Homeless
Homelessness Resource Guide K-12
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION TO SAMPLE LESSONS ON HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness is not new to Iowa, nor is it new in American life. It has
existed for hundreds of years, worldwide. However, the Stewart B. McKinney
Homeless Assistance Act (Federal Legislation - P.L. 101-646 as amended in 1990)
is helping to sensitize U.S. citizens to the effects of homelessness and the
need for assistance for those who experience it. Educators as well as the
general public are being asked by many action groups to develop an awareness of
and sensitivity to this dilemma in order to address the needs of those who
experience homelessness. This resource guide was developed within Iowa to convey
to all students the immediate reality of homelessness and how to help. It
represents a response for developing awareness and encouraging involvement.
The persons involved in the development of this guide tried to structure the
activities to be sensitive to all children. They utilized the principle that
"activities to introduce children and adults to homelessness should not offend
those who are, nor should it overwhelm those who are not." However, those who
use the activities in this guide need to be sensitive to local concerns
regarding homeless children and adults and use the most appropriate activities
accordingly.
The following lesson samples are intended to offer guidelines for addressing
the issue of homelessness with students. Schools are urged to take an "adopt and
adapt" attitude: adopt the concepts and adapt them to the specific situation.
The lesson plans shown are developed for varying age and ability levels; even
slight changes can make them usable in a variety of settings to accomplish many
different purposes. Implications can be drawn and individualized plans created
from these materials.
The activities were designed by Iowa educators serving children at different
levels of development. Resources are identified throughout the publication.
The specific intent of disseminating this information is to provide a
supportive basis from which both teachers and students can gain new insights. In
particular, the intent for teachers is to provide some basis for establishing
student understanding of their peers for whom life has been less than kind, and
to allow students opportunities for assisting.
WHY STUDY HOMELESSNESS?
The problems that homelessness brings to any individual, family, community
and national government create human suffering. Homelessness results in people
trying to satisfy basic human physical and safety needs, sacrificing all other
life needs, especially the need to achieve in school and establish high self
esteem. Consequently, homelessness is a social problem that immediately brings
up housing and poverty dilemmas. Studying the problem should:
- Provide students an opportunity to deal with a current
issue of concern to Iowa and the nation and to dispel myths about people without
homes.
- Give students a chance to make a contribution toward ending homelessness.
- Sensitize students to be more accepting of students in their school who
might be without a home.
- Provide opportunity for schools to interact with the community to establish
cooperative partnerships to assist those who are homeless.
HOMELESSNESS IN IOWA
Iowa is a beautiful land with proud people dedicated to helping each other
and working hard to overcome problems. Homelessness is such a problem. However,
accepting the fact that homelessness exists is not an easy matter for Iowans and
some denial pervades our citizenry. Some Iowans do not feel that it is
politically or economically wise to admit that homelessness exists and to what
extent it exists. They feel that if the problem looks too pervasive to
outsiders, we might not be able to attract outside economic interests.
Studies of Iowa's homeless indicate that during any given year nearly 16,000
people are homeless by being on the streets, living in abandoned buildings,
tents or shelters and transition housing or finding temporary shelter with
friends or relatives. Over 60 percent of our homeless are children of preschool
through high school age. The education of our homeless children remains a
primary issue especially since so many of our homeless are children and
homelessness can interrupt their schooling.
The governor of Iowa (Terry Branstad) established a special office to
coordinate agencies and services for the homeless. At least 15 different
agencies and organizations are coordinated via the Interagency Task Force on
Homelessness spearheaded by the Office on Homelessness, Department of Human
Services. A major goal of the task force is to eliminate homelessness and the
harmful ramifications that homelessness brings to children and adults. An "Iowa
Plan to Eliminate Homelessness" now exists but requires Iowans statewide to get
involved and serve to assist those in need.
Many factors in Iowa cause someone to become homeless. The most frequently
identified are: unemployment, de-institutionalization of the mentally ill,
personal crises such as abandonment and divorce or physical abuse, cuts in
public assistance programs, the rising costs of housing, and personal
difficulties such as alcohol or drug abuse.
The causes of homelessness cannot be controlled by the children involved.
Many of the causes cannot be totally controlled by adults, especially those
personally involved. Homelessness is a circumstance and those caught by the
circumstance normally look for assistance and are willing to accept help. When
assistance is provided the homeless do overcome the devastating effects.
Questions or Comments?
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