Homelessness

    One of the most high impact, powerful things you can do right now is send a letter to the editor of your local paper calling on your elected leaders to do the right thing and pass a COVID relief package.     Families are hurting in this COVID economy. People continue to be out of work, struggling with child care centers and schools being closed, eviction protections going away, and cases of COVID rising. After delaying for far read more…

During these challenging times, we’ve rounded up a handful of resources for Nahant area residents in need of a little extra help to feed and support their families. We’ve also listed ways you can help these organizations continue to operate and support the wellbeing of children and families in our community. My Brother’s Table at 98 Willow Street in Lynn MA offers free prepared meals to go during the week from 12:00 to 4:30 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays a read more…

During these challenging times, we’ve rounded up a handful of resources for Taunton-area residents in need of a little extra help to feed and support their families. We’ve also listed ways you can help these organizations continue to operate and support the wellbeing of children in our community. Taunton Area Community Table (TacT) | 378 Bay Street, Taunton, MA TacT is still open to families for a new Grab & Go meal service. Their current hours are 11:15am–12:30pm Monday–Thursday. They read more…

  While volunteering in a children’s summer program, I often saw a foster child run to the teacher’s desk each day and ask if their foster parent had dropped off lunch. Lunch was never there, and the child was offered a daily peanut butter sandwich. This was humiliating because others had good food from home. One day this child brought food and shared it within the classroom. Sadly, the facilitator, not knowing the significance of this event, ordered that the read more…

Around 1.4 million U.S. students between the ages of 6-18 are homeless, and every year approximately 1 million babies, toddlers and preschoolers also experience homelessness. The definition of homelessness is divided into those who are sheltered and those who are not. Thankfully, the majority of children are in sheltered situations. The extent of homelessness nationally and in each state is described here. Homelessness is a public health crisis and there is a significant negative impact of homelessness on children’s mental read more…

    Homelessness in America is not what you might think it is.  In the U.S.A. 2.5 million children experience homelessness each year. By law, a person qualifies as homeless if they lack “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” (McKinney Vento Act). A person does not need to be “unsheltered” to qualify as homeless and experience the pervasive negative impacts of this experience. If you are asked to envision a homeless person in your mind, you may conjure up read more…