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Hey, Idaho! Homelessness from the Eyes of a Child

Winter Weather Will Show No Mercy

Diane Nilan
5 min readOct 12, 2021
A shelter floor offers little comfort for this baby. Photo Diane Nilan

Idaho’s headlines for their unabated Covid crisis obliterates other life-threatening news that fuels not only pandemic mortality and affliction, but diminishes quality of life in the Gem State for years to come. Californians rushing to establish residency here, take notice.

pickup truck with we the people decal
“We the People” but is that ALL PEOPLE? Photo Diane Nilan

Much could be said about the stubborn, stalwart attitude of Idahoans. They’ve got a lot to be proud of — a rustic and beautiful state that prides itself on rugged self-sufficiency. Not all here fall into the anti-government mentality. I’ve met people exerting gallant efforts to not only keep kids safe, but provide opportunities for education, even for families with nowhere to live.

Homelessness, a major issue here in Idaho, takes several forms. Adults without homes occupy headlines and vex politicians and the general populace. Scant productive steps to alleviate the multiple discomforts of homelessness have been implemented. And Idaho’s record on disbursing COVID rental assistance funds is abysmal guaranteeing a steady flow of new homelessness this winter.

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Diane Nilan
Diane Nilan

Written by Diane Nilan

Founder/pres. HEAR US Inc., gives voice & visibility to homeless families & youth, ran shelters, advocate, filmmaker, author, 20 yrs. on US backroads. hearus.us

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