Geography: Oregon

Housing as a Foundational Element of Family Well-Being

Housing as a Foundational Element of Family Well-Being shares key insights and lessons from a six‑month national learning collaborative convened by Casey Family Programs, CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing), and Chapin Hall. Developed in response to growing evidence that housing instability and family homelessness are major drivers of child welfare system involvement, the cohort created a shared learning space for state housing and child welfare leaders to align policy, practice, and resources in an increasingly complex funding and policy environment.

Cross-sector leadership teams from New Jersey, Colorado, Kentucky, and Oregon participated in peer learning, tailored technical assistance, and state‑hosted site sessions that highlighted innovations, surfaced challenges, and advanced practical solutions. By the end of the cohort, participants reported new ways of thinking about housing as a prevention strategy—reframing housing needs for decisionmakers, identifying cost‑saving opportunities, and exploring how to blend and braid funding to better support families. This brief captures those insights to inform policymakers, practitioners, and advocates working to strengthen family well‑being and prevent unnecessary child welfare involvement.

Twenty years ago, CSH developed the FUSE (Frequently Used Systems Engagement) model to deliver a transformative solution that aligns housing, health, and justice systems to provide supportive housing and coordinated care. With a proven track record of success, FUSE has become a national model for cross-sector collaboration and data-driven intervention.

For 20 years, CSH has partnered with communities across the country to identify people with complex needs who frequently cycle through emergency systems—such as shelters, hospitals, and jails—and connect them to the housing and services they need to break the cycle, achieve stability, and thrive.

This brief highlights 4 communities that have successfully implemented FUSE. Partners share their lessons learned and the lasting impact that FUSE has had on systems, residents, and communities.