Improving Education Outcomes for Dena’s Daughter

September 12, 2024

Back-to-school time is an exciting time for many families. But for some Durham families, back-to-school time can mean more anxiety than excitement. 

Dena is a single mother to her young daughter, Adria. With Adria in school, she worried that their lack of stable housing would effect her learning and future.  

As rents rose, the family had to move frequently. Because of this, Adria attended multiple elementary schools in a short period of time. The housing that they could afford was small and felt unsafe, and Dena and her daughter often had to share a living space with others.  

Sharing a space with others made it difficult for Adria to complete her homework and practice her reading. Dena worried that her daughter would fall behind the other students.  

Dena was right to be worried. You see, the research is clear. The location and condition of a child’s home play a significant role in their physical, cognitive, and emotional development, which impacts their education.  

Living in a crowded household can lead to loud study environments, sleep disturbances, and behavioral problems. Children from low-income households who move more than once in the early elementary years have lower reading and math scores. Adolescents living in overcrowded housing are less likely to graduate from high school. These negative effects of housing instability are long-lasting. 

That’s why Habitat for Humanity of Durham is passionate about providing more stable home environments, but we need your help to do this. 

While Dena worked hard to save what she could for Adria’s school expenses, most of her income went to rent, utilities, and other household costs…until moving into her Durham Habitat home. Now they feel blessed, grateful, and excited for the future! 

Habitat homeownership provides: 

• Consistency and stability, versus the instability of moving regularly
• Higher quality, healthier homes that free up resources spent on healthcare
• Safer communities with better schools and more resources
• Removes barriers of under-housing/overcrowding 

Studies have drawn a line between owning a decent, affordable, and stable home and experiencing positive educational outcomes. Below, you can help provide the stability that allows homeowners to minimize disruption to their children’s education. 

This fall, as the new school year begins, Dena is so grateful for your commitment to Durham Habitat and to neighbors in need. That’s why we need your help.