STAT: 47% of homeless children have anxiety, depression or withdrawal problems.

(Institute for Children and Poverty)       

STORY:“Freida”, a 35 year old mother in recovery from substance abuse, sought housing help from the Center staff.  She and her 2 year old daughter were living in a dangerous situation, with a lot of exposure to drugs.  The housing staff immediately provided Frieda with an emergency motel voucher to get them into a safe space while working on more long-term housing.  The Children’s Program staff were concerned about Freida’s daughter, Mary, who was extremely withdrawn and did not speak.  Staff wondered if the child was autistic; they connected the family with the Regional Center for a full assessment.  The evaluation confirmed that the little girl had speech delay, but no autism.   The daily exposure to the activities and safety of the Center brought about a profound change to this family. Her daughter blossomed into a happy, interactive child.  She is receiving speech therapy and her developmental assessment is within normal ranges. With assistance from staff, Freida was able to find an apartment of her own.