LOS ANGELES - The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is undertaking a five-year initiative to improve housing, health, and development of young homeless and at-risk children by enhancing services and integrating service systems in Los Angeles, CA and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. With matching funds from participating programs, the total investment will be $11.2 million. Strategies and measures proven to be effective through this pilot program will be shared nationally as a roadmap to improve services for homeless children and their families.

The National Center on Family Homelessness, in collaboration with the Child Welfare League of America and the National Alliance to End Homelessness, will act as the Coordinating Center for the initiative, bringing its expertise to the task of selecting program participants, providing training and technical assistance, evaluating what programs work best for whom, and offering other supports to project partners throughout the program period.

"Families now comprise 40 percent of the overall homeless population," said Steven M. Hilton, President and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. "Yet there is a paucity of services and none that really bridge the divide between homeless services and early childhood development sectors. We hope to be a change agent."

The "Strengthening At-Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children Initiative" has two main components: providing direct services for homeless children and mothers, and supporting capacity building and training for local agencies that serve homeless families. By supporting innovative collaborations, the initiative seeks to improve integration of housing/homelessness systems and child development/welfare systems locally, and to develop effective models that can be implemented to improve services nationally.

"Through almost 20 years of working with homeless families, we have a deep understanding of their needs," said Dr. Ellen Bassuk, founder and president of The National Center on Family Homelessness who is also an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "It is paramount that the different social service systems are well aligned if homeless and at-risk families are to receive quality services."

The initiative in Los Angeles, CA and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN will be implemented in each city through local collaborations of housing/homelessness and child development/welfare agencies. Grantees will be expected to raise matching funds for each grant year.
Grant awards will be based on a local collaboration's potential to achieve housing stability, family preservation, improved child well-being, increased mother's well-being and family functioning, greater systems integration, and program sustainability. Particular attention will be given to linkages that support family reunification, curb domestic violence, and provide substance abuse services. To learn more about the grant-making process, please contact The National Center on Family Homelessness in Newton Centre, Massachusetts (617-964-3834) or visit www.familyhomelessness.org.

The Hilton Foundation views this initiative as an outgrowth of a nexus of two of its mission priorities, homelessness and early childhood development, noted Hilton. Its homeless funding includes a $20 million, 13-year commitment to providing supportive housing for the mentally ill homeless. Its funded projects have shown that affordable housing linked to appropriate social services is a proven solution to long-term homelessness. The foundation has a 10-year partnership with the Head Start Bureau and has awarded a total of $38.6 million to create the Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program, a key component in its work with early childhood development.

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur and business leader Conrad N. Hilton, who left his fortune to the foundation with instructions to help the most disadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the world without regard to religion, ethnicity or geography. Based in Los Angeles, the foundation has provided more than $450 million for charitable projects throughout the United States and the world. For more information, visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.

The National Center on Family Homelessness

The National Center on Family Homelessness is the nation's only research and social action organization dedicated solely to helping homeless children and families. By developing model programs, effective services, and innovative technical assistance, The National Center works to stabilize the lives of homeless families. Its mission is to identify what works, educate and inspire, and take action to end family homelessness. Please visit www.familyhomelessness.org or call us at 617-964-3484.

National Alliance to End Homelessness

The National Alliance to End Homelessness works to mobilize the nonprofit, public and private sectors of society in an alliance to end homelessness in America. The Alliance addresses the root causes of homelessness and challenges society's acceptance of homelessness as inevitable. It is dedicated to solving homelessness and preventing its continued growth. For more information, visit www.naeh.org.

Child Welfare League of America

The Child Welfare League of America has been a champion for children since 1920. It is committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting well-being of children, youth, and their families. CWLA envisions a future in which families, neighborhoods, communities, and governments ensure that all children and youth have the resources they need to grow into healthy, contributing members of society. For more information, visit www.cwla.org.

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has assets of over $2.5 billion and was started by the late hotel pioneer. It funds both domestic and international humanitarian efforts and awards the annual $1.5 million Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

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