With Foundation support, York County Community Action Corporation is using whole-family strategies to help families secure housing and economic stability

A tight housing market and higher costs of living have contributed to a rising number of Mainers – a third of them children under the age of 18 – experiencing homelessness across the state. This trend is especially apparent in York County, which has the state’s second highest rate of homelessness and highest cost of living. According to United Way’s 2023 ALICE report, 40% of households there do not earn high enough incomes to cover the costs of essentials.

York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) sees the toll that housing insecurity and economic instability has on families – and is on the leading edge of responding to these intertwined issues.

For nearly 60 years, YCCAC has provided a range of essential services to those in need, including health care, energy assistance, and family support services. They have long recognized that to achieve sustainable outcomes, it’s important to address the needs of the whole family. They accomplish this through the use of Whole Family Coaches who customize support to set and meet each family’s unique goals.

YCCAC’s experience and services proved vital in May of 2023, when nearly 200 unhoused individuals seeking asylum – including 50 families – came to Sanford. Though their arrival was sudden and unexpected, YCCAC and many community partners acted quickly to help families find housing, enroll their children in school, and connect to resources they needed to find stable footing in community. The coordinated response was not only successful in helping families achieve stability, but also innovative in the way YCCAC combined housing navigation with Whole Family Coaching services.

Since then, the organization has sought to apply those lessons to its broader work for families in the community, bolstering these comprehensive services with the help of a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation. The initiative embodies the two-generation approach, which serves children and the adults in their lives simultaneously, addresses several components of well-being, and treats families as equal partners in the process.

“We meet families where they are, both physically and mentally,” says Tracey Williams, a Whole Family Coach at YCCAC. “We walk the path together, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way.”

Through this initiative, YCCAC assists families who are unhoused and struggling to overcome economic barriers that affect stable employment, health, and education. Families first work with Housing Navigators who help them secure housing through a combination of strategies – including building on existing relationships with landlords, accessing vouchers or General Assistance benefits, and helping with security deposits and gap rental payments as needed.

However, as YCCAC Housing Navigator Jennifer Davie notes, “This work is about more than just finding a home. It’s about building a community and helping families develop the foundation they need to thrive.”

Once a family’s immediate housing needs are met, Whole Family Coaches offer ongoing support and empowerment, partnering with families to identify and achieve their goals with employment and education, as well as overall health and well-being. Leaning on a robust network of partners, the coaches connect families to a range of services in the community, from school enrollment and language classes to food assistance and childcare. Mothers are also eligible for one-on-one health and nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support.

This collaborative approach between Housing Navigators and Whole Family Coaches ensures families do not just receive a list of resources, but instead are getting active guidance throughout the process of securing and maintaining stable housing.

The approach is already showing promising results. Over the last six months, the initiative has housed 28 families – well on the way to hitting a goal of assisting 50 families and 125 children. The initiative is also leading to other positive outcomes. Children of all ages and grade levels are now able focus on their educational success, while their parents access opportunities to pursue their own educational and employment goals.

“We know that for children and families to thrive, basic needs like housing must first be met,” said Leigh Arsenault, Senior Program Associate for the John T. Gorman Foundation. “By combining immediate housing solutions with comprehensive support for families, York County Community Action Corporation is going even further. This innovative two-generation approach has the potential to bring lasting benefits to the children and families YCCAC serves.”