Yesterday I met with a 38 year old mother of a 4 month old baby. She was staying with friends and just became homeless because they received an eviction notice. She didn’t have anywhere to go with her baby when she came to HPP and only had a diaper bag full of things for the baby.

Nancy*, a mother of three, lived at a temporary shelter in Glendale, CA. She arrived pregnant, with two young children, a leaving her husband who had beat her badly, possibly causing her to deliver her baby prematurely. The shelter helped place her in a transitional housing apartment and her children are doing well. Regarding the assistance of donated diapers, she says “I spend approximately $50.00 a month in diapers and wipes alone. Being able to save that money and use it for other bills makes a big help. I can’t thank you enough for the help, to some people it might be just diapers, but to me is being able to not just get by month by month. I am an ambitious woman. I work hard to provide a good future for my children, and any help I can get is always much appreciated.”

Since October, 2009 a little known federal program, the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), has assisted an estimated 600,000 Americans in avoiding homelessness. The micro-funds provided by HPRP are used to cover expenses …

“…with every face, every new name, every threadbare, sweat-stained T-shirt or matted head of hair, I feel a mixture of pity and disgust, and I am ashamed of myself.”

NPR’s Weekend Edition today reports on the rising population of homeless families. Listen to the story here.
Between rising rates in unemployment and foreclosures, it’s no wonder that families are now the country’s fastest growing homeless …

This is a cross post from our friend Rebecca Freed of Becca’s Blog. Becca and her partner were the host of last spring’s Learn to knit party, where Rachel F. and I first learned about …