At District Heights Elementary, Families Share Impact of Rental Assistance Program

At District Heights Elementary School, the impact of Community Schools was on full display as Governor Wes Moore visited to hear directly from families whose lives have been stabilized by targeted support.

The visit centered on the Community School Rental Assistance Program, an initiative designed to help families facing housing insecurity. 

Launched in fall 2025, the program quickly revealed the depth of need across Prince George’s County, with hundreds of applications submitted in just weeks and many families ultimately placed on a waitlist.

Inside the school, the conversation was personal.

One parent described how the support arrived at a critical moment, when rising costs had pushed her to the brink of eviction. Through the program, she received help covering rent and utilities, allowing her to regain stability. With guidance from a community schools coordinator and a housing caseworker, she also learned how to budget and manage expenses, easing a burden that had taken a toll on her mental health.

The assistance, she explained, changed more than her finances.

It allowed her to “show up fully” for herself and her child.

At District Heights Elementary, where student mobility is high and families often face sudden hardship, staff play an active role in connecting families to resources. 

Tawana Lane, Community Schools coordinator, shared that outreach happens through trusted channels like ClassDojo, ensuring families know help is available and how to access it.

Principal Tracey Walters said the approach reflects a broader understanding of student success.

“In support of students, we know we are supporting families and communities,” she said. “Community schools has made a big difference here.”

That difference is measurable. 

At District Heights Elementary alone, six families received a combined $68,000 in rental and utility assistance through the program. Countywide, the initiative has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars, but demand continues to outpace available funding.

Gov. Moore emphasized that the work goes beyond traditional academics.

“Education isn’t just about reading, writing and arithmetic,” he said. “Ask: Is the family OK? Schools serve as our strong anchor institutions.”

The program represents a growing collaboration between housing and education partners, the first time such alignment has taken shape at this scale in the county. Administered locally by the Housing Initiative Partnership, the effort connects families directly to support through the schools they already trust.

For Prince George’s County Public Schools, the strategy is clear: meet students’ needs by supporting the whole family.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph underscored the need to better align available resources to drive stronger outcomes for families.

That alignment is set to grow. Community schools funding is expected to increase by 16% next year, and the state has expanded investment in the rental assistance program from $5 million to $11 million.

After meeting with families, the Governor joined students for a visit, reinforcing a message that resonated throughout the day: when schools are equipped to support the full needs of their communities, the results reach far beyond the classroom.