Homeless and neglected
The Boston Globe
Globe Editorial
4/13/2004
INSTEAD OF mastering the alphabet and
numbers, homeless preschool children are busy navigating the
grim challenges of having lost their homes. They may be
living in shelters or motels.
They often have no place to play. They tag along with parents
who are searching for jobs and housing. They may be caught in
the shadow of their parents' stress, frustration, or despair.
It's a dismal situation that can stunt emotional,
developmental, and academic growth. Largely unseen by policy
makers and the public, an estimated 10,000 preschool-age
children are homeless each year, according to the McCormack
Institute at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
To bring public attention to these children, a survey has
been done by Horizons for Homeless Children, a nonprofit
organization in Dorchester. Horizons runs two child care
centers for homeless children and more than 50 playrooms in
shelters around the state.
Horizons gathered information on 777 preschool-age children
in 76 shelters. Fewer than half -- 44 percent -- were
enrolled in organized programs such as day care, Head Start,
or preschool. This compares with 68 percent of children in
the general population. Instead, these homeless children
spent their days with a parent, relative, or friend.
The survey also found that 75 percent of parents lacked state
child care vouchers. Many parents hadn't asked for them even
though they were eligible.
More funding for subsidized child care and better outreach to
homeless parents are essential. To climb out of homelessness,
parents need to work. And to work, they need day care.
Quality day care programs can also give children a needed
break, a chance to play and interact with other children.
The state has only 85 slots set aside for homeless children.
Using welfare department figures, Horizons took a one-day
statistical snapshot last November and counted 1,396 homeless
preschoolers.
The Horizons report recommends assigning a child development
specialist to each shelter. This person could help make
shelters more child-friendly and link children to other
services. The report also calls for state agencies to
streamline access and referrals to child care and to collect
more data on children, especially those staying in motels, a
group Horizons was unable to count.
Federal law insists that states work to give homeless
children the same access to education that all children have.
Massachusetts should adopt a similar approach for homeless
preschool children, making sure that they too have access to
the best care and educational opportunities available.
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company
(The executive summary of the Horizons for Homeless Children report is available here.)