It's an opportunity lost: Half the families that initially receive a much-coveted Section 8 federal housing voucher in Anoka, Carver and suburban Hennepin and Ramsey counties can't find a home on which to use them.

For those who do find a place, nearly one-quarter settle in areas of concentrated poverty.

Now 45 young families in the throes of this housing search are getting one-on-one counseling and help to make sure they find rental homes in neighborhoods with good schools, lower poverty rates and better odds of success.