For families with children it poses a whole other set of problems.


When Dad got laid off, between saving, Mom’s salary and credit cards they might cover the mortgage payments and living expenses for a few months. The second car is now no longer considered a necessity and it will have to go for now, but Dad will get another job soon and everything will get back to normal. After 6 or 8 month Dad still does not have a job and the outlook is bleak. Mom is worn out from juggling the household and bills, the mortgage is behind and the one and only car is now a major burden, with license plates and insurance coming due and not enough money to go around. The kids are unhappy; there is no longer any money for the activities their friends are involved in, and all they want to know is when Dad is going back to work so they can have their live back. A year or so later the house is in foreclosure, everything that can possible be sold was sold and Mom and Dad and the kids are in the street, still desperately holding on to the car. The credit cards are maxed; they have exhausted all their friends and relatives and finally end up at the homeless shelter. Now is when the problems really begin, parents are still taking the kids to school in the old neighborhood at least to finish the school year (didn’t they move there because of the good schools to begin with?). The kids are told not to tell anyone they live in a shelter, it’s too embarrassing……..Mom and Dad don’t want the old neighbors to know….. It’s only till the end of the school year, we’ll figure something out over the summer…………… Now the children have to deal with their friends asking what happened to their house and where did they move too and can they have sleepovers at their new place………..! Kids are caught in the middle, suddenly they its O.K. to hide the truth from their friends and lie to their teacher and other adults. Sending these mixed messages confuses even the most well adjusted child and rarely has positive results. If the child finally breaks down and confides in his friends, the both parents will more than likely find out and the kid is in trouble for telling and will more than likely be ostracized by his friends. Living in a shelter still has a huge stigma attached and, unless the parents move to a new area, will haunt the children all through school. It is a no win situation and the children are always the victims. Sadly I have seen the results of both scenarios and the children are traumatized either way, which usually results in serious psychological and behavioral issues. Luckily homeless families with children do have options and there programs in place to get them relocated and situated in reasonable short order. They can apply for housing vouchers; get food stamps and aid for the children. The shelter will give them furniture and household supplies, depending on availability and there are many organizations and churches that will supply food baskets and clothing.While I am not minimizing the plight of homeless families, I really want to a shed light on the dire situations that face mature women without resources or employment.