Incorporating comprehensive assessment into the intake process in all homeless and housing programs serving families and children will ensure that needs are accurately identified, and services delivered as early as possible, addressing urgent needs, redressing known health disparities, and building families' resiliency. 4. Provide Trauma-Informed Care To respond to the extremely high prevalence of exposure to traumatic stress (including domestic violence) and its mental health consequences—especially major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use—all agencies should provide trauma-informed care—a strengthsbased organizational approach, in which all services are provided through the lens of trauma.
5. Provide Parenting SupportsLike most mothers, homeless mothers love their children and would do anything to support them. H owever, given the extreme stress experienced by these women, it is not surprising that studies have documented that they tend to provide less structure and stimulation, are less warm toward their children, and tend to use coercive disciplinary practices compared to housed mothers [4]. A.
lthough parenting programs are part of the solution to family homelessness, they should not constitute the sole response. T reatment is essential for mothers with significant symptoms of depression, PTSD, and substance use. S ince most mental health disorders have their roots in childhood and youth—with an estimated 14−20% affected in any given year —prevention and treatment of depression and its co-occurring disorders is essential and effective. 6. P rovide Developmentally Appropriate Services for Children in Transition Most children living in shelter or other transitional environments have a history of exposure to trauma and many have experienced other family disruptions.
I n addition, almost half of all children who are homeless are below the age of six years—a period marked by significant brain development. A ll programs serving homeless children should be trauma-informed, ensure that staff members are knowledgeable about child development, attachment, and the impact of traumatic stress, and incorporate child-friendly programming and play spaces to support resiliency.
7. D evelop and Fund a Comprehensive Research AgendaHomelessness is not solely about the lack of housing but also indicates critical disconnection from community services and supports. T hus, the solving of the problem of child homelessness in America needs to ensure the families in need of affordable housing, to provide parents with the opportunity to earn money, to carry out actions to strengthen the physical and mental health of family members, to create fund to support homeless children and other measures.***The causes of child homelessness in America is the low level of income in the family, lack of access to rental housing, psychological trauma, single parenting, membership of a particular race, the effects of the Great Depression. Solutionof children homelessness problem requires a comprehensive approach.
T he first step is to provide families with affordable housing and repair existing ones. A t the same time the restoration of the physical and psychological health has a great importance. S ingle mothers and disadvantaged families should be given the opportunity to earn money. I.
t is also necessary to organize the creation and of a fund to support the homeless American children. CONCLUSIONIt is unacceptable that 2.5 million children, one in every 30 children annually experience homelessness in the United States. T he number has steadily increased over the past few decades, and will not decrease until the country pays no attention to this problem, and makes it an immediate priority. H omelessness has been reduced among the chronically homeless individuals and veterans by targeting additional resources in the form of housing and critical supports. N.
ow is the time to turn the children and families in this effort. D ecision of child homelessness begins with reconciliation as a nation, that children, living doubled up in the basements and attics with relatives and friends, are left homeless and in need of the help. T he next step is to ensure an adequate supply of safe, affordable housing in conjunction with the necessary services. T o stay accommodation, mothers need employment opportunities that provide sufficient income.
T his requires education, training, transportation and child care. U niversal screening of all homeless families is crucial to understand the needs of the family outside the property, as well as to set realistic goals. W hen the appropriate combination of support and services for each family is determined, services should include family-oriented, trauma-informed approach. F urther research is needed to understand what the combination of housing and services is the most effective for which family and children.
T he report described the grim reality of child homelessness in America and also presentedthe solutions. I t is necessary to mobilize a comprehensive response and pay attention to the millions of children in this country who have no home to call their own, or another generation of children will not be permanently lost and marginalized. REFERENCESSources:American Psychiatric Association. (2013).
D iagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. Bassuk, E. L., & amp; Geller, S. (2006).
T he role of housing and services in ending family homelessness. H ousing Policy Debate, 17, 781−806Congressional Research Service (2013). C.
hild support: An overview of Census Bureau data on recipients. W ashington, DC. Retrieved from:
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22499.pdfLindsey, E. W. (1998). The impact of homelessness and shelter life on familyrelationships. Family Relations, 47, 243−252.
http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/.
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/2014/11/21/6 309 841.shtml.
