Conversations with a 6-Year-Old About Homelessness

My wife and I were driving in town the other day, when TJ from the back seat began talking about how some people “don’t have homes, food, or water and all they have is their clothes and a shopping cart”. He went on to say in his 6-year-old way that we need to help them so they can have a house and food. He also talked about his concern for the people with dogs and wanting to “make sure the dogs were ok too”. TJ is an amazingly sweet boy that just wants to love.

As I was driving and just listening, Marchand did an amazing job with talking about homelessness and the different ways that there are to help people and that our jobs each day is to go out to find ways to help people get housing. It was an amazing exchange to hear and it prompted the conversation that Marchand and I had that I am now writing about.

How do we talk about homelessness to our children and youth? I know TJ and other children hear about homelessness from kid shows and other media. However, how do we personally frame these conversations to our children and youth to help grow the values that are needed to solve the societal issue around housing and homelessness?

My wife and I both work in housing, shelter, and social services. A lot of our conversations that TJ hears will often be centered around the work that we are doing, so it makes sense that he holds the types of values that he expressed. He is being taught to help. However, not everyone has that type of family dynamic and many are missing opportunities to plant seeds of change.

So much of the work that we do around homelessness is focused on changing the heart and dialogue of the community to make this work possible. One of the requirements to make this work truly transformational is to have a community that supports creating meaningful pathways for people to transition from homelessness to permanent housing and self-sufficiency (whatever that means to each individual). Positive community synergy around creating shelters, organized/supported spaces for people to reside, Supportive Services, and affordable housing is paramount to this work.

Here is the thing, I know these truths. So much of my career has been focused on building community support and doing the work to help change hearts. However, yesterdays conversation with a 6-year-old reminded me that the heart of our work starts at home. It starts with us speaking these humanitarian values into the hearts and lives of our children and youth.

My Mother and Father worked with individuals that live with Developmental Disabilities. When I was a child, my home was a foster home and I lived my parents’ mission “to help and protect those less fortunate” on a daily basis. It is no surprise that my career has taken the shape that it has.

What do conversations around homelessness look like in your home or in your family and friend group?

How do you discuss issues around homelessness when little ears are around?

The values that you hold and how you model them to the children around you will impact the generations to come; both good and bad.

 Don’t miss your chance to plant positive seeds of change