Lori and Savanna

Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip

I met Lori and her daughter Savanna while visiting a rotating shelter in Detroit, Michigan.

I cannot imagine the challenges of raising a child without permanent housing. Yet children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.

According to data collected one night in January 2007 – 50% of homeless populations are families and children in a given year. 13% of families are homeless due to domestic violence. 39% of the homeless people are children under 18 (5% are unaccompanied youth)

Researchers estimate that between 4-7% of youth will experience homelessness before their 18th birthday. Homelessness takes a toll on young children. For example, a child who has experienced homelessness experiences post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at twice the rate of returning war veterans. ~taken from EndHomelessness.Change.org

Lori hopes for a better future. One where she can provide for Savanna – she says, “live a good life like everybody else”.

Special thanks to Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter

ABC News Detroit story of my visit

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Permalink | Comments (Comments) | Nov 26, 2009

  • northenrlights
    What disturbs me, is that when monetary support is given to help the homeless, too much of it is used for 'administration'. Further, I'm beginning to think that we are all better served if we 'teach a man to fish'. We can feed everyone everyday, and tomorrow they will have to be fed again. But if we teach a man/woman/child to fish/grow a garden/raise an animal for food, then they can eat for a lifetime. It is time to teach --- and not just the type of teaching they want to do in schools, but life skills. Let's get back to basics.
  • Fletcher
    I know one problem i have encountered is that food networks don't like produce. Why? Because the clients they serve don't know how to cook. So I agree we need to teach people basic skills, such as what to do with a vegetable. I have a friend who is writing a book, and one of the planned chapters is how to eat quite well on food stamps...
  • micosantos
    Nice story:)
  • naialani
    I just want to thank you for this blog of awareness! very very powerful and i NEED to pay MORE attention to my fellow man!
  • michelleflowers
    Thank you for helping the world take notice of these amazing people. They matter and it's about time we all become more aware and active about the issue of homelessness.
  • anonymous
    hey there brother in Christ, keep travling and sharing with the needy about the living water---...... if you go to crytogod.com preacher dude site he mght be able to tell you where to get some free tracts if you wanan use those to give out. He lives in CA and preaches the gospel. I found them on youtube and they also make free tshirt for you like if you want a Jesus tshirt if you evangelize and it looks like you do with your street minsitry.... anyways keep on sharing need for love and mercy dear brother....this story is really touching...so many people need hope of God....
    godlovestheworld.com
  • USchildrenfirst
    What's really sad is that money goes all over the world to help children and millions are left with nothing, right here in the US. And there are a lot of scams out there too. If you send your money to a 3rd world nation, how can you know it is really being used to help the child in the picture they sent. You don't. If this baby grows up this way, she could be the next Alyssa Bustamante. I've known a few guys that grew up in shelters and they are in prison for murder. Save OUR children first....love thy neighbor
  • Jason D
    When the young become homeless theres such a great chance it could end up being a lifetime of homelessness and the first rung on the ladder is the hardest to get onto and should you be pushed of it losing heart can be the very thing that settles you into an underclass of having nothing and then hoping for nothing...ive lived with nothing for some months once and can feel for all the people on here..its only reaching that point and one stroke of bad luck and your there..off the ladder of life...i hope they have that one good stroke of luck and have a better slice of life..all good people deserve that
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