MONTCLAIR, NJ — On Thursday, Dec. 13, “Sesame Street” reintroduced Lily, a 7-year-old Muppet who first struggled with hunger, and now struggles with homelessness and transition. The Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless of Essex County lauds this effort by “Sesame Street” to address this issue.
Child homelessness is at an all-time high, with more than one million American children experiencing the trauma of not knowing where they will lay their head … or if and where they will attend school tomorrow. This is seen firsthand at IHN, which serves up to 375 women, men and children in a housing crisis annually. Its shelter program is always full, and there is always a waiting list for homeless families in Essex County.
“We applaud ‘Sesame Street’s’ efforts to shed light on this humanitarian crisis, and at the same time, support children and families who are homeless and the providers who serve them,” IHN Executive Director and CEO Emma Justice said in a press release. “Family homelessness has increased significantly over the past 10 years, yet they are the ‘hidden homeless’ as families are often found staying on people’s couches, sleeping in their cars or motel rooms.”
“Sesame Street in Communities” has produced free educational resources for children and families, and for providers, including videos, a storybook and family activities. In addition, an online expert panel on family homelessness was livestreamed via YouTube and Facebook from “Sesame Street Workshop” on Dec. 13.
The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show an increase in the number of children struggling with homelessness of between 70 percent and 100 percent during the last decade. The DOE recently reported 1,354,363 homeless children and youth in the 2016-2017 school year by public schools — a 4-percent increase from the 2015-2016 school year and a 70-percent increase from the 2007-2008 school year — the highest number on record. DHHS reported that Head Start programs have also reported record levels of homeless children, from 26,200 homeless children in 2007-2008 to 52,764 in 2016-2017 — a 100-percent increase.
IHN provides homeless families with congregational shelter, homeless prevention and rapid re-housing for permanent housing, case management and programs for both adults and children. In 2017, 60 percent of clients served in all program, 201 were children.
If your family needs emergency shelter, contact IHN during business hours at 973-746-1400 or at www.ihnessexnj.org.
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