Why So Many Homeless Families?
5 Reasons Why It’s Not Their Fault
Escaping homelessness, especially with kids in tow, requires a tremendous amount of effort and an equally immense amount of luck, which explains why so many families are homeless. (My 1-page list of reasons.)
And how do families experiencing homelessness get help? Sometimes it’s an unconventional process, as it was this weekend for a mom and her kids living in a truck in the Philadelphia area. (How hard is it to live in a vehicle with kids? My short video.)
A frantic message thread went from PA to Texas to North Carolina (my current location) back to Philly, as this family’s dire circumstances unfolded Saturday night. In the process, some key theories were reinforced and debunked.
“Ellen,” a woman I knew when she and her family stayed at the shelter I ran back in the 90s, reached out to me Saturday night via Facebook Messenger, concerned about a family she was in contact with on FB. After she shared the details, I agreed — something needed to be done, fast, so I reached out to my FB network familiar with the local scene.
Fortunately, I got connected with “Maggie” who works at a Philly shelter. She exhibited an extraordinary sense of compassion, not satisfied with just providing theoretical info. She stuck with me as we ferreted out…
