What, Why, and How the Multi-Gen Approach is Special

When a family loses their home, it is rarely an isolated event triggered by a single setback. It is usually the result of challenges and inequities that span generations. Moreover, studies have shown that the disruption, stress, and chaos of unstable housing can create compounding, lifelong disadvantages – especially for children – that help perpetuate the cycle.

At FMF, we believe that addressing the needs and development of the whole family is crucial to breaking the cycle of homelessness and enabling a family to thrive. That's why we center our work around a two-generational – now, often multi-generational model – that simultaneously invests in the well-being, skills, and stability of both children and their adult caregivers. Rather than treating symptoms one person at a time, the research-backed multi-gen approach recognizes that a parent's economic stability strengthens their child's development, and a child's growth reinforces the resilience of subsequent generations.

For our youngest guests, early intervention is everything. We offer all children age-appropriate developmental screenings shortly after entering our program and encourage parents to take advantage of this resource. These screenings allow us to identify gaps early and collaborate with parents and caregivers to create individualized plans that connect children to specialized services – including occupational, behavioral, and speech therapy – through our network of trusted community partners. This also affords opportunities to educate and mentor adults on how to support their children and advocate on their behalf.

Our Children Services team works with volunteers to maintain a fun and safe learning environment for toddlers and preschoolers while parents attend evening programming. We help school-age children stay on track with their peers through our volunteer-led Study Buddies program, which offers homework help plus literacy and STEAM enrichment. We also help families connect with quality childcare, aftercare, and summer camps, and teen guests are invited to participate in our Teen Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a bridge to the future: college tours, leadership development, career exploration, and workforce readiness programming designed to open doors that systemic hardship can so often close.

This focus on children makes FMF different from other programs for families experiencing homelessness. Of course, a family can’t thrive if parents or caregivers are struggling.

Our adult guests work alongside dedicated case managers to set goals around housing, employment, and long-term self-sufficiency. Beyond one-on-one case management, we offer a rich range of workshops – covering financial literacy, tenant and landlord rights, workforce readiness, and more. Programs like self-enrichment & care and community support groups also ensure that guests have space to process, connect, and heal – not just plan and work.

Additionally, we offer programs and resources on child development and parent/child attachment. We know homelessness places enormous strain on family relationships and strengthening the bond between caregivers and children is itself a powerful protective factor. We also try to feature programming like healthy cooking demonstrations where families can participate together, providing space to learn and grow alongside each other.

What makes this model work in practice is its flexibility. Every family that comes through FMF's doors carries a unique constellation of strengths, challenges, and goals. Our multi-gen approach is not a one-size-fits-all curriculum — it's a framework for truly tailored support. Case managers and coordinators work closely with each family member individually, ensuring that referrals are relevant and timely, that programming feels accessible rather than overwhelming, and that everyone is given the opportunity to thrive. Critically, all these services and referrals are provided at no cost to our guests — made possible in large part by the generosity of community volunteers and partners who share our belief that every family deserves a real shot at stability.

This model might be rare, but the results are not. Evidence from organizations like the Aspen Institute documents how integrated, family-centered models produce better outcomes across health, education, economic mobility, and housing stability in comparison to siloed, individual-focused interventions. While we continue to advocate for families here in Durham, we also encourage more organizations serving families to adopt a multi-generational model to ensure that our communities build strong foundations and adequate support for all.