A little investment

Over 3.5 million people in the U.S. are homeless. 39% of those are under the age of 18.  1.3 million runaway and homeless youth live on the streets of America - almost half left their homes because of abuse and over one third because of sexual abuse.  Many are homeless with their single mom or dad.

My first time going to a homeless shelter I was expecting to see mostly older men who were addicted a substance, like the ones I see on the side of the road.  I was wrong.  There are families. There are children.  There are teens.  It was an eye-opener.

The HALO Learning Center, Kansas City

HALO currently partners with homeless shelters and residential care facilities in Denver and Kansas City with the mission of giving at-risk, homeless, and foster care children life skills, art therapy, tutoring, and hope of a brighter future. 

Unlike in the other countries where HALO provides support, in the US there is federal and state funding available to help support these children through the foster care system, shelters, and residential care facilities that provide their basic needs.  But most of the time, the missing piece is life skill development and exposure to resources.


How do we break the cycle?  It is rare for them to have a role model capable of inspiring them and helping them set tangible goals.   Simple things like how to balance a check book, how to get a job, how to pursue an education.  There are scholarships and resources out there...we just need to connect the kids with them.

Showing them that there is hope,  that they can be happy, responsible adults who are capable of supporting a family one day.  All it takes is a little investment from others to share life skills. 

If you are interested in sharing a life skill or just spending time with kids who need your support, please email lacyvoight@haloworldwide.org in Kansas City or blaineheydt@haloworldwide.org in Denver.

 PS.  One way to help homeless people you drive by on the streets - type up a page of shelters and resources in your area, print out multiple copies and keep them with you in your car.  You can even tape your pages them to little packages of crackers for a little sustenance :) Shelters are amazing places with missions of helping homeless people get back on their feet.