As heart stoppers go, I found the answer to the question “What’s the biggest challenge teens face living in a family homeless shelter” quite moving. As stated on The Homeless Children’s Playtime Projects web site, the answer is “Hiding it from my friends.”
Being homeless is tough for anyone, but especially tough at times for children who have no control over their circumstances. The Playtime Project attempts to make the situation a little better by “providing teens with a safe, consistent place to receive tutoring, establish friendships with peers who can relate to their unique circumstances, develop their personal strengths through team-building and leadership activities, interact with guest speakers, and receive support from our Site Manager and caring volunteers.”
Through field trips to places ranging from the White House to local colleges they also provide youths the chance to “escape the stress of shelter living and take advantage of the assets of the greater community.” I’ve mentioned before how important I think it is that children are given a reasonable shot at success, regardless of where they are starting from.
To me, nothing speaks the message of “America” more than equalizing opportunity for everyone; therefore, availing to them the opportunity to unlock their true potential. This all starts with having children confidently and appropriately engaging in society and nothing breaks down the barriers to doing so faster or more effectively than removing the stigma associated with being homeless.
The Playtime Project is doing exactly that, along with normalizing the life experiences of homeless youth. To find out more about their programs or how you can help, check out their website.