Children bear the burden of homelessness. They are twice as likely to go hungry, are twice as sick, and are three times more likely to have an emotional or behavioral problem than a non-homeless child (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2005).
K.I.D.S. battles these effects of poverty by supporting social service agencies and homeless shelters across the country with donations of new clothes, shoes, books and other essentials to help children displaced by homelessness. |
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When the Houston Coalition for the Homeless, an agency that K.I.D.S. closely partners with, asked individuals and families without homes what their greatest need was, 83% of young people as well as adults answered “clothing,” above medical care, job training, housing vouchers or even food.
With so many secondhand donations being “good enough for them but not for us,” as one shelter director said, a child’s dignity is lost, and their self-worth shattered because they wear badly worn-out, ill-fitting garments. According to Andrea Robinson, coordinating council director at the Houston Coalition, “K.I.D.S.’ ability to direct first-rate clothing merchandise in an efficient manner makes partnering with the organization such a joy.” |
