homeschooled or open enrolled. However, the way Stable Homes Stable Schools currently operates sends the message that the City of Minneapolis is only interested in supporting some students’ educations. If the goal truly is to target our most vulnerable with the allocation of resources, all students in Minneapolis should be eligible to apply for its services.
While some Minneapolis students are being locked out of housing supports, St. Paul is meeting the needs of all its children by ensuring all low-income families are eligible for housing assistance. St. Paul has also built relationships with government agencies outside the city, expanding the available resources.
The $3.85 million Saint Paul Bridge Fund is supported by both the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority and an impressive group of private donors: Baird, Bush Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Securian Foundation, Minnesota, United FC, Minnesota Wild, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, and Xcel Energy.
We hope you will follow the lead of Mayor Melvin Carter and Governor Tim Walz in reaching out to all residents and unifying us in mutual support at this time when so many are in need. We recommend all funds for housing relief be organized into one fund, to which all Minneapolis low-income families can apply, no matter how their children’s schooling is conducted. This will help more families survive the current crisis with their housing stability, mental health and children’s development intact. It can also help the broader Minneapolis community better understand what a commitment to serving all families looks like and increase the funds available.
Community activists have reached out to you repeatedly without receiving any response. We are calling on you to meet with community members regarding the expansion of the Stable Homes Stable Schools program, and we will continue to press you on this issue because our children are worth the fight.
Together in demanding child justice,
April Mootz
Carmita Sactajara
Anam Hasan
Nicolle Dosch
Neasha Dosch
Byron Richard
Erin Thompson
Marea Perry
Chandler Dryke
Anthony Allers
Sonya Emerick
Charles Williams
Sophia Stenwick
Luca Coldwater
Paul E Johnson
Colette MacIver
Thomas Rochon
Jessica Hanson
Chris Thomson
Marie Debhelm
Joel Rsewamo
Elana Sosa
Stephanie Cholensky
Laura Ruelas-Gibbs
Chara Blanch
Jacquline Weishaar
Alicia Arline
Teonna Marshall
Crystal Krajewski
Bridget Borer
Jerrell Perrt
Christian Ledesma
Julia Freeman
Ryan Mulso
Reeve Ridgeway
Julio Martínez
Maren Fleming
Tiffini Flynn Forslund
Dre Smith
Anita Miller
Lauren Murdock
Robynne Limoges
Rhea Smykalski
Lauren Murdock
Claire Undis
Dani Hofstad
Michael Lombardi
Seohee Negreros
Ethan Negreros
Sharon El-Amin
James A Clark Jr
Carlos Cuevas
Jason Vork
Alex Victoria
Mario Negreros
Bilma Cruz
Terry Chavers
Tonyus Chavers
Kathy Watson
janna piper
Michael Herbert
Thomas Rochon
John Astaunda
Richard Johnson
Ann Galloway
Carmen Grace Poppert
Aida Ortega
Rebecca Alper
Jesus Cervantes
Anne Winkler-Morey
Cassandra Llanas
Merida Rodriguez
Adolfo Llanas Ortiz
Manuel Sanchez
Aaron Lemay
Kenia Lemay-ortiz
Ma mireya Ortiz
Elizabeth Salonek
Rachel Goligoski
Jes Schrom
Melody Her
Mary Randa
Raechel Lungstrom
Suzanne Lungstrom
Lisa Pillow
David Okar
Colette MacIver
Emmy Higgs Matzner
Jaz Lorentzen
Kimberly Berglund
Hamza Dudgeon
Andrew Fussy
David Weingartner
Robynne Limoges
Sandy Rhein
Markus Flynn
Tracy Cole
Jumoke Hinton
Sister Laura Northcraft
Jennifer Davis
Nora H
Donna Barrett
Lisa Hollenbach
Gerry Milliken
Noel Barnes
Michael Herbert
Kathy Michaelson
Sonia Walters
Cornelia Teed
janna piper
Michael Lombardi
russ ziegler
John Astaunda
russ ziegler
Lilah Grubb
Julia Price
Sierra Krueger-Wolfe
franny db
Emi Gacaj
olive norvell
elise legler
Heidi Adelsman
Carl Johnson
kristi stewart
jonathan weinstock
Naomi Hertsgaard
Meta Herrick Carlson
Faith Dietz
Martha Higuera
Rie Gilsdorf
Eileen McIsaac
Angela Wucherpfennig
Tracy Cole
Tracy Cole
Nancy Peterson
Ellen Morrison
Pamela Isham
Laurissa Wredberg
Michelle Warneke
Justin Donner
Laura Moen-Ftacek
Jennifer Gitschier
Nekima Levy Armstrong
Sonia Walters
Denis Zastera
Barbara Tarrant
Avi Rosen
John Gebretatose
Morgan Berg
Alisa Boston
Tamara Tinkham
Azia Brown
Jennifer Gilreath
Michelle Gross
Maria Kamenska
Lauren Murdock
Sara Katz
William Hassig
Rocquelle Woods
catherine podojiil
Paul Eisenberg
Kyra Ostendorf
janna piper
Susana Elizarraraz
Elaine Wells
Sarah Goebel
Lichelle Green
Holly Kragthorpe
Kimberly Weichbrodt
Maria Cisneros
Tiffany Rapplean
Sheilah Kavaney
Brandon White
Daniel Sellers
Daniel Sellers
ANNE E WALLICK-BAUHOF
Maureen Kelleher
Alyssa Bonnac
JACQUELINE ERICKSON
Theresa Bernard
Chase Hammond
Manuel Ruiz
Kathy Watson
Tiffini Flynn Forslund
Erika Hernandez (she/her)
Bernita Bradley
Hibo Muse
Waris Abdullahi
Joshua Crosson
Andrea Roethke
Monserrat Candelaria
Stephanie Cholensky
Christopher Stewart
Joanne Barrett
Rob Samuelson
Sarah Besseling
Michael Kedor
Phoenix Shadow Of Moon
Amanda Gerber
Zorica Stancevic
Cayla Baumann
Paula Luxenberg
Stephanie Romine
John Swanson
Jen Antila
Rasheda Jenkins
Stephanie Gil
iris hernandez
IVONNE HERNANDEZ
Kathleen Ganley
Roseanne Lais
Greg King
Kim Hollie
Jasmine Garza
Maria Whitt
Manuel Sanchez
Kathy Cook
Katherine McNulty
Adriana Cerrillo
Sara Freeman
Ronald Brown
Joe Nathan
Lauren Murdock
Jacquelyn Thomas
Kathy Shores
Carolyn Vaughan
Manrouf Chanfi
Tonya Draughn
John Nettleton
Sharon Burge
Brad Duell
V Evan
Stephanie Verdin
Russell Ziegler
russ ziegler
David Greenberg
Bea Momsen
Roslynn Budoff
Kimberly Anderson
dana Bleckinger
Robert Brown
Anita Jackson
Peter Townsend
Jason Crawford
Darren Beck
Noel Barnes
Monica Allen
Kate Hermann-Wu
Ailsa Hermann-Wu
Sandy Rhein
simuel bell
Nancy Carl
Joseph Quintana
Gordon Wright
Paul Eisenberg
Sara Mann
Robert Fladger
Sharif El-Mekki
Leslie Weber
Elizabeth Enright
Tania Malven
janna piper
Amy Ertresvaag
Alison Moore
April Smith
Nicolas O'Cleirigh
Alyssa Woods
Shirley Carter
Jessica Hoida
Natalie Weaver
Rachel Nieves
Ikhlas Saleem
Dwane Martin
Brittany Barrett
Maisie Richardson
Delinia Parris
Heather Anderson
Tanesha Peeples
Lisa Clemons
Del Matra Jones
Sara Wagner
Kimberly Milliard
Lokundo Lohese
Bryan Milliard
Bethany Waldron
AJ Bantley
Amatullah Bantley
Jenny Jendro
Amatullah Bantley
Myisha Holley
Rebecca Baures
Aaliyah Hodge
Jennie Skancke
KATHRYN MARROW
Jerrell Perry
Emilie Valenti
anna berowski
Adriana Cerrillo
Zakiya Sankara-Jabar
Khulia Pringle
Zakiya Sankara-Jabar
Nish John
Joshua Stewart