How Homelessness Hurts Children's Health
and How You Can Help
Eighth Annual Forum on Family Homelessness
Sunday, March 11, 2012, 3:00-5:00 PM
Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm St., Concord.
Sponsors: Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM), and Horizons for Homeless Children.
Co-sponsors: Episcopal City Mission and UU Mass Action Network
Family homelessness remains at very high levels in Mass. due to the continued difficult economy, including record foreclosures. Over 42,000 families sought state housing assistance in the year ending July 2011 - 30% more than in 2010. Currently, over 2000 families are in shelters nightly plus more than 1300 families are still in motels, placing at great risk the health of families and especially children.
This year’s Forum focuses on the impact of homelessness on children’s health.
· Expectant women experiencing homelessness are 30% more likely to have pre-term deliveries, and 50% more likely to deliver low weight infants.
· Children in housing insecurity are 50% more likely to be in poor health, and 70% more at risk of developmental problems.
Learn How We Can Advocate to Protect Children's Health by Sustaining the state's Successful Homelessness Prevention Program,
NOW AT RISK due to limits on State Budget Funding
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Megan Sandel
SPEAKERS:
· Dr. Megan Sandel, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at Boston Medical Center and a nationally recognized expert on housing and child health
· Robert Pulster, Associate Director, Department of Housing Stabilization, Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development
· A formerly homeless mother who experienced health problems for herself and her children while homeless.
· State legislators from our area districts will comment on the issues in a panel discussion.
Dr. Megan Sandel will speak on the effects of homelessness and severe housing insecurity on the health, nutrition, and early childhood development of homeless children. Robert Pulster will tell us of the progress and needs of the state's shelter reform program.
Sixteen homelessness prevention organizations will also attend: browse their information and displays.
For more information about the Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness, contact Carl Miller, Coordinator, at NormanCMiller@comcast.net or 978-369-3755; visit the Advocacy Network & CMM on line www.coopmet.org.