A new partnership between Fathers & Families Support Center and Washington University in St. Louis is aiming to help Black fathers in St. Louis build long-term stability through housing support, life coaching and economic mobility services.
The initiative, called “Be Men,” focuses on reducing recidivism and helping participants secure stable housing through homeownership or independent rental leases within two years. Organizers say the program is designed to address persistent disparities tied to income, housing access and justice system involvement.
Although statistics specifically tracking housing instability among Black fathers in St. Louis are limited because housing data is typically collected at the household level, broader housing data shows significant racial disparities across the region.
According to housing data cited by the National Equity Atlas and local housing reports, Black renter households in St. Louis are significantly more likely than white households to face severe rent burdens, spending large portions of household income on housing costs.
For Jared Skinner, the program arrived during a difficult period in his life.
Before joining “Be Men,” Skinner said he struggled with self-doubt and depression while trying to establish stability for himself and his son.
“I’ve always been one to handle things on my own or mask when I was on the edge of breaking,” Skinner said.
Now, he said, he is working toward a future that includes financial security, stronger support systems and independent housing.
“This program is focused on long-term stability,” said Oge Oge, a project manager and life coach with the program. “The idea is to remove barriers that prevent people from maintaining employment, supporting their families and securing housing.”
Oge said participants often face overlapping challenges, including inconsistent income, debt and the lingering effects of trauma.
“The most common barriers that I’ve seen relate to establishing consistent, stable income, debt exceeding the income they generate, and generational cycles they have to overcome,” he said.
Through the program, Skinner said his understanding of independence has changed.
“They taught that no man is an island,” he said. “You need people and their unique characteristics to help you in different aspects and stages of life.”
Skinner said the experience challenged beliefs shaped by family, culture and societal expectations.
“I now know a man can ask for help,” he said. “A man can rest and not be judged based on his performance. We’re still human.”
For Skinner, stable housing represents more than simply having a roof overhead.
“Independent housing means cultivating a positive and solid environment,” he said. “Not just maintaining a home, but creating a place where peace is easily found — where it actually feels like home.”
Participant LaRon McGhee said homeownership once felt unattainable as rising rent and limited job opportunities forced him to work multiple jobs while trying to support his children.
“My outlook began to shift,” McGhee said after joining the program.
He said the program helped him focus on long-term goals, including improving his credit, maintaining steady employment and building generational wealth.
The program combines weekly sessions, individualized coaching and access to community resources. Participants also receive support tied to legal services, transportation, financial education, health resources and violence prevention.
“Each week builds on the other,” Oge said. “Over time, we’re helping them either access resources immediately or create a plan to reach them when they’re ready.”
Sean Joe, who leads the Race and Opportunity Lab at Washington University in St. Louis, said the initiative is grounded in research linking stable housing, employment and strong social ties to lower rates of reoffending.
“The strongest protective factors against re-offense are stable employment, secure housing and embedded social ties,” Joe said. “That’s exactly what this program is designed to produce.”
Joe said the partnership is intended to connect academic research with direct community support while tracking outcomes related to housing stability, employment, financial health and recidivism.
The cohort-based program is already underway, with participants meeting weekly and working toward graduation.
For Skinner, stable housing means more than paying rent or owning property. He said he wants to create “a positive and solid environment” where peace can be found and where his son can grow up with stability.