conversations about houselessness with preschoolers

​Several weeks ago, a child had a puzzled look on his face as he noticed an individual experiencing houselessness sleeping adjacent to the path we take to the horse park.  Recognizing that he might be wondering about our neighbor, I (Rosalia) asked: "Are you curious about the person who is sleeping in the park?" Indeed he was as were many of his peers. I started the conversation by noticing the commonalities we have, “I notice he has a pillow. Do you like a pillow to feel cozy when you sleep? I notice he has a soft blanket. I sleep with a soft blanket, do you? What helps you feel cozy when you sleep?” Several children were listening as we had this conversation. 

Another day, the conversation continued:

Kids: “Why is he sleeping outside?” 
Rosalia: “His home is outside.”
Kids: “Why does he have a home outside?”
Rosalia: “There are many reasons why people might need to sleep outside.”

From the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Committee
When children are exploring their communities, it is natural for them to have questions about things that they don’t understand. Seeing people who are experiencing houselessness may bring up many questions for your child, and can provide parents with an opportunity to model empathy and care. 

Below are examples of questions your children may have and some responses you might consider depending on your child’s age. These questions and answers have been adapted from the Sesame Street Workshop and the book On Our Street: Our First Talk About Poverty.

Why is that person sitting/lying in the park or on the sidewalk?

They don’t have a permanent place to live right now. A permanent place is an “always” place, like how we live in a [house/apartment/condo] on [name of your street]. We can always sleep there and always keep our things there. Some people don’t have a place like that.

Why is that person carrying lots of things in a suitcase/shopping cart? ​
​Because they don’t have a permanent house, they might need to carry all of their belongings with them. The suitcase/shopping cart holds the things that are important to them. What are some things that are important to you?

Where do people without houses go when it gets cold or rainy? 
Some cities have shelters for people to go to, sleep and stay warm and dry, but they can’t always stay there all the time. Sometimes people who are experiencing houselessness may stay with friends or family, in hotel rooms, or in their cars.

How did that happen to them? 
We don’t know everyone’s story; not having a place to live can happen for many different reasons. People who are experiencing houselessness might not have enough money for food, clothing, and a safe place to live.

Can we help them?
In our family we help others. Here are some things I have learned about how to help: We can volunteer at our food pantry/soup kitchen, donate clothes and toys we don’t use anymore, or start putting together care kits* that we can give to our unhoused neighbors.

*Assembling care kits can be a great way for kids to join you in taking action. Together, you can gather items such as socks, nonperishable food, hand warmers, first aid supplies, and hygiene products and pack them into a waterproof bag (such as a gallon sized Ziploc). There are many guides with suggestions on what to include and things to consider when selecting items.

Here are two: 
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/homeless-care-package
https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/bhf/homeless-care-kits