This week I got the chance to do one of my favorite things... volunteer my time at Horizon's For Homeless Children. As most of you know I have been working with them for over a year now and am a member of their Leadership Council. Giving back to such an amazing organization is one of most rewarding things I do. Seeing how much hope and joy they give these kids is inspiring. I cover most of their events and a few times a year go over to their center in Roxbury to photograph the kids for all the promotion they need to raise awareness. I am very proud to be part of their team.
It's so easy to take for granted all that we have - the comfort of our cozy homes, watching our children sleeping peacefully in their cribs or little beds, tucked in with their favorite stuffed animals. They go to sleep knowing they will wake up in a safe, warm and stress free (mostly) environment. There are so many children out there that don't have this sense of security and the stress it causes can damage them for life. Horizon's works hard to try and provide a safe and secure place not only for these kids but for the parents as well. It is truly an amazing organization run by amazingly generous people.
JUNE 2008: New data suggest that there are more than 100,000 homeless children across Massachusetts. Read more.
Nationally approximately 500,000 children aged 0-5 years
old experience homelessness in the course of a year.
(Source: Urban Institute, 2000).
Tonight over 1,200 families will be staying in publicly funded family shelters in Massachusetts. Within these families, there are 1,200 children under the age of five.
(Source: Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance).
Compared with low-income housed children, homeless children experience more health problems, developmental delays, increased anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and lower educational achievement.
(Source: National Center on Family Homelessness, 1999).
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