Posted on April 20, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone When most people think about homelessness, they often picture men and women panhandling on street corners or sleeping on subway benches. The heartbreaking reality is that those we see struggling on the streets represent only a small portion of tens of thousands of our neighbors who have lost their homes. In addition to these more visible homeless New Yorkers, a record 42,000 different children spent at least one night in a shelter last year – more 25,000 last night alone. Even more disturbing is that in 2014, more than 1,800 babies were born to mothers living in homeless shelters. Mary Brosnahan, the Coalition’s President and CEO, sat down with Dominic Carter to discuss these staggering statistics on Richard French Live. She explained that the historic levels of childhood homelessness are largely attributable to the worsening housing affordability crisis. “We’re used to hearing about people on the street who may have mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse or alcohol problems. But these moms and kids are almost universally homeless because they can’t afford housing.” Unfortunately, the trauma of childhood homelessness has a lasting impact on emotional and academic development. As Mary said, “It’s robbing these kids of their childhood and any hope of academically achieving what they should.” The Coalition’s crisis services and youth programs work to combat the damaging effects of homelessness and guarantee that all children have the resources they need to succeed – starting with a safe, permanent home. “Those kids have the same dreams that your children and my child have.” Watch the full interview:
