Home-Field Advantage: How Transitional Housing Paves the Pathway to Long-Term Stability for Families Experiencing Homelessness

In football, the term “home field advantage” refers to the benefits a team receives when playing in its own stadium. Listed among those benefits are: 1) reduced fatigue from travel to help ensure optimal outcomes, 2) familiarity with their home turf to enhance their performance, and 3) the support of their fans to boost morale. In the game of life, home-field advantage can benefit families experiencing homelessness, as well. In this instance, home-field advantage relates to transitional housing, and the shining trophy at the end of the battle waged on that field is long-term stability. The team at Rainbow Village – a transitional housing and transformational programming nonprofit in Duluth, Georgia – bears witness to the gains its residents make due to the home-field advantage its program provides. It’s not so different from a series of first downs, ultimately leading to a touchdown.

Reduced Fatigue

Homelessness – and the journey that led them there – can take a significant toll on a family. Compounded by fear, it’s exhausting cobbling together enough money to purchase a hotel room for the night, tucking away their pride to ask friends and family members to let them sleep on a sofa or in a guest room, or finding a safe parking spot to catch a few hours of shut-eye without being disturbed. Oftentimes, the parents go to work and the kids go to school, and then the challenge of where to rest their heads cycles back around each night. For those who opt to stay in an emergency shelter for the night, sleep can be hard to come by. When at capacity, shelters often present crowded conditions where clients come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from chronically homeless individuals who suffer from addiction or mental illness to families who suffered a string of misfortunes that left them unhoused.

Unlike emergency shelters, transitional housing programs are often tailored to a specific segment of the homeless population and involve an application process. When accepted into a transitional housing program, the client will likely receive more private quarters and an allotted amount of time to help them get back on their feet. For example, Rainbow Village exclusively serves families with children, providing them with an apartment of their own for a nominal monthly fee, paired with life skills classes, career and financial counseling, success coaching, and a sense of community for up to two years. In that time, families can take a beat and recover from the traumatic impact of their recent experience with homelessness while making the connections, learning the skills, and receiving the tools that will equip them for a self-sufficient lifestyle beyond the borders of Rainbow Village.

CASE STUDY: MARIA

Maria* was a 22-year-old single mother of three when her life fell into crisis. In 2021, she became homeless after the father of her children forced them out of their home. Having grown up in foster care without a strong support network, Maria found herself stranded, unsure where to turn. Fear and uncertainty kept her up at night as she called shelter after shelter, looking for refuge in a world that felt overwhelming. She eventually found shelter at Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, where she stayed for a year. While there, she learned essential life skills and began to stabilize her situation. However, Maria knew that more healing and growth were needed to ensure her family’s future. A year later, Home of Hope referred her to Rainbow Village.

When Maria first arrived at Rainbow Village, she was looking for structure, direction, and a chance to transform her life. At the time, she was working at Taco Bell, earning $13.75 an hour, with no high school diploma, a poor credit score, and less than a dollar in savings. During her time at Rainbow Village, Maria began turning things around — first by securing a better-paying job at RaceTrac, then by improving her credit score, and eventually by building her savings to $8,000. She also earned her high school diploma — a significant milestone in securing a stable future for her children. At Rainbow Village, Maria learned to take initiative, hold herself accountable for her goals, appreciate the help offered to her, and make the most of every opportunity. Her transformation stands as a powerful example of resilience, perseverance, and hope for a new beginning.

Enhanced Performance Through Familiarity

Another significant home-field advantage of transitional housing can be found in acquainting residents with the promise their lives hold. Being handed the keys to their own apartment is a powerful thing, often eliciting tears and shows of gratitude. As they settle in, a growing familiarity with their surroundings makes it clear that they never want to return to the life that led them there. There’s a willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain a home of their own. The parent(s) put in the work of goal setting with their success coach and begin taking steps to improve their situation – saving money, paying off debt, improving credit scores, finding better employment, gaining the education they need, and so much more. Meanwhile, the children are educated in financial literacy, surrounded by friends and supporters who boost their confidence, and encouraged to explore their individual talents to plot a course for a bright future.

Familiarity also relates to the people they encounter along their path to self-sufficiency. First and foremost, there must be a commitment to promoting a sense of dignity, respect, and privacy on the part of the residents by the transitional housing facility’s staff. Secondly, as is the case at Rainbow Village, they may receive mentoring from a program graduate, with whom they can relate through shared experiences. They can also build connections with people who are poised to inspire them and make a meaningful impact in their lives, such as a mental health counselor, a potential employer, or a mortgage loan officer.

CASE STUDY: SHELBY

When Shelby* first came to Rainbow Village, she was a single mother with two young children, looking for stability, guidance, and a way forward. During her time in the program, Shelby forged powerful relationships that opened up new possibilities for her future — including a strong connection with Hilda, a Realtor with RUDHIL.

Recently, Shelby was pre-approved for a mortgage on a new home but chose to wait until her financial situation was more stable, putting peace and financial stability first for her family. Shortly after, she received an invitation from Habitat for Humanity to apply for their homeowners’ program — a path toward securing a permanent home for her children.

Shelby turned in her application along with all the necessary paperwork. In turn, another key connection forged through Rainbow Village Rhonda Streat, Habitat for Humanity’s Director of Homeowner Services reached out for additional information. While there’s strong competition for these homes, Shelby stands out because of her progress, perseverance, and the support network that’s cheered her on. The relationships and mentoring Shelby found at Rainbow Village may make all the difference in turning her dream of homeownership into a reality.

Support of Fans Boosts Morale

It takes a lot of strength to endure and overcome homelessness. But a quarterback can’t win the game alone. He needs a solid team around him and fans in the stands, cheering them on to victory. The transitional housing program at Rainbow Village is enhanced by programming, intentionally crafted to support the success of the families it serves. Not merely focused on the resident quarterback – aka the head of the household- it also focuses on strengthening the entire team, aka the family. With everyone playing from the same playbook and focused on the same goals, the likelihood of success is far greater. As for the fans in the stands, the support staff at a transitional housing program plays a key role in not merely equipping each family with the tools required to succeed, but also in keeping spirits high. With a solid support system around them, no matter the challenge, they believe they can achieve just about anything.

Support from Rainbow Village doesn’t end upon graduation from the program. Through its THRIVE program, graduates receive additional tailored support from their Success Coaches to ensure continued success. Potential services provided can include, but are not limited to, financial counseling, mentoring, and rental assistance.

CASE STUDY: ASHLEY

A proud Rainbow Village graduate and widowed mother of four, Ashley’s* story is a testament to perseverance and the support of our organization during her journey to self-sustainability. Despite financial hardships, Ashley successfully met additional savings goals she set with her Success Coach on multiple occasions and continued to grow her emergency fund, even after losing her job in the spring of 2025. With guidance from the Rainbow Village team, Ashley stayed engaged in her employment search, securing a full-time Patient Care Technician position at Piedmont Eastside in April 2025 at $20.80 per hour, alongside survivor’s benefits of $964 per month.

Ashley is currently pursuing her long-term goal of homeownership through the Aspire Housing Stability Program and recently submitted her application to Habitat for Humanity. Her children are thriving, too: her oldest son made the Dean’s List two semesters in a row, her youngest successfully finished 5th grade and is excited to start middle school in August, and her middle child is staying active with football camp and a new summer job. Ashley’s progress — and her children’s growing confidence — reflects the powerful, life-changing support provided by Rainbow Village.

A Resounding Need

Dallas-based nonprofit, Family Gateway, reveals that families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, accounting for more than 40% of the nation’s homeless. Lack of affordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness among families. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reports that, at the minimum wage, people would have to work 86 hours a week to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. According to the National Relief Program, studies report high success rates among graduates of well-implemented transitional housing programs, with 73% to 86% moving directly to permanent living situations. At Rainbow Village, that statistic consistently stands at 94%.

Like many nonprofit organizations, transitional housing programs rely on grants and donations from corporations and individuals to continue to provide critical services to individuals and families in need. Instead of sitting in the stands or on the sidelines, consider getting in the game. You could have a hand in bringing home a WIN for a family overcoming the trauma of homelessness. Research transitional housing programs in your area and consider supporting them through volunteerism or donations. If you’re based in the Metro Atlanta area, learn more about Rainbow Village, its mission, and the many ways you can show your support at www.RainbowVillage.org.