Shelters see an increase in kids, length of stays
Families with children make up the largest portion of the homeless population — and that number is growing.
That means local shelters must address not only the needs of adults, but also those of their kids.
“Sometimes they go through withdrawal,” said Phil Wimer, executive director of the Freedom House homeless shelter. “A lot of these kids maybe didn’t have much structure in their lives. But we work really hard to make sure their experience isn’t a bad one.”
Homeless families with children represent 41 percent of the U.S. homeless population and are the fastest-growing segment, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Nearly half of homeless people in suburban and rural areas are in families with children, according to the organization. The “typical” homeless family is a woman in her 20s with two children younger than age 6.
That trend is reflected locally. Area shelters say they’re seeing more families, with more kids, staying for longer periods of time.
The influx can put a strain on services, and area homeless shelters often have waiting lists.
Shamika Murrell was on a waiting list at the Freedom House with her three kids: 6-year-old Marques Steward, 3-year-old Mekai Steward and 1-year-old Mykel Steward. She moved into the shelter in September.
Murrell was homeless after she left an abusive relationship and it didn’t work out living with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend.
“Thank God for Freedom House,” Murrell said. “It saved my life.”
Her children are too young to understand the concept of homelessness, she said. But Murell appreciates the time volunteers and workers spend playing with and supervising the young ones.
“I want them to go to school and get the learning they need,” she said. “I need to be the momma and the daddy now.”
Local shelters aim to do more than put a roof over people’s heads. They also want to open the door to independence.
Freedom House offers programs for adults that teach life skills and self-esteem as well as cooking and budgeting lessons. It also offers a character-building class for older kids.
Aftercare coordinator Heather Faulkner said the shelter offers a session for teens to discuss issues such as the stigma of being homeless.
Kids staying at shelters worry about fitting in or having to tell friends where they live, she said. They might have to tell classmates they can’t stay after school or attend a sleepover.
They also have rules. Children have bedtimes and can’t stay up all night like they might have before, she said. And there’s no junk food or unlimited video games, either.
To keep young kids involved, volunteers do crafts, play games and participate in stimulating activities for kids, Wimer said, so they “don’t feel my time at Freedom House was a downer.”
Being homeless is stressful for kids, Wimer said.
“Stability from parents is huge,” he said. “Stuff we take for granted. Parents need to pick them up and hug them. Let them know they love them.”
Children coming into the shelter suffer a disconnection because “it’s a complete disruption of their life,” said Ursula Bunnell, director of client services at Golden House domestic violence shelter in Green Bay. Many also become anxious.
“I think adults have learned certain coping skills,” she said. “Kids, especially nowadays, need stability.”
They may show their anxiety by not wanting to leave mom, not wanting to go to school or acting out, she said.
“They’re also grieving,” Bunnell said. “They’ve suffered a lot of losses.”
Golden House has a specialist who works with teens and advocates to work with children one-on-one and in support groups.
Once they get over the initial adjustment, children at the shelter develop a sense of camaraderie, she said.
“Kids are pretty resilient,” she said. “We see that once they’ve adjusted, they do quite well.”
