A Child's Place works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.We began this mission 21 years ago when homeless children were not allowed to go to school.

Homeless children are living in unstable living conditions that include shelters, motels, doubled-up with others and cars.Because of the instability they experience, these children are:

• Go hungry twice as often as other children
• Sick four times more often
• 2-3 grade levels behind and twice as likely to repeat a grade
• Experiencing emotional and behavioral problems 3 times more than their housed peers.

The graduation rate for homeless children is below 25%.

Source: National Center on Family Homelessness

Of students served by A Child's Place:

• 53% are male/47% are female
• 75% are African American
• 20% are Hispanic Latino
• 5% are Caucasian

These kids are no different from your kids or mine.They have the same hopes and dreams as any other child.

Stability and education are key solutions to solve the homeless problem here in Charlotte. The relationship between education and income is one of the best-documented in economics:those with more education make more money.For every year a child progresses through school, the likelihood of being poor and homeless as an adult decreases.

Source: A Child's Place Client data, 2008-2009; Levin, H., Belfield, C., Muennig, P. and Rouse, C. (2007), The Costs and Benefits of an Excellent Education for All of American's Children.New York, NY:Columbia University.

We can pay now or pay later.It costs ACP $868 per year to serve a homeless child.Compare that to $62,000 for that same child to be in our juvenile justice system or $39,000 to be incarcerated as an adult or for the costs of substance abuse treatment or government assistance later.Helping these children now not only fulfills their hopes and dreams, it creates better citizens and employees for our community.

94% of A Child's Place students are promoted to the next grade (compare to 64% nationally) and 80% read on grade level (compare to 48% nationally and 68% of Charlotte-Mecklenburg School students).

Source: A Child's Place client data, 2008-2009; National Center on Family Homelessness

There are over 3,200 students identified as homeless in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.This number has increased by 20% every year for the past 5 years.A Child's Place is not able to keep pace with the increasing number of homeless children in our community.

That's why A Child's Place is embarking on a 3-year Strategic Plan is to reach and help every homeless child in Mecklenburg County including those under age five while simultaneously participating in community initiatives to reduce the number of homeless children.

Strategic staff additions and placement will make the difference.  Homeless students attend virtually every Charlotte-Mecklenburg School. That is 176 schools scattered over 526 square miles.  Currently, three Flex and four School-Based social work teams are covering as many of the schools and students as they can … but still leaves many homeless students without help.  Gradually adding five Flex- and three School-Based teams would enable every Mecklenburg County homeless child to receive assistance from A Child's Place.   Appropriate management and administrative support would also be incrementally added.

Having 3,200 homeless children in our city is nothing to be proud of.We can sit by and say "What a shame" or we can roll up our sleeves and get involved.It will be difficult, frustrating and challenging – much like the lives our children experience now.  But what we can be proud of is when we look back and see what we as a community have accomplished.

Our children deserve this.  Our community deserves this.  Won't you join us?