Research Topic

My research topic is the effect(s) of homelessness on young children. All over the globe children are hungry, cold, and homeless. Some believe in order to be labeled “homeless” you have to look and behave a certain way. Well I’ve come to tell you that there is a new face to homelessness and in this case…..homeless children. You would really be surprised how many homeless children there are in America. Some are in shelters and some live in cars...others on the street...yes, on the street. These precious children have to put on a happy face everyday at school and engage in learning and social activities, only to go back to instability. For some inner city children in NYC, the meals at school are the only food they will eat during the school week. Children are affected by their environment and surroundings. Being a homeless child can definitely take its toll on the mental state of the child and his/her ability to perform well in school. In my research, I will compare children who are homeless with children who are not in terms of academic outcomes. I'm sure I will inevitably touch on social-emotional skills and development of homeless children versus those who are not as well.

I am passionate about this topic because I am concerned about the future of our children and would like to bring light to issues that lead to homelessness. Hopefully this will inspire us all to get involved to effect change. Can anyone offer any advice, insight, or resources relevant to this topic? Has anyone had any personal experiences with homelessness they would like to share?