***Information for teachers and youth leaders coming soon!***

The Facts on Homelessness

• Every day in Montgomery County there are more than 1,100 people who are homeless.

• Can you imagine not having your own warm bed to sleep in at night? About 300 kids every single day in Montgomery County don’t because they’re homeless. Some of these kids are your age.

• The average age of a homeless person in the United States is 9 years old.

• Homeless kids have grown-ups who love and take care of them, but it’s still very hard for them. They can’t do a lot of the things you do in your home every day - - like having friends over to play, watching t.v., using the computer or eating meals with your family.

• Some homeless people have jobs. In Montgomery County, almost 1/3 of all homeless adults work, but still don’t have enough money for a place to live.

• Not all homeless people wear ripped, dirty clothes and stand on the street corner asking for money. You can’t always tell whether someone is homeless just by looking at them.
  
  
• Why are people homeless? One problem is that people don’t make enough money to afford a place to live. Another problem is that housing costs too much for people who don’t make a lot of money.

How Can You Help?

There are lots of ways that kids can help homeless people. With your family, school or youth group, you can:

• Organize food and clothing drives.
  
  
• Raise money to donate to shelters like ours.

• Tell other people about the problem of homelessness - - that’s called “raising awareness”.

• Write letters to politicians telling them that you think homelessness is a big problem, and asking them to change or pass laws to help homeless people. We are going to add examples of letters written by kids just like you soon, so check back!

• Do volunteer activities for our organization. Click here to see some of our volunteer needs, and to contact someone on our staff about helping.

• ShelterWalk 'n Roll, our annual walkathon held on the first Sunday in May is another great way to help raise awareness and money for the homeless in Montgomery County. You can walk with your family, or organize a group of walkers from your school or youth group. In addition to our annual Shelter Walk, we have family-friendly music and other festivities before and after the walk. Click here for more information on ShelterWalk 'n Roll.
  
  
• Every year, the Fannie Mae Foundation’s Help the Homeless walkathon raises funds and awareness to help prevent and end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. area. Join thousands of Coalition staff, clients, family, friends, supporters and other walkers in the fight against homelessness!  All registration fees go directly to the Coalition’s programs, and each walker counts toward our goal of earning the $25,000 incentive for having 1,250 walkers. Don’t forget to select MCCH as your beneficiary organization, and come walk with us! Click here for more information on Help the Homeless.

A Year of Activities!

Here are some suggestions for volunteer projects that your family, school, or civic group can do throughout the year. To find out more or to schedule a project, please contact (301)217-0314 x16.

January

Collect canned foods and blankets for the Men's Emergency Shelter

February

Make Valentine's Day cards or cookies for our Safe Havens shelters

March

Prepare 100 bag lunches for the Men's Emergency Shelter

April

Buy and Plant flowers at Seneca Heights Apartments or at one of our Safe Havens

May

Participate in ShelterWalk'n Roll to raise funds and awareness

June

Hold a summer clothing/shoe drive

July

Host an ice cream party at a shelter

August

Hold a toiletries drive for the Men's Emergency Shelter and Safe Havens

September

Collect new school supplies for kids at Senenca Heights Apartments and Partnership for Permanent Housing

October

Hold a cereal drive for the Men's Emergency Shelter

November

Prepare holiday "cookie kits" or "photo kits" for families in our programs or Join us in the Help the Homeless Walkathon

December

Give new, wrapped presents to residents of an adult shelter (call Shannon at 301.217.0314 x16 beforehand for "wish lists!")