Three Rivers Community Action

Program Highlight: Homework Starts with Home - Rochester Collaboration

Every student deserves a safe place to call home—and Three Rivers is helping make that a reality.

Through the Homework Starts with Home program, students and their families facing homelessness can access critical support to stay housed. In April 2025, John (name changed for confidentiality) faced the threat of eviction despite recently securing stable housing for himself and his daughter. After spending months homeless the previous year, he had invested much of his limited income in legal fees to regain custody, leaving him behind on rent. With rapid rental assistance from Three Rivers Community Action, he was able to bring his account current, maintain his housing, and keep his family together. This support gave John the stability he needed to begin a full-time job, focus on his daughter, and build a stronger, more secure future.

Homework Starts with Home is a statewide grant program designed to prevent and address homelessness among students and their families. Three Rivers was one of four grantees selected, representing a total of $5.8 million in state funding.

In Rochester, the program is delivered through a collaborative effort between Three Rivers, Rochester Public Schools, HOPE Navigators, and Olmsted County HRA. Together, the partners provide outreach, case management, advocacy, and other supportive services to eligible students, their families, and unaccompanied youth. Housing Navigators are embedded within the school district to ensure that, from the first point of contact to stable housing, each student and family receives individualized, tailored support.

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