Family homelessness can have a devastating impact on children. Studies show that 2.5 million children experience homelessness every year. The toxic stress these children face can have long-term effects on their wellbeing and future success, impacting their ability to learn and their physical and mental health. It’s a crisis that is growing: the latest report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development indicates a 16 percent increase in homelessness among families with children from 2022 to 2023.

Family Promise is the leading national organization combating family homelessness. Founded in 1988, Family Promise has empowered local affiliates to serve families through eviction prevention, shelter diversion, shelter stabilization, and housing programs.

Clayton and Family Promise share the belief that every family deserves a safe, secure home. When children have a stable place to call home, they have a better chance to create a bright future.

This is why in 2019 Clayton and Family Promise established A Future Begins at Home®, an innovative prevention program that addresses the underlying causes of family homelessness and helps families facing housing insecurity remain in their homes or secure stable housing. Through innovative grants to Family Promise affiliates and home donations, A Future Begins at Home enables families facing housing insecurity to remain in their homes or secure stable housing. When the program was first introduced, less than half of the Family Promise network offered homelessness prevention services. Thanks to the funding for A Future Begins at Home, close to 90 percent of the network is now engaged in prevention work, offering life-changing support that allows families in crisis to avoid experiencing homelessness.

Last year, the program helped a family in Michigan after the mother developed a high-risk pregnancy and was unable to work. Thanks to A Future Begins at Home funding, Family Promise was able to offer ongoing case management services, assist with rent, and ensure the family remained stably housed.

Through A Future Begins at Home, Clayton has supported more than 7,000 families at risk of experiencing homelessness, including more than 14,000 children, through case management, rental assistance, landlord mediation, transportation and childcare support, and other important resources. The program has catalyzed nearly $12 million in partner funding, generating additional reach and impact. More than 80 percent of families who receive assistance through A Future Begins at Home continue to have stable housing long-term.

In addition to providing grant funding, Clayton donated 16 Clayton Built® homes to provide stable housing for families who have graduated from Family Promise programs and are working toward housing stability. Nine of these homes have been used for transitional housing, which bridges the gap from homelessness to permanent housing, helping many families for years to come.

In 2024, our partnership aims to prevent more than 4,000 families and 8,000 children from becoming homeless through 75 homelessness prevention and stabilization grants and two transitional home donations.

Clayton and Family Promise believe that all families deserve stable housing. Our partnership aligns with Clayton’s commitment to be a force for good where we live and work, in part by empowering individuals and families to build a better future.

Learn more about Clayton's social responsibility efforts at claytonhomes.com/social-responsibility