At the Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County, we proactively create community, fairly distribute funds and openly advocate for the emotional and social well‑being of Jackson County children. We’re honored to spotlight Avenue of Life as a funded partner focused on ending student homelessness. Their success is our success.
Who is Avenue of Life?
Avenue of Life exists to mobilize the community to equip and empower families to be self‑sustained and independent. Using a collective‑impact model, the organization brings school districts and service partners together so families can access housing, therapy, employment supports and more, in one coordinated pathway. In its early years piloting this model, Avenue of Life helped cut student homelessness nearly in half, with 95% of families who secure permanent housing remaining stably housed, evidence that coordinated care works.
Today, Avenue of Life’s work includes collaborative efforts that serve Kansas City Public Schools and charter schools in Jackson County, bringing providers on‑site so families don’t have to navigate dozens of referrals on their own.
“Our mission is to mobilize our community and empower low income individuals and families to be self-sustained and independent. Our strategy is a multi‑generational strategy to move individuals out of poverty.” — Cameron Erlandson, Chief Communications Officer
Where CSF funding is focused: Transitional Housing, Therapy & Case Management
When families lose housing, or are fleeing unsafe situations, Avenue of Life can place them in short‑term, transitional settings (including hotel placements as needed) while Navigators (licensed social workers and case managers)coordinate a longer‑term solution. This immediate stability keeps kids in school and safer while next steps come together.
The CSF funding helps Avenue of Life staff a Therapeutic Navigator (in‑house therapist) who provides counseling, crisis support and handoffs to clinical partners. This role integrates mental‑health care with case plans so families address trauma while working toward stable housing.
Avenue of Life’s Navigators guide families through a proven framework that looks across 16 life domains (from housing, income and employment to childcare, mental health, legal needs, transportation and safety). This two‑generation approach ensures both children and caregivers are supported.
A story of impact: “Tasha”*
When “Tasha” and her two children were living in a car after fleeing domestic violence, a school liaison referred them to Avenue of Life. “We immediately that day put the family in a hotel and then, through our partnership with reStart, gave them a transitional living opportunity,” shares Cameron Erlandson, Chief Communications Officer. “She was working even while living in a car.” From the start, Avenue of Life surrounded the family with holistic supports: a Therapeutic Navigator helped them process trauma, Navigators used the Arizona Self-Sufficiency Matrix to map out needs across 16 domains and brought agencies directly to the family and staff made sure they had food, clothing, hygiene supplies and even car repairs while keeping the children connected to their school of origin for stability. “They were able to maintain going to school, access the mental-health resources they needed and they were able to stay safe. Today they’re thriving, they’re doing great,” Erlandson says. And the commitment goes beyond immediate crisis: “We commit to that family, until the youngest child graduates high school. If something comes up, they can call us before they enter into homelessness. We call that prevention.”
*Name changed for privacy.
What students facing homelessness experience—and how barriers come down
Students experiencing homelessness carry heavy burdens: anxiety, fear and shame. Avenue of Life’s integrated model protects instructional time, reduces traumatic stressors and ensures access to mental‑health support.
Avenue of Life conducts a deep intake and tracks progress across the 16 domains, with a constant eye on school attendance, stable housing and family well‑being. Their collective‑impact pilots in Kansas City, Kansas have shown more than a 50% reduction in student homelessness in under three years and strong housing retention, key indicators the model is working and adaptable for Jackson County.
Looking ahead
Avenue of Life plans to deepen work with school districts and charter networks in Jackson County, growing capacity for navigators and therapeutic support so more families move from crisis to stability, faster.
“The CSF is a foundational partner. Their support lets us address critical needs, transitional housing, therapy and the staff to walk with families for the long haul.” — Cameron Erlandson, Chief Communications Officer
Want to stand with kids experiencing homelessness in our community? Learn more about Avenue of Life and explore other CSF‑funded partners serving Jackson County families.
