LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Many young Kentucky students have an unseen challenge weighing on them at school: Where are they going to sleep that night?

A new transitional housing program is hoping to lift that weight.

Kristy Flippins, CEO of behavioral health services program Option to Success Family Services, spearheaded the new Maupin Transitional Housing Program. In partnership with Maupin Elementary School and several organizations like House to Home and New Directions, four families received new transitional housing.

"They will receive mental health services, case management, job placement, monthly programs to help them with just daily skills of credit building, resume building (and) finances," Flippins said.

Principal Allyson Vitato said removing life constraints impacting students can be a game-changer for learning and she's grateful to be apart of the new program.

"It's our job at the school to identify any needs of our families and help to overcome them so that all of our students can be prepared to learn and their minds can be open to learn and not worrying about the next meal or where they're going to go to sleep that night," Vitato said.

There's a total of four apartments available for four families to live in in the Parkland neighborhood, all of which are in walking distance of Maupin.

One of the mothers who has been selected to participate said it's been overwhelming but it feels like a dream come true to get this opportunity. The organizations helping launch the program hosted an open house Monday for stakeholders and the media to get a look inside one of the units.

Flippins said after families complete the program, they will receive a voucher for permanent housing.

"But it doesn't just stop there, because we actually want them to become homeowners," she said. "They will actually continue on in the process, hopefully connect with House to Home and be able to purchase a house and be homeowners."

Maupin's principal highlighted the multi-generational impact this opportunity could have.

"The changes that can be made through this program can impact not only our current Maupin students but generations to come in their families," Vitato said.

While it starts with four families, the partners in this program hope to see it expand, including Kentucky's lieutenant governor.

"I cannot think of a better way to celebrate this kind of progress than to say it's a model and we need this everywhere," Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said.

Flippins hopes these families will be able to move on to more permanent living situations come July.

If you are a Maupin Elementary family interested in participating, you can contact Vitato or Maupin's assistant principal.

Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.