Alabama currently ranks near the bottom in education in the U.S. That being said, it may come as no surprise — albeit a severely unsettling one — that thousands of children in Mobile County struggle to find shelter and food, but still attend school. Many families who have school-aged children have difficulty making ends meet. From wondering where they will get their next meal to where they are going to lay their head at night, many members of our community are finding it incredibly hard to meet the demands of daily life. The list of reasons why a family faces homelessness goes on and on, but often it includes lack of affordable housing, employment instability, domestic violence, health issues and food insecurity.
For the 2017-2018 school year, it was reported that over 55,000 children are enrolled in public school. Of those students, 6,600 fell into the category of being homeless, or temporarily sheltered. That’s 1,100 more students than the 2015-2016 school year.
Public schools are required to adhere to the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which describes children as homeless once they “lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.” The law strives to ensure the enrollment of youths and offers some federal funding, which can provide needs such as supplies and clothes. It’s not enough for the size of the population, though.
“Regarding efforts to address family homelessness in our community, we know that this is not one agency’s issue; rather, it is a community issue,” said Denise Reimer, lead social worker and homeless and foster care liaison with the Mobile County Public School System. “We work closely with our community partners such as Housing First, Continuum of Care of the Alabama Gulf Coast, Family Haven, Family Promise, Penelope House, Sybil H. Smith Family Village, Volunteers of America, Lifelines Family Counseling, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Catholic Social Services, Mobile Community Action, the five housing boards across our county, local charitable and faith-based organizations and countless others to assist families with children access the resources they need to overcome homelessness.”
Reimer and her team continuously strive to “remove barriers” that can prevent children from attending and succeeding in school. They attempt to engage with families and direct them to certain resources available in the community that may be able to assist in ending their homelessness.
When you consider the term “homeless,” you may think of sleeping in cars or under bridges, but that’s only a small percentage. Mostly, these families are receiving help from those closest to them. “The majority of our homeless students (over 85 percent) are temporarily sharing the housing of others. This is consistent with the national trend,” Reimer said.
This trend seems to be growing instead of getting better. One thing these families have in common though, other than struggling, is that they all desire a stable and safe place for their children. Everyone wants a socially and economically healthy environment. One local nonprofit organization that has been lending a helping hand, The RAIN Group Inc., has put together a program called “Love U Love U Day,” which began in 2016.
The purpose of the Love U Love U Day is to celebrate unity, love and service. Once a year at The Grounds, anyone and everyone can attend this event where everything is free. Many goods are given away, including socks, uniforms, underwear, shoes, health screenings and exams from physicians and food. This family-fun affair takes place July 27 from noon to 5 p.m. and will also provide music, dancing and autographs from several members of the Mobile Hall of Fame.
Helping the community has its memorable and touching moments, recalled Monique Rogers who is the CEO of The RAIN Group. “A single mom with two kids needed school uniforms. However, she was at work and couldn’t attend the Love U Love U Day event,” she said. “A volunteer took the uniforms to her job. She called us back in tears of gratefulness, giving thanks for receiving the uniforms.” Another touching moment was when “one of the kids found her way, with her mother’s permission and watchful eyes, into the center of the Azalea Trail Maids. The child said, ‘I want to be one when I grow up,’” she said.
For Reimer, being able to see these children graduate and continue onto a healthier life creates her proudest moments. Many times, they’re able to go onto college or join the workforce. “They often pay it forward for others in their family and their community who are struggling with homelessness,” she said. “All of their stories are unique and amazing!”
With thousands of students facing adversity in our public school system, it’s daunting to know that our community requires so much assistance. But if you feel the urge to help, there is a place to start. One way is by donating goods to Love U Love U Day. “You can help us reach our goal to make school uniforms, socks, underwear and shoes available to all of the [children in need] by becoming a sponsor, giving a donation or volunteering,” Rogers said. Visit loveuloveu.org for more info.
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