INCLUSIVE FAMILY
Talking to
Kids About
Homelessness BY HEATHER M. ROSS
As a parent you want
to protect your child
from the harsh realities
of the world and let
them be a kid for as
long as possible, but
one day the question
will come up. Why is
that person sleeping
outside? Where is
their coat? What
does that sign say?
It Can Happen to Anyone
People become homeless for many rea-
sons. Fleeing violence, loss of income,
mental health challenges and natural
disasters can all cause displacement. The
important message to get across to your
child is that something happened that
caused a person to not have a home or
safe place to go.

This is a good time to bring up homeless
shelters. Tell your child that sometimes
these shelters are full or there might be
special circumstances preventing peo-
ple from using them—such as being
unable to house a beloved pet or having
26 Washington FAMILY DECEMBER 2022
a work schedule incompatible with the
shelter’s curfew.

According to a 2021 study from the
Becker Friedman Institute for Economics
at the University of Chicago, 53% of peo-
ple living in homeless shelters and 40% of
unsheltered people are employed. People
experiencing homelessness are not home-
less by choice. Many are unable to work,
and those who are able typically do.

Explain to your child that even though a
person may work very hard, that person still
might not have enough money to afford a
home. This might be because of low income,
too many other expenses or because the
cost of where they were living increased.

It’s Often Temporary
The median spell of homelessness is 2.6
months, according to an article published
in the Journal of Urban Economics. Some
people are homeless for longer, but the
important thing to convey to your child is
that a homeless person will probably have
a place to stay again soon.

There are Ways You Can Help
Talking to your kids about homelessness
is not an easy conversation. It can evoke
feelings of helplessness and sadness. To
help your child process what they are
learning and feel empowered, let them
know that there are ways people can help
and set a good example.

Homeless shelters rely heavily on dona-
tions and volunteers from the community to
operate and provide the best care and sup-
port possible. Donating your time, money
or items is a great way to help those expe-
riencing homelessness and demonstrate
generosity and compassion to your child.

Volunteering or dropping off items
are the most visible ways to teach your
child about helping those in need. The
AVAILABLELIGHT/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
A s of 2019, more than half a million
people experienced homelessness
in the United States, according to
the Annual Homeless Assessment Report
to Congress.

As a parent, you want to protect your
child from the harsh realities of the world
and let them be a kid for as long as pos-
sible, but one day the question will come
up, ‘Why is that person sleeping out-
side? Where is their coat? What does
that sign say?’
These questions can be uncomfortable,
but your answers will shape the way your
child learns, grows and interacts with the
world around them.

They may first see homelessness on
TV, read about it in a book or encounter
a homeless person face to face. Children
are naturally curious and empathetic. As
these cold months roll in, your children
are going to notice when people aren’t
inside or don’t have warm enough clothes.

Start out with simple, empathetic
language when explaining homelessness—
especially if your child is very young.

Here are some ways to talk about why it
happens and what you can do to help.




FATCAMERA/E+/GETTY IMAGES
INCLUSIVE FAMILY
most common items in demand
for homeless shelters include
underwear, socks, shampoo,
conditioner, toothpaste, soap,
feminine hygiene products,
laundry soap, clothing for cold
weather, backpacks and deodor-
ant. Check your local shelter’s
website for a list of needed items.

Another way to teach your
child generosity is to go through
their old toys with them and
donate those in good condi-
tion, or go to the store and
have them pick out one item
to keep and one to donate to a
homeless child.

Above all, remind your child
that children
experiencing homelessness are no different
from them. They enjoy gifts and
birthday parties and favorite
foods. Learn how you can help
locally together as a family. T
A Party to Remember
Extra-Ordinary Birthdays
partners with homeless shelters
and other organizations
that serve the homeless in
Washington, D.C., Maryland
and Virginia to provide unique
and imaginative birthday
parties for children who are
experiencing homelessness.

Founder Schinnell Leake,
former owner of for-profit Extra-
Ordinary Moments—which
specialized in creating children’s
birthday parties—was inspired
to create the nonprofit after
she learned more than 2,000
children live in homeless shelters
throughout the D.C. area.

Now she has thrown
more than 800 parties with
Extra-Ordinary Birthdays
because, as a mother, she
knows how important it is for
children to feel confident, valued
and recognized.

“Each party costs
approximately $200 and we are
largely dependent on community
donations,” says board chair
Andrea Shearin.

To volunteer, sponsor or
donate towards the cost
of a party, learn more at
extraordinarybirthdays.org or by calling 301-531-5196.

Learning and Giving
The Giving Tree is a parent-
founded organization dedicated
to teaching children about
the importance and impact
of helping those in need. This
nonprofit based in Montgomery
County, Pa. relies on volunteers
and donations to provide those
in need with food, clothing and
even school supplies.

The Giving Tree partners
with other local organizations
such as Cecil and Grace Bean’s
Soup Kitchen to feed those
experiencing food insecurity,
including people experiencing
homelessness. With an education-based
approach, The Giving Tree is
perfect for teaching children
about the meaningful ways they
can help their community. Learn
more at 215-872-9328 and
givingtreefamilies.org Advertise in our
January Issue!
SUMMER CAMP
& SCHOOL
GUIDES INSIDE
CAMPS AND
INDOOR FUN
washin gtonFAM
and more news
that parents need.

Give your child the gift
of lifelong learning!
Ask about
our Millennium
Scholarship for
Grades 6-12
Join us to learn more!
Open House
Sunday Jan. 8, 2023
6 Weeks to Grade 12
barrie.org EMAIL us
at advertising@
washingtonfamily.com ILY.com
JANUARY 2022
Smart. Local.

Parenting for the
DMV. PMA AWARD
Wins for
WASHINGTON FAMILY
A Call to Care
at Summer Camp
17 Places to Vis
it This Winter
Find Your Indoo
Fun in the DMV r
Mentors Matter
OR CALL us
at 301-230-2222,
EXT. 2
SMART. LOCAL. PARENTING FOR THE DMV.

Print | Digital |
SMART. LOCAL. PARENTING FOR THE DMV.

WashingtonFAMILY.com 27