4.7 Supporting Undocumented Families and Youth Speaker: Sage Foster It is often unclear what programs can be accessed by families and youth who are undocumented. This workshop will explore eligibility criteria for homelessness programs for undocumented residents, and protections in the law for immigrant victims of domestic violence. Presenters will also share strategies local providers have adopted to reach out to undocumented families and youth experiencing homelessness.

1. 4.7 Supporting Undocumented Family
and Youth
NAEH National Conference on Ending
Families and Youth Homelessness
Los Angeles, February 8-10, 2012
Sage B. Foster, M Ed, MPH
Housing Partnership Manager
Abode Services
(510) 552-6927
sfoster@abodeservices.org

2. Essential Elements of a Welcoming
Program for Undocumented Families
• Bi-lingual staff at the Front Door!
• Clarity of what the program provides and
eligibility requirements.
• All program descriptions/materials available in
Spanish.
• Culturally competent staff with the ability to build
rapport/trust.
• Understand that ‘homeless’ may not be how
households identify themselves.

3. Outreach to Undocumented Families
• Many households will not utilize the 2-1-1 system
and will require targeted community outreach to
access assistance with their housing crisis.
• Meet with staff at monolingual medical clinics
• Contact legal immigration services for referrals
and to make referrals
• Visit Labor Ready Centers to distribute translated
program materials

4. Who are the Undocumented Families
Experiencing a Housing Crisis?
• The ‘working poor’ that can not afford market
rate rents
• People being paid ’under the table’ (cleaning
houses, gardening)
• Those unable to negotiate a livable wage from
employer
• Households with no safety net when laid off or
fired by employer
• Those that are living in places not fit for human
habitation

5. Barriers to Housing/Services
• Fear of requesting assistance due to
undocumented status
• No credit or bad credit history
• Eviction with or without a lease
• Criminal background of a family member
• Lack of trust in non immigrant provider
network
• Fear of breaking up extended families

6. Re-housing Procedures For
Undocumented Families
• Seek out appropriate communities with
culturally supportive services (clinics, stores)
• Education on Housing Processes
– Leasing
– Fair Housing
– Emergency Contacts
– Tenant Responsibilities
– Landlord/Property Management Responsibilities

7. Outcomes of Housing Undocumented
Families
• Having completed 2.5 years of providing Rapid
Re-housing services to undocumented
households in Alameda County, they and/or their
service providers are reporting success in housing
stability and self sufficiency.
• As one housed family reports, “ You made us feel
so safe and gave us a chance to have our own
apartment in the neighborhood we chose to be
in; otherwise we would be sleeping in my uncle’s
car with all the children and now we are
employed and seeking citizenship”.