We are continuing our informational toolkit series, created to provide context and clarity about family homelessness in both New York City and nationwide. These resources highlight the realities families face while offering practical insight into the policies and solutions that can make a difference.

Our newest releases include:

Fact Sheet: The Hidden Homeless: Families with Children in the U.S.

An overview of family homelessness nationwide with a focus on the drivers of family homelessness, its geographic variation, and potential short- and long-term solutions.

Guide to Commonly Used Terms and Acronyms in Homelessness and Housing Policy (NYC and National)

A helpful reference to navigate the terms and acronyms frequently used in the family homelessness field for those new to the field, allies interested in addressing the issue, or as a handy reference. The guide covers government agency names, laws, public policies, terms, and acronyms often found in research, articles, laws, websites, and conversations about family homelessness in NYC and nationally.

In case you missed it, check out our fact sheet, Family Homelessness 101: New York City, a primer on the immediate drivers of family homelessness in NYC, its impact on children, and the additional challenges families face beyond the lack of permanent housing.

We’ve been hearing growing interest in “purpose-built shelters” across the country. Recently, we attended an informative webinar on this topic from Win, a leading provider of shelter and supportive housing in NYC, and wanted to share it with you.

Unlike shelters adapted from hotels or apartments, purpose-built shelters are designed from the ground up to meet the specific needs of families experiencing homelessness. They draw on lessons from past models and prioritize supportive programming.

The Ruby Dee Family Shelter, Win’s newly developed site in the Bronx, shows how purpose-built, trauma-informed design can transform the shelter experience. This virtual tour—in webinar form—highlights how thoughtful architecture fosters dignity, safety, and opportunity. The model prioritizes both immediate shelter and long-term wellbeing, setting a new standard for how environments can empower families.

Tell us what topics you would like us to cover and email us at INFO@ICPH.org to share your latest research, webinars, resources, or stories—we may highlight it in a future newsletter.

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