Definition of Homelessness
People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided. Families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and likely to continue in that state. This is a new category of homelessness, and it applies to families with children or unaccompanied youth who have not had a lease or ownership interest in a housing unit in the last 60 or more days, have had two or more moves in the last 60 days, and who are likely to continue to be unstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment. People who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing. This category is similar to the current practice regarding people who are fleeing domestic violence. As found on National Alliance to End Homelessness (http://www.endhomelessness.org/).
Additional Resources
National Alliance to End Homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/
National Coalition for the Homeless
http://nationalhomeless.org/
Atlanta Mission: Ending Homelessness
http://www.atlantamission.org/
I Care Atlanta: Stabilizing Lives & Ending Homelessness
http://www.icareatlanta.org/
People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided. Families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and likely to continue in that state. This is a new category of homelessness, and it applies to families with children or unaccompanied youth who have not had a lease or ownership interest in a housing unit in the last 60 or more days, have had two or more moves in the last 60 days, and who are likely to continue to be unstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment. People who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing. This category is similar to the current practice regarding people who are fleeing domestic violence. As found on National Alliance to End Homelessness (http://www.endhomelessness.org/).
Additional Resources
National Alliance to End Homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/
National Coalition for the Homeless
http://nationalhomeless.org/
Atlanta Mission: Ending Homelessness
http://www.atlantamission.org/
I Care Atlanta: Stabilizing Lives & Ending Homelessness
http://www.icareatlanta.org/
Children's Literature
1. Shoebox Sam by Mary Brigid Barrett (2011).
Delia and Jessie spend Saturdays with Shoebox Sam, who teaches them about making old shoes new again and helping those in need.
2. The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley (2010).
Rafael notices the new kid stealing lunches (including his), and uses his mom’s advice to use his voice & not his fists to resolve the problem.
3. December by Eve Bunting (1997).
Simon and his mom live in the tiny cardboard house they’ve built for themselves. On Christmas Eve they don’t have much, but it’s more than the woman who comes knocking on their door has. Does their generosity bring them a miracle?
4. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting (1991).
A young boy talks about his and his father’s lives living in an airport and has hope for himself when he sees a trapped bird find freedom.
5. A Shelter in Our Care by Monica Gunning (2004).
Since moving to America from Jamaica after her father died, Zettie and her mom live in their car while they both go to school and plan for a real home.
6. Sélavi: That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope by Youme Landowne (2005).
Haitian street children band together and work to create a life for themselves.
7. The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern (1997).
When two siblings discover a homeless woman living in their neighborhood, they discover how easy it can be to make a difference in someone’s life.
8. I Can Hear the Sun by Patricia Polacco (1999).
A boy without a real home, Fondo feels lonely and unwanted. Then he meets Stephanie Michele, who takes care of the waterfowl at the pond and shares his sensitivity for nature. She teaches him how to help take care of the geese, especially one with special needs. When Fondo finds out he’s to be taken away, he looks to the geese for a miracle.
9. The Can Man by Laura E. Williams (2010).
Tim’s family doesn’t have a lot of money, but he really wants a skateboard for his birthday. When he sees Mr. Peters, “The Can Man,” who is homeless, collecting cans, Tim gets the idea to collect enough cans to pay for his skateboard, even though that means Mr. Peters gets less … it’s only until Tim’s birthday, after all. Tim really wants that skateboard, but a couple of encounters with Mr. Peters give him pause about what to do with the money he’s earned.
Animals Without Homes
10. A Home for Dakota by Jan Grover and Nancy Lane (2008).
Dog #241 lives in a dark crate on a puppy mill, until she is rescued and learns to trust humans again. When the puppy (now named Dakota) meets a young girl who has been as traumatized as she, healing begins for both of them.
11. Mutt Dog by Stephen Michael King (2005).
Mutt Dog is brave and fast and gentle and loyal and smart, but he’s also hungry, and he doesn’t have a home. Then one day his luck changes, and he at last finds a family–and a cozy, loving place to belong.
12. Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery (2008).
A dog and a blind cat abandoned during Hurricane Katrina evacuations manage to find each other and stick together until they realize a happy ending.
13. Go Home! The True Story of James the Cat by Libby Phillips Meggs (2000).
Cat has been lost for a long time. His collar has grown too tight, and he’s always hungry and thirsty. One day he finds a house with a kind family, but they think because he has a collar, he has a home. It’s not until he’s badly injured that the family realizes just how much the cat needs them.
14. The Stray Dog by Marc Simont (2003).
A family picnicking in the park encounters a little stray dog. The children play with him and name him Willy. But the parents won’t let Willy come home with them. Willy stays in their hearts and heads, so the next week they go looking for him … but so does the dog catcher.
Delia and Jessie spend Saturdays with Shoebox Sam, who teaches them about making old shoes new again and helping those in need.
2. The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley (2010).
Rafael notices the new kid stealing lunches (including his), and uses his mom’s advice to use his voice & not his fists to resolve the problem.
3. December by Eve Bunting (1997).
Simon and his mom live in the tiny cardboard house they’ve built for themselves. On Christmas Eve they don’t have much, but it’s more than the woman who comes knocking on their door has. Does their generosity bring them a miracle?
4. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting (1991).
A young boy talks about his and his father’s lives living in an airport and has hope for himself when he sees a trapped bird find freedom.
5. A Shelter in Our Care by Monica Gunning (2004).
Since moving to America from Jamaica after her father died, Zettie and her mom live in their car while they both go to school and plan for a real home.
6. Sélavi: That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope by Youme Landowne (2005).
Haitian street children band together and work to create a life for themselves.
7. The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern (1997).
When two siblings discover a homeless woman living in their neighborhood, they discover how easy it can be to make a difference in someone’s life.
8. I Can Hear the Sun by Patricia Polacco (1999).
A boy without a real home, Fondo feels lonely and unwanted. Then he meets Stephanie Michele, who takes care of the waterfowl at the pond and shares his sensitivity for nature. She teaches him how to help take care of the geese, especially one with special needs. When Fondo finds out he’s to be taken away, he looks to the geese for a miracle.
9. The Can Man by Laura E. Williams (2010).
Tim’s family doesn’t have a lot of money, but he really wants a skateboard for his birthday. When he sees Mr. Peters, “The Can Man,” who is homeless, collecting cans, Tim gets the idea to collect enough cans to pay for his skateboard, even though that means Mr. Peters gets less … it’s only until Tim’s birthday, after all. Tim really wants that skateboard, but a couple of encounters with Mr. Peters give him pause about what to do with the money he’s earned.
Animals Without Homes
10. A Home for Dakota by Jan Grover and Nancy Lane (2008).
Dog #241 lives in a dark crate on a puppy mill, until she is rescued and learns to trust humans again. When the puppy (now named Dakota) meets a young girl who has been as traumatized as she, healing begins for both of them.
11. Mutt Dog by Stephen Michael King (2005).
Mutt Dog is brave and fast and gentle and loyal and smart, but he’s also hungry, and he doesn’t have a home. Then one day his luck changes, and he at last finds a family–and a cozy, loving place to belong.
12. Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery (2008).
A dog and a blind cat abandoned during Hurricane Katrina evacuations manage to find each other and stick together until they realize a happy ending.
13. Go Home! The True Story of James the Cat by Libby Phillips Meggs (2000).
Cat has been lost for a long time. His collar has grown too tight, and he’s always hungry and thirsty. One day he finds a house with a kind family, but they think because he has a collar, he has a home. It’s not until he’s badly injured that the family realizes just how much the cat needs them.
14. The Stray Dog by Marc Simont (2003).
A family picnicking in the park encounters a little stray dog. The children play with him and name him Willy. But the parents won’t let Willy come home with them. Willy stays in their hearts and heads, so the next week they go looking for him … but so does the dog catcher.