The holidays are a time when loved ones come together to share traditions and create memories. As we prepare meals, enjoy festive treats, and reflect on the season, it’s important to remember that there are many families and children who are facing housing instability. In fact, housing instability is one of the most pervasive challenges facing families in America today — and it has devastating consequences.

Children experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their housed peers. As evictions rise and affordable housing options become increasingly scarce, the impact ripples across generations–affecting parents’ ability to work, children’s ability to learn, and entire communities’ ability to thrive. Even more concerning: the root causes of instability, like insufficient income and lack of affordable housing, are becoming more severe.

 The national conversation often revolves around immediate relief, such as rental assistance or emergency shelters. This is a critical safety net — but the real solution requires a more comprehensive, long-term strategy for economic well-being. That’s where the Two-Generation (2Gen) approach comes in. The 2Gen approach recognizes that families are not just a collection of individuals, but interconnected systems. It addresses the needs of both children and their parents and caregiver(s) simultaneously, empowering families to stabilize their housing situation, secure better jobs, and ensure their children receive the educational support they need.

As an example of 2Gen in action, consider United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County in south central Texas. Their Dual Generation Initiative coordinates comprehensive solutions for housing, education, child care, and employment.

For one mother, Jessica, the Dual Generation Initiative and their family-centered coaching services provided her with resources to build upon her strengths, earn her high school diploma and bachelor’s degree in education while also providing her affordable, reliable childcare.

 “It’s like a step ladder,” she shared. “If my kids are safe, I could go to school and work; if I can go to work, I can pay my bills.”

This approach disrupts the cycle of poverty and tackles homelessness holistically, creating opportunities that are sustainable and multi-generational.

Whether you view economic opportunity as a pathway to self-sufficiency or believe in providing families with a robust safety net, 2Gen offers common ground. It aligns with both conservative and progressive ideologies — with three-quarters (76%) of voters consistently favoring a 2Gen approach for over a decade — because it invests in families holistically, recognizing their humanity and the complex, dynamic systems around them (Lake Research Partners and the Tarrance Group 2022 midterm election omnibus survey).

According to the 2023 State of the Nation’s Housing report, over 22.4 million households are spending more than a third of their income on rent — a financial strain that puts many at risk of eviction. The shortage of affordable housing is stark in 2024 only 34 affordable rentals are available for every 100 extremely low-income households. 

We are at a pivotal moment in the fight against housing instability. With the highest rates of homelessness in decades and the ongoing aftermath of the pandemic, families need more than stopgap measures–they need systems that invest in their long-term success.

The 2Gen model is that system. It is data-driven, scalable, and proven to work.

At the Siemer Institute, led by Kim Habash Dorniden, we provide funding and resources to over 74 partners in 39 states across the country who implement 2Gen approaches in their communities. Each organization works to uplift entire families by coordinating support across housing, employment, education, and childcare — helping them build stable, resilient futures.

We have seen the impact firsthand: last year, our partners reached just over 20,000 families and 44,000 children using 2Gen approaches. Of these families, two-thirds increased their income, three-quarters obtained or maintained stable housing, and 96% went without a single disruptive school move.

Our partner, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, has long been another galvanizing force in advancing the 2Gen movement over the past 10 years. Nearly 600 innovative organizations in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico have joined their Ascend Network. We’re proud to work together, co-creating and sharing best practices for implementing 2Gen approaches.

If we want to truly address the growing housing crisis and ensure present and future generations have what they need to thrive, we must prioritize solutions that serve families in a holistic way. 2Gen approaches provide a unique opportunity to bridge our nation’s political divides and build intergenerational cycles of success for families.

 By investing in organizations’ 2Gen approaches that serve whole families, and redesigning more holistic, family-centered policies and systems, we can make a lasting impact that ensures stability, opportunity, and success for generations to come.

— Barbara and Al Siemer are the co-founders of the Siemer Institute, an organization dedicated to improving family stability and promoting educational opportunities for children in need.

With a strong belief in the power of community, they have spent decades working to address the root causes of poverty and homelessness, advocating for policies and practices that support vulnerable families.