It is only a few weeks before the children of Doorways go back to school. Thanks to our wonderful donors who supported our Back to School Campaign, the children will be equipped with backpacks full of college-ruled paper, three-ringed binders and an umbrella for good measure. However, even with the generosity of our community, the odds are still stacked against these children. They are far more likely to miss school because homelessness and abuse make them sick.
Children experiencing homelessness struggle to succeed in school if they are too sick to fully participate. These children are four times more likely to get sick than most middle-class kids. With a high rate of sick days, over 87% of homeless children are enrolled in school, but only 77% are able to attend regularly, according to the Department of Education.
For children experiencing domestic violence, learning at school may be the furthest thing from their minds. The effects of coming from a violent home can be traumatic and long-lasting. Meaningful relationships, be they with one’s teacher or classmates, may be difficult to form, and focusing on one’s classwork may seem inconsequential compared to the stress of returning home.
The experiences that the children of Doorways experience day in and day out are an opportunity for us to teach the community about the effects of homelessness and abuse on children. There are children in the classrooms every single day trying to find a way to break the cycle of homelessness or abuse they have been experiencing, but they cannot do it alone. Education is a great way to help break that cycle, but the solution will include all of us in the community educating ourselves. As our children go back to school in a few weeks, remind them that the person next to them in class may not be as fortunate as they are.
To support our Back to School Campaign, please, send messages along on Facebook or visit our campaign website here.
Perspective and statistics inspired by The Campaign to End Child Homelessness
Caroline Jones
