Importance of Early Intervention
“Think of a homeless person. Maybe you are picturing a lone man lying on a park bench… try again. Only this time, picture a sick, frightened, hungry child with no place to call home. As we move into the 21st century, this cruel vision is the new face of homelessness.”
-Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., National Advisory Board Chair, National Center on Family Homelessness
Homelessness Affects Children’s Development
Compared to those with homes, homeless children have:
- Four times the rate of developmental delays
- Two times the rate of learning disabilities
- Three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems
Homelessness Affects Children’s Health
Compared to children with homes, homeless children have:
- Two times the rate of respiratory infections
- Six times more likely to have below normal growth
- Seven time the risk of anemia
- Three time as likely to have injuries due to less structured and less safe environments
Homelessness Affects Children’s School Performance
- 41% of homeless children attend two or more schools in one year
- 28% attend three or more schools in one year
- 75% of homeless children test below grade level in reading
- 54% of homeless children test below grade level in math
The great news is that Cuidando Los Niños successfully addresses the causes of homelessness by effectively supporting the whole family unit. By providing nationally accredited early childhood development, individualized family resources and referrals, parent education classes and a highly qualified play therapist, we are able to provide an all-encompassing, strength-based approach that changes the lives of the children and families that we serve.
In fact, 74% of enrolled families who finish our program move out of homelessness into subsidized or unsubsidized housing. In addition, our children demonstrate significant developmental gains as evidenced by on-going development assessments.
These statistics were compiles from the following reports:
Homelessness and Its Effects on Children
Family Housing Fund
Housing America and Doc4Kids Project
America’s New Outcasts: Homeless Children
National Center on Family Homelessness,
Homeless in Minnesota: A Closer Look-Families and Children
Wilder Research Center