The following is the Turn the Curve Action Plan submitted by Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy for the Racial Equity Turn the Curve Poster Contest (2021)

Student suggestions on what works:

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.

Limiting/Negative Factors (Factors Pushing the Trend Down):

• Poverty
• Mental and substance use disorders
• Trauma and violence
• Domestic violence
• Justice-system involvement
• Sudden serious illness

Positive Factors (Factors pushing the trend up):

• Freedom of waking up in nature
• No rent, mortgage, or bills to pay
• The feeling of having nothing to lose
• Landlords build municipal shelters
• Cash, medical, or SNAP benefits
• Emergency housing
• Factors creating disparities
• Lack of Financial Literacy
• The Pandemic Stagnant wages
• Unemployment
• High housing and healthcare costs
• Racial inequality
• Systemic failure

Priority Factors

• Food and Shelter Insecurity
• Income Insecurity
• Healthcare Insecurity
• Basic Need Insecurity

Partners That Can Help Turn the Curve:

• Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
• Pacific Garden Mission
• La Casa Norte Resurrection project
• City Colleges of Chicago
• Spanish Coalition for Housing

Potential Strategies to address the priority factors (evidence-based, promising practices, low cost/no cost, and off the wall):

• Strategies to Reduce Racial Disparities
• Organization(s) Responsible
• Social media campaign and Community Outreach
• Chicago Coalition For The Homeless
• Provide access to affordable housing
• La Casa Norte
• Financial Literacy Classes
• Resurrection Project
• A homeless shelter
• Pacific Garden Mission
• Pursuing free higher Education with the STAR scholarship
• City Colleges of Chicago
• Foreclosure prevention, homebuyer education, financial education, and energy assistance
• Spanish Coalitions for Housing