Held and Housed: Protecting Maternal and Infant Well-Being from the Harms of Homelessness

This September 2026 webinar gave participants an in-depth look at the human toll homelessness takes on maternal and child health and how, with the right support, families can flourish. This webinar examined how homelessness and gaps in maternal, perinatal, and infant care reinforce one another, and why solutions must cross sectors that too often work in isolation. Presenters explored approaches that treat stable housing and quality maternal and infant care not as separate goals, but as intertwined foundations for family stability and thriving communities. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the damaging effects homelessness has on pregnant people and families with young children and how states and communities are working across sectors to provide the safety and stability these families need. Jami Helmig, PhD Student and Parent Leader, Warren Village alumni and Johns Hopkins University Kanika Harris, Executive Director, The National Association to Advance Black Birth (NAABB) Erin Patterson, Director, Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, SchoolHouse Connection Paige Klemme, Assistant Professor of Research, Director of Healthy Beginnings at Home, Grassroots MCH Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Indiana University Tyese Lawyer, President and CEO, Our House