Rethinking the Effects of Homelessness on Children: Resiliency and Competency

An urban family shelter in New England operates an on-site early childhood education program for the children of shelter residents and families living in the community. In contrast to the findings in much of the research on young homeless children, the case examples presented here illustrate the strengths and the coping strategies of homeless children, along with their similarities to their peers in the program who have homes. The importance of understanding the complex and varied experiences children and families have with homelessness is discussed, as well as implications for early childhood teachers, researchers, social workers, and child advocates.