From Clueless to Enlightened—Mamas and Mayors Could Do the Job!
What Mayor-wannabes could learn
As I read this news story of Detroit mayoral candidates sharing their vision on addressing homelessness, I knew it was time to launch our New Day Dawning: Mamas and Mayors project! I’m presenting to educators in the Detroit area at the end of September and I’d love to give a push to start New Day Dawning there.
While some of the candidates’ responses in the story were predictable—create more affordable housing, get more vouchers—a couple made my eyes roll, like,
“…create a task force that meets with people who are facing homelessness and find out why they are unhoused,” and
“prioritize funding by looking at the root causes of homelessness, whether that is mental health or substance abuse,” and, the most obvious,
“partner with schools to provide basic services, such as housing, and place counselors in schools.”
Not to fault the well-intentioned candidates, but their responses confirmed what I’ve known, and witnessed, for decades. Elected officials, from mayors on up, mostly don’t have a clue about homelessness, especially root causes.
Who knows best?
Moms have a valid perspective on this issue. They give birth to, and strive to nourish their children. But without proper support, their children may join the growing houseless population in our country. It’s time to unleash moms!
HEAR US created a pilot project, Mamas and Mayors, and launched it back in April 2022, in collaboration with Dawn, a mother I interviewed in February 2022, who spent 4 months with her family in invisible homelessness in Las Cruces, NM. She expressed a desire to do more for others. We visited her mayor on April 1, 2022. Dawn died of cancer July 8, 2023. This project is named in her honor. (To hear Dawn’s story and other NM parents I interviewed, here’s the video I made for the NM Department of Education.)
As our team of 3 Melissas have amply demonstrated, moms (and dads) know a great deal about surviving homelessness. Our challenge is to get their stories out so people can know the truth about surviving homelessness. Part of how we can do that is helping people understand the true scope of family homelessness. Our book, The Three Melissas — The Practical Guide to Surviving Family Homelessness, not only does a spectacular job of giving parents vital tips, but it also gives every reader insights about this issue that most people lack.
Real Solutions, Not Cruelty Needed
As our golf-brain-addled White House occupant spews his “solutions” to homelessness — jailing and/or hospitalizing those on the streets — which Jesse Rabinowitz adeptly dismantles—the bulk of the homeless population—families and youth—are ignored.
Ignoring the true needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness will do no one any good. That’s why HEAR US wants mayoral candidates to learn about this issue from the true experts…the moms!
You can “influence” your mayoral candidates (and anyone else) by presenting them a copy of our 3 Melissas book. Proceeds from book sales go to the 3 Melissas.
Here's more info on the New Day Dawning - Mamas to Mayors project. https://www.hearus.us/compassion-epidemic/new-day-dawning.html