Maryland Department of Human Services’ Post

Every child deserves a chance to learn. Highlighting the plight and potential during #StreetChildrenDay. Street children are poor or homeless children who live on the streets of a city, town, or village. Homeless youth are often called street kids, and many often perceive the issue of street children as being exclusive to countries outside of the United States, yet the reality is starkly different. In America, street children face the same dire circumstances of vulnerability, homelessness, and neglect, hidden beneath the surface of the country's perceived wealth and stability. Factors like family instability, abuse, systemic poverty, etc., compel these children to navigate a precarious existence on the margins, devoid of the safety and basic rights many take for granted. Their resilience in the face of such adversity is a testament to their strength, but it also highlights the critical need for supportive interventions. Addressing this issue requires acknowledging its presence within our borders and committing to solutions that tackle the root causes, ensuring all children have access to the security and opportunities they deserve, which include classroom and educational equity. They need the tools to succeed and begin to break the cycle. #StreetChildrenDay #EducationForEveryChild #Hope #Back2SchoolAmerica

PEACE, Inc. is excited to release its 2024 Community Needs Assessment on Poverty in Onondaga County! Conducted and released publicly every 3 years, the assessment seeks to spur agency improvements, advocacy, and action. You can find the findings here: https://lnkd.in/eKgX2j2E. Have comments? Suggestions? Reach out to us! Central New York has the potential for a “moment.” Micron, the removal of the I81 viaduct, and the rebuilding of Syracuse Public Housing offer transformative possibilities to deliver social opportunity, economic promise, and inclusionary justice for those who have been marginalized. Yet, the promise of the future must wrestle with the legacies of the past and the conditions of the present. The assessment addresses histories of discrimination and inequality, poverty, trauma, finances, mental health, violent crime, housing, lead, employment, education, childcare, transportation, nutrition, food insecurity, and more. A full range of demographic groups are also discussed.

In Chicago, around 12,000 unaccompanied youth experience homelessness each year, often due to family conflict, poverty, or involvement in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Black youth are particularly impacted, facing an 83% higher risk of homelessness than their peers. These disparities remind us that real change is needed to protect our youth. By highlighting these figures, we hope to raise awareness and show the impact of continued investment in housing resources for homeless youth in Chicago and beyond. Learn more on Of Color Inc's programs and how we're working towards lowering these statistics: https://lnkd.in/gtTwhMHf Source: Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness

We are humbled to share the story of our partnership with the Social Justice Public Charter School, a local school in Washington DC that is partnering with us for an intergenerational guaranteed income pilot. Attacking poverty through parent and child economic wellbeing is our aim. What we hope to impact is the instability that follows poverty. And this too often invokes the twin systems of truancy and family policing. It is hard to study, to concentrate, and to dream when you go to bed hungry at night. Strengthening families must begin with the tool of cash - to boost kids and their parents in meeting their basic economic needs. https://lnkd.in/eRUydnCZ #MotherUp2Gen #guaranteedincome

Can you help us find housing? Home Suite Hope’s most immediate need is for housing – affordable housing. If you know someone who has rental units, in-law suites, is a property manager or contemplating building with a not-for-profit partner, we ask that you consider connecting with Home Suite Hope. We can’t bring in new families to our programming – which offers post-secondary tuition, job search and wraparound supports over four years - if we can’t find housing for them. We work from a housing-first approach, one that recognizes that individuals need safe and secure housing before they can start to address any other barrier in their lives. If we cannot house single parent-led families facing homelessness, we cannot offer any other elements of our programming that have been proven successful in getting families stabilized and self-sufficient and breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Contact Catherine Villasenor at cvillasenor@homesuitehope.org. #HSH #HomeSuiteHope #Poverty #SingleParents #Education #RegionOfHalton #SheridanCollege #Homelessness #AffordableHousing #PartnersInChange

How can you shift from a spectator to a game-changer in ending homelessness, childhood food insecurity, and resolving education gaps? 🏆 Marcus J. Austin "M.Dot" is not just pointing out problems but actively working on solutions. Your support can help turn these visions into reality. What role will you play? Quote: “Indulging in blame fills you up temporarily but leaves you hungry for real change.” #MarcusJAustin #MDot #Revelation #Theemeraldtablet https://lnkd.in/gNUNEtUx https://lnkd.in/eFDdtrf

# EMPOWER THE FAMILY, EMPOWER THE SOCIETY! Family empowerment to provide help and support to orphans and vulnerable children has far reaching ecological impacts: for the community, the benefits may include in: 1. *Reduced poverty rates*: Supporting vulnerable children can help break the cycle of poverty, leading to a more prosperous community. 2. *Increased social cohesion*: Community members come together to support a common cause, fostering a sense of unity and social responsibility. 3. *Improved child outcomes*: Supported children are more likely to succeed in school, leading to a more educated and skilled community. 4. *Role modeling*: Families helping orphans and vulnerable children set a positive example, encouraging others to get involved in community service. 5. *Community development*: Supporting vulnerable children can lead to community-led initiatives, promoting sustainable development and social change. 6. *Reduced crime rates*: Supporting vulnerable children can help prevent criminal behavior and reduce juvenile delinquency. 7. *Increased community engagement*: Community members are more likely to participate in other social and civic activities, leading to a more active and engaged community. Keynote: empowering families to support orphans and vulnerable children can have a positive impact on the community, contributing to a more compassionate and thriving society. This is what MWAYA envisions.

Connecticut, take note! The ENOUGH Initiative in Maryland shows us the transformative power of state investment in community-driven, place-based solutions to address huge systemic challenges. This model highlights 1) a community-centered approach; 2) cross-sector collaboration; and 3) the power of a state as a catalyst. This is the way we're going to tackle the biggest challenges at hand: States investing in scalable, community-based strategies that lead to equitable opportunities for children and families.

The ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the ABA Commission on Law and Aging have collaborated to design a resource hub for attorneys and other advocates supporting older adults at risk of poverty and homelessness. Today, we are launching our new resource website, Fostering Stability in Aging. ambar.org/stabilityinaging Being mindful of older adults at risk of poverty and homelessness and providing essential supports is important to our work. We hope this new resource webpage will help others working in this space. The page features resources from sources like ABA Senior Lawyers Division, Administration for Community Living, National Consumer Law Center, and USAging. Please share our new resource page with your friends and colleagues.

Spent the past few days in San Francisco🌁 for the National Alliance to End Homelessness 2024 Innovations and Solutions for Ending Unsheltered Homelessness conference. Nearly 40% of the more than 1,200 attendees were from California, but we were able to hear about unique approaches from both across the State and the nation. In this field — success looks like sharing and collaboration🫱🏾🫲🏼! And at LA Family Housing, we thrive on working in coalition because we believe “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Conference Takeaways: 1️⃣Ending homelessness is possible. 2️⃣Building more housing is key. 3️⃣Elevating lived experience is necessary. 4️⃣Housing justice is racial justice. 5️⃣Budget advocacy is a must. 6️⃣And going it alone is selfish and deadly.