Submission Details

Presenting Organization: Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy
Submission Title: Education and Security are the Brick and Key to a Strong Home

Submission Overview: Something people should do to avoid homelessness is to stay in school until completing a higher educational degree. Although this can be expensive, there are many opportunities in which scholarships are available to support the dreams of obtaining their education. One of these is called the STAR scholarship which is available to students in CPS or Charter high schools for maintaining a 2.5 GPA. Many students aren’t aware that this scholarship is used to pay for a 2 year college (possibly City Colleges of Chicago), it doesn’t discriminate on gender, race, or immigration status. From there, if the student maintains the same 2.5 GPA throughout their 2 years, there is continued opportunity to use the same scholarship and move onto a 4 year university. At this point, the student obtains a Bachelor’s degree in something of their liking which leads to a career versus a job. When one does something they enjoy, the opportunities are endless. This also moves a person towards reaching the goal of buying and maintaining a home as well as keeping up with associated expenses.

A second thing people should consider is learning how to create a financial plan or budget their money accordingly. To do this, financial literacy programs should be available throughout various educational stages in life. If we are taught how to use our money wisely at a young age, then given the opportunity to experience holding an internship during high school, and pushed into a work-study program in college, we are being provided with the necessary tools to be successful adults.

If none of these opportunities make a difference, or someone is already in a desperate situation, then providing them with access to supportive organizations which provide support in applying for cheap/affordable housing can alleviate the anxiety and worry they face. After all, expensive housing can be a main reason for why people are homeless. Getting updated on where you can rent/buy a place for cheap will really help people out. If this is a resource that is mentioned in parent meetings, school bulletins, church meetings or flyers, local newspapers, and social media, then community members will have more exposure to this resource and therefore a better chance at changing their lives.