Charlotte’s progress on chronic homelessness is encouraging, but homelessness is changing.
More than one million homeless children live in America today, including more than 27,000 in North Carolina.
Some live in shelters. Others in hotel rooms one night, friends’ couches the next, then the family car.
But most of us, including policymakers, have an outdated picture of homelessness. Let’s change that.
Urge your congressional representatives to take U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier’s “Homeless Shelter Challenge” and spend a night in a homeless shelter. Help them understand what homeless families need, so they’re better able to help.
Bruce Lesley
Washington, D.C.
The writer is president of First Focus Campaign for Children.