Homelessness from a Childs Perspective
Jenna (Juniper) Ghisolfo
President at Housing Consultants of America, LLC (Affordable Housing Consulting, Auditing, & Training) & Mrs North Phoenix 2024-2025
Once upon a time, there was a young child named Jack. Jack and his family were living in a small apartment, but due to unexpected job loss, they were unable to make the rent payments. They were evicted and had to move in with a relative, but that arrangement was only temporary. They soon found themselves living out of their car, constantly looking for a safe place to park and sleep at night.
Jack struggled to understand why this was happening to his family. He missed the comfort and security of his own bed and the familiar surroundings of his old home. He missed his friends and school and felt ashamed to tell them about his situation. He missed the ability to take a shower or brush his teeth properly. He was often hungry and cold, and his clothes were dirty and worn out.
His parents tried their best to provide for him, but the stress of their situation was taking a toll on their mental and physical health. Jack often saw his parents fighting and crying, and it broke his heart. He felt guilty for being a burden and wished that he could do something to make it better.
One day, they were able to find a shelter, and Jack finally had a stable place to sleep and eat, but the trauma of his experience stayed with him. He struggled with trust issues and had a hard time forming connections with others. He also had trouble concentrating in school and struggled academically. His issues also extended to socially and was easily influenced by the wrong crowd. Jack spent his youth in and out of trouble and developed mental health issues that went undiagnosed and untreated.
This story highlights the harsh reality that many children face, experiencing homelessness is not only a physical struggle but also a mental and emotional one. It is important to remember that every child deserves a safe and stable home, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they have access to the resources they need to thrive.
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Jenna Juniper, President & CEO
www.JuniperCompliance.com
Strategic Communicator | Creative Thinker | Innovative Designer
1 年Jenna Juniper This is a very insightful article. As someone who experienced this with her family as a child, I can tell you that the effects on a child are quite debilitating in nature. It can cause trauma that takes time to heal from and if left untreated, can lead to an increase in mental instability in the adult years of life. Quite often, the child’s perspective is left out of the homeless discussion, and promoting awareness of it will in turn help individuals in organizations (Case Managers, Therapists/Counselors, Homeless Shelter workers, etc.) to better serve the homeless youth so that they do not carry these traumas into their adult lives. It will also empower the youth who experience this to seek the mental health services they need in able to heal and build inner strength, carrying these memories not as a curse, but as a source of strength and personal growth. Thank you for your passion on this issue and willingness to share this.