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Homeless Families: Looking For Help
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by: hope
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Word Count: 754
There are a growing number of homeless families that are clogging the rolls of agencies and systems that help individuals in need. When it is a family who is in need of housing there are some issues that arise which are different than when it is just an individual. Whether the family includes two parents and one or more children or whether it is a single parent family also makes a difference in the types of needs that must be addressed. The age of the children will also affect how assistance will be provided.
There are several major reasons why families lose their living accommodations. The family may have lost a home due to foreclosure. In some cases, a job loss could mean there is not enough income to pay for housing expenses. Medical expenses can sometimes overwhelm families, especially if there is no health insurance. If a member of the family is sick or injured, causing enormous medical bills, it adds a new dimension to being homeless. When there is a divorce or separation in a family, it can leave one or both parents unable to afford the family home. In too many instances, a woman and children are forced to leave a situation where there is physical or emotional abuse present.
When it is an entire family that is affected by homelessness, there are some services that will be needed that would not be required for an individual. Children can adjust to new situation fairly quickly, but they do need some reassurance that they are cared for and that they are safe. Children grow quickly, so they need clothing to wear that is attractive, especially if they are attending school where peer pressure is a large factor. Health services are important when you have a number of people living in fairly close proximity. A simple cold or flu virus can affect everyone in the vicinity. Of course, food, water, clothing and shelter are the critical factors to supply.
A situation where a mother and children must leave a home due to abuse by a parent or other family member is a frightening experience for the mother and the children. The children may not fully understand why they are leaving toys, friends and familiar surroundings behind. The parent feels frightened and is not sure how to take care of the children, especially if it is a emergency exit from the home with no time to plan or prepare. Both the parent and the children need understanding and comforting.
Job loss and resulting inability to meet financial obligations is another reason why families end up living on the street or in a car. In addition to the stress of losing the income and not knowing which way to turn, the person without a job may be feeling additional pressure due to embarrassment and grief at not being able to provide for the family. Feeling cut off from friends and neighbors due to shame or disconnect can add to the stress.
It will be necessary for homeless families to deal with child care if there is to be a transition back into the workplace. If children have been enrolled in day care in the past while the parents worked, probably that is a luxury that was given up along with the loss of the home. Some shelters help with child care, similar to a baby sitting co-op. This can be a real cost savings when the parent is attempting to get back into the work force. Some shelters and aid programs include funds for child care while the parent is taking classes or training courses.
If the children in the family are old enough to be in school, being homeless can be an embarrassment. The child may need to be placed in another school due to the location of a shelter. The school-age child may be self-conscious about the homeless state. Even simple actions that used to be taken for granted such as showering or bathing, dental hygiene and proper meals may be difficult when you don't have a permanent residence. Laundry is another fact of life before the homeless state that often must be given up when there are no laundry facilities.
These are just a few of the issues faced by homeless families. Seeking public or charitable organization for help may be helpful. More and more families are forced into a situation where they must find help just to meet basic survival mode. At the same time, many organizations that have provided help before are finding funding hard to locate.
About the Author
For more information about homelessness visit Hope Haven Homeless Ministries. Also visit Hope Haven Gospel Mission to help.
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