Bringing Families

Every child deserves a safe, warm home every night of the year. This is not the reality for more than 30,000 kids in North Carolina.

Families are forced to call a friend’s couch, a shelter, or even their family car home for the night. This is an uncomfortable reality for young children experiencing homelessness. Families with young children deserve an easier path to secure, stable housing options.

0
kids in North Carolina​

When we think of homelessness, we don’t think of babies and young children. Yet, in our state, someone’s highest chance of experiencing homelessness is when they are an infant. Babies and toddlers deserve better. They need the love of our community to find them a home. 

It’s time to forget what we think we know about children experiencing homelessness and step up for families.

It’s astonishing how many young children face homelessness.

When we think of homelessness, we don’t think of babies and young children. Yet, in our state, someone’s highest chance of experiencing homelessness is when they are an infant. Babies and toddlers deserve better. They need the love of our community to find them a home. 

It’s time to forget what we think we know about children experiencing homelessness and step up for families.

Approximately 1.3 million children under age 6 experience homelessness each year in the United States.

Families with children account for an estimated 30 to 40% of the nation’s homeless population.

Young mothers are hardest hit. Female-headed families with no spouse make up 67% of low-income families (living below 100% of poverty) with children under age 6 in North Carolina.

Nearly 50% of children living in homeless shelters are 5 years old or younger, a problem for families, communities, states and our country.

All our infants, toddlers, and preschool kids must have safe, secure homes. Homelessness at any age can have devastating effects. Young children are particularly susceptible to the long-term impacts of homelessness because their brains are rapidly developing. Being homeless, even for a short while, can:

Half of all children under 6 in North Carolina live in households at risk of becoming homeless. As a result, homelessness is often closer than families know.

0 %
Children Under Six

Almost 1 in 2 of all children 6 and younger in North Carolina live in at-risk households. 48% of children under 6 live in families under the 200% poverty level – the threshold that allows a family to meet basic needs for housing, food, and other necessities.

0
Families

In North Carolina, approximately 250,000 families are in the risk zone – 709,254 young children under 6 live in 500,261 families.

NC Map

Ending homelessness is possible, but we must make it an even playing field for families with young children. In our state, safety has become unaffordable. Every community across the state has an unstable, ever-increasing housing market which leaves families needing a soft place to land.

  • 26% of low-income families with children under age 6 in North Carolina moved at least once in the past year compared to 15% of all households.
  • Nearly 4 out of 5 families (79%) with children under age 6 are renters.
  • 1 in 5 families in North Carolina is at risk of becoming homeless every month. In addition, 214,000 (20%) of families with children aged ever-increasingly have little or no confidence in their ability to pay their next rent or mortgage payment.
  • There is no easy path for these families. Only 1 in 4 eligible poor renter families receive federal housing subsidies.

North Carolina’s young children need your help. We need your voice. We need your fight to bring families home. This will not be an overnight success, but when voices come together, amazing things can happen.

Join the Bringing Families Home mailing list to add your voice and receive updates on how to help children in your community.

North Carolina’s motto is Esse Quam Videri, or “To be rather than to seem.” We are creating a movement to demand our state be for our young children rather than seeming to be. We can make an impact on young children together.

Get tips for young children experiencing homelessness right now.

Bringing Families

North Carolina’s motto is Esse Quam Videri, or “To be rather than to seem.” We are creating a movement to demand our state be for our young children rather than seeming to be. We can make an impact on young children together.

Get tips for young children experiencing homelessness right now.

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Appreciating AWARD$ Plus: Doris Lee

Doris Lee is a Dare County Early Childhood Professional and onsite Administrator of a 4 star licensed facility. She is a strong advocate for Early Childhood and strives every day to be an influential resource to her fellow teachers, the children and their families as she serves in the field. She wants to raise awareness about how child care needs are not being met, including fair compensation for early educators, and the resources that are not available. Doris said, “AWARD$ Plus allows me to be able to take care of my financial obligations along with my living expenses. Our line of work deserves competitive wages for teachers and administrators to feel appreciated and respected as they fight the good fight. Early childhood educators shouldn’t be financially struggling to maintain the basics of everyday life all because they chose to work with children.” 

Read More »

First Year in Review: Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus

First year? In many ways, yes! If you are familiar with Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$®, then you know this education-based salary supplement program actually began back in 2018. However, in FY23, the program transitioned to AWARD$ Plus with expanded eligibility. The primary differences in eligibility are shown below.

Read More »

Appreciating AWARD$ Plus: Veronica Pigford

Veronica Pigford loves working with two-year-olds, but she didn’t start with this age group. “I came here for a summer job when I was working in the public school system and I just fell in love with infants and toddlers,” Veronica said. “I love all the children, but I am so happy working with the twos. They love you so much. They cling to you. They appreciate you and are eager to learn new things. I really like being part of that.”

Read More »

Planning with a Purpose: Lesson Planning FAQs

In Planning with a Purpose, a cohort-based learning community, we have spent our first couple of sessions together discussing the purpose and process of lesson planning. As a result of these conversations with birth-to-three providers, we as a project want to share with you some planning-related issues that have come to light.

Read More »