When we talk about supporting students experiencing homelessness, prevention is the focus at Rainier Beach High School. During a recent site visit with our philanthropic and community partners, school leaders, and family support workers, we discussed how the Upstream Project is helping identify and address housing instability before it disrupts learning.
From Reaction to Prevention
At its core, the Upstream Project shifts the focus from reaction to prevention. Too often, schools only find out a student is struggling with housing instability after it’s already affecting attendance, grades, or well-being. By then, it’s often too late for early intervention. Upstream changes that trajectory by using a student-centered screening tool to spot early warning signs of housing instability, even among students who seem to be doing fine on the surface.
With that information, educators and community partners can step in with the right supports at the right time, whether it’s flexible funding for a family’s rent, help with basic needs, or connection to longer-term resources.
Building Hope and Opportunity
Principal Annie Patu described how Upstream strengthens Rainier Beach’s vision for both academic and community success:
“Upstream has been really valuable in conveying the message and vision I see for this community: one that’s inclusive, where kids and families can see themselves in different spaces. Our job in the building is to build up those skill sets for our students and connect them to opportunities. That’s what gives people hope.”
That vision extends beyond the classroom. As part of the Upstream partnership, Rainier Beach staff can now respond immediately when a student or family faces a crisis. Crystal, a family support worker, described the difference that makes:
“Having a direct resource in the building means we can immediately help a student when a barrier comes up. Whether it’s rental assistance or meeting a basic need, we can act fast and build trust with families who might otherwise hesitate to ask for help.”
Trust and Connection at the Heart of Support
That trust is at the heart of the Upstream model. Families facing housing instability often encounter complex systems and red tape before receiving support. By embedding resources and decision-making directly in schools, Upstream ensures help comes from the people who already know and care for the students.
“When a parent knows the person helping them is also the one teaching or supporting their child,” Crystal shared, “it builds connection and dignity. It’s not just about fixing a crisis. It’s about belonging.”
The impact reaches far beyond the school walls.
Prevention Creates Lasting Change
Building Changes Executive Director, Mehret Tekle-Awarun, reflected on how prevention builds lasting opportunity, “Crisis is reactionary. Prevention is planning. And for communities like Rainier Beach, that planning creates sustainability. It’s more than just money; it’s about hope, stability, and seeing a future for yourself and your family.”
By identifying students earlier, schools can not only prevent homelessness but also open doors to college and career pathways. For Principal Patu, that’s the ultimate goal:
“If I can not only get students to graduation, but also help them begin to think about what they want to do with their lives, that changes the trajectory for their families too. Prevention is also acceleration.”
A Model for the Future
The Upstream Project, piloted at Rainier Beach in partnership with Chapin Hall and the Raikes Foundation, offers a powerful blueprint for how schools can help stop homelessness before it starts. It is a model built on collaboration, equity, and trust, showing what’s possible when schools and communities come together to invest in prevention.
As one partner put it during the visit, “Students deserve more than reaction. They deserve prevention.”
