Children Should Stay With Their Homeless Families
Do you know how many U.S. children are in foster care, and not with their parents? Nearly 428,000 children in the U.S get put in foster care every day (Children's Rights). One online reporter for NBC news stated, “Tthere are roughly 2.5 million children who were homeless at some point last year” (White, Martha). Many homeless children have been taken away from their parents simply because they are homeless, not because they are neglected or abused. Children should stay with their homeless families in those situations because many children would rather be with their loved ones than have a roof over their heads.
NEGLECT AND ABUSE “Being homeless does not equal abuse and neglect” (Blair, Allyson). …show more content…
Being homeless also does not mean you are sleeping in parks, alleyways, and sidewalk benches. Many actually sleep in cars, or in other’s’ homes. In a video I watched, a homeless family introduces themselves to a CBS crew (CBSnewsonline). The family includes 15 year old Ariel Medsker, her 13 year old brother,Austin Medsker, and their father, Tom Medsker. They live with their father in a van, that their father had purchased with his last few thousand dollars, after being laid off (CBSnewsonline). When a reporter asked the question, “how long she had been living in the truck, and what it was like?” Ariel replied, “five months, it’s an adventure” (Scott Pelley). School is something that is important to the Medsker children. School is a get away from the thought of being homeless for the children because they feel normal and are around other peers (CBSnewsonline). Their father still gets them to school. The children still hope to go on to college. The children get ready in different gas stations every morning, and their father drops them off at school for the day (CBSnewsonline). After school, they go to the library to use the computers and do their homework (CBSnewsonline). In the same video, they talked to another homeless family of 5, named the Colts (CBSnewsonline). One night, the Colts pulled up to a visitor- only parking lot for the emergency room, just so they can sleep. The …show more content…
They were told they were not allowed to tell anyone their circumstances because they were afraid that they would be taken away (Blair, Allison). When homeless children are asked if they are homeless, they hesitate to answer in fear of what other students may think, so they end up not having anyone their age to talk to about their situation (CBSnewsonline). Children who are placed in foster care aren't always loved like a mother or father loves their child, often they are only fed the amount that is necessary, get simple clothes, and housing.
THE OTHER SIDE Yes, necessities are met in a foster home, but being taken away from family adds more stress to children and they need more than just the necessities. They need a loving family to rely on. Most families living on the street are just like you and me. The Colts mother had found a way to help her family so they could get back up on their feet and to stay together, too (CBSnewsonline). Families can be capable of finding ways to help themselves and don’t need their children taken away to get them the extra push.
Do you know how many U.S. children are in foster care, and not with their parents? Nearly 428,000 children in the U.S get put in foster care every day (Children's Rights). One online reporter for NBC news stated, “Tthere are roughly 2.5 million children who were homeless at some point last year” (White, Martha). Many homeless children have been taken away from their parents simply because they are homeless, not because they are neglected or abused. Children should stay with their homeless families in those situations because many children would rather be with their loved ones than have a roof over their heads.
NEGLECT AND ABUSE “Being homeless does not equal abuse and neglect” (Blair, Allyson). …show more content…
Being homeless also does not mean you are sleeping in parks, alleyways, and sidewalk benches. Many actually sleep in cars, or in other’s’ homes. In a video I watched, a homeless family introduces themselves to a CBS crew (CBSnewsonline). The family includes 15 year old Ariel Medsker, her 13 year old brother,Austin Medsker, and their father, Tom Medsker. They live with their father in a van, that their father had purchased with his last few thousand dollars, after being laid off (CBSnewsonline). When a reporter asked the question, “how long she had been living in the truck, and what it was like?” Ariel replied, “five months, it’s an adventure” (Scott Pelley). School is something that is important to the Medsker children. School is a get away from the thought of being homeless for the children because they feel normal and are around other peers (CBSnewsonline). Their father still gets them to school. The children still hope to go on to college. The children get ready in different gas stations every morning, and their father drops them off at school for the day (CBSnewsonline). After school, they go to the library to use the computers and do their homework (CBSnewsonline). In the same video, they talked to another homeless family of 5, named the Colts (CBSnewsonline). One night, the Colts pulled up to a visitor- only parking lot for the emergency room, just so they can sleep. The …show more content…
They were told they were not allowed to tell anyone their circumstances because they were afraid that they would be taken away (Blair, Allison). When homeless children are asked if they are homeless, they hesitate to answer in fear of what other students may think, so they end up not having anyone their age to talk to about their situation (CBSnewsonline). Children who are placed in foster care aren't always loved like a mother or father loves their child, often they are only fed the amount that is necessary, get simple clothes, and housing.
THE OTHER SIDE Yes, necessities are met in a foster home, but being taken away from family adds more stress to children and they need more than just the necessities. They need a loving family to rely on. Most families living on the street are just like you and me. The Colts mother had found a way to help her family so they could get back up on their feet and to stay together, too (CBSnewsonline). Families can be capable of finding ways to help themselves and don’t need their children taken away to get them the extra push.