There’s No Place Like Home

By Laura Haskell, Community LINC Volunteer

Community LINC provides that stability that so many homeless families crave. 

“Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times and think to yourself, there’s no place like home!”

How simple life would be if we could all click our heels together and magically appear in our homes. Unfortunately, not everyone in Kansas City has a place of their own to call home.

On February 17^th, you have the chance to give families in Kansas City the building blocks to make a place of their own home. We are launching the Homes Matter campaign for the first time at Community LINC. During this single day you can help us reach our goal of raising $25,000. A gift can provide bedding, kitchen and bath fundamentals for the families we serve. Together we can make a difference in the community and start hundreds of homeless on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Spread the word about our Homes Matter campaign by sharing our story and inviting your friends and family to participate!  Help give KC families the basics: bit.ly/1KctGo7 #HomesMatter

Therapy Matters: How much a parent means to a child

By a Children's Mental Wellness Therapist

One of our single mom's expressed her concern about her 6 year old daughter's poor behavior in school, her poor behaviors with other children and her struggles to take guidance and instruction from adults. 

One of our Children's Therapists began working with the little girl on behaviors to help her understand the importance and severity of bullying.  Because the little girl was receptive and seemed to enjoy working with the therapist, Mom observed a change in behavior at home and in school after only three sessions.  

The therapist helped Mom assist in changing her daughter's behavior by giving her a simple task - eating at the table for dinner to discussing the day's activities and using that time as bonding time.  

Mom had never done that before.  

After two weeks, Mom reported that sitting with her children to eat dinner was life changing.  

She said her children had never opened up to her in that way before, and they all were very talkative and extremely happy.  

The family now has established a ritual that no one eats unless everyone is at the table together.

You've Got a Friend

Having a friend, or more formally, a support system, is something that differentiates poor mothers who don’t slide into homelessness from those who do.

The fifth policy brief from the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness (ICPH) on the characteristics of fragile families who become homeless makes a number of points. But, the key role of family and friends is the one that struck me the most.

If a poor mother has support from family and friends, she will be able to work more, she will earn more, and she will rely less on welfare than those with weaker bonds.

So, why would that be the case?

The safety net of family and friends relieves some of the financial strains of poverty – they help with groceries, diapers, clothing, and rent. Family and friends who can help out in an emergency with child care or transportation make it possible for a poor mom to get to work and can mean the difference between keeping and losing a job.

The picture for poor mothers who have weak or erratic support is bleak. They struggle to get a foothold in the labor market and end up homeless more often than their counterparts with strong support.

It’s hard to prove or disprove, but we’ve always felt that one of the reasons our program is so successful in transitioning families out of homelessness, is that we give them a readymade community of support. The families live together on a single campus. The adults attend life skills classes and mental wellness groups together. The children play and study together in their classes. They meet other people at the same place in their lives and making the same life changes. They watch out for each other’s kids. They give each other rides.

First they have new neighbors and then they have new friends. And, now we know how important those friendships can be.