SAN DIEGO -- Living on the streets can make it difficult to raise a healthy child. But each year, more San Diego families become homeless and are forced to face that challenge.
"There's a tremendous growth in single women with children, partially because the rents are so high, they just can't to live anywhere," said Father Joe Carroll, the driving force behind The Saint Vincent De Paul Villages.
He expects to see more homeless families after the first of the year, when their temporary welfare assistance ends. "If you're a single mother with six kids obviously you couldn't get off -- now you'll have to get off," Father Joe said.
"Yeah, there's a lot (of homeless families). Not all of them are lucky to get in here," said Susan Sheldon, a homeless woman who has a 7-month-old son.
"I was sleeping on the streets for a while ... going in the lunch line, sleeping on the sidewalk and stuff," she said.
When Sheldon became pregnant, getting into the long-term residence at St. Vincent de Paul became the most important thing she could do for her baby.
It's not just because St. Vincent de Paul offers steady meals and warm beds. Sheldon understood that homelessness could hurt Seth's growth, leaving him behind his peers both physically and developmentally.
"Physically they fall behind because mom spends a lot of time holding them, especially young babies," Father Joe explained.
"They're afraid to let them go. Well, the baby's got to learn to crawl. The baby's got to learn to stand up. But if you're holding them all the time ... the child's physical development falls apart," he said.
Children can fall behind socially and emotionally, as well. Father Joe said it's difficult for homeless children to feel loved and supported when their parents can't provide them with the basics.
How the child handles these challenges can impact his or her entire life. "The further behind you fall in development, obviously, affects your adulthood," Father Joe said.
"If a child doesn't get through those first five years healthy they'll be a burden for their family, for society, forever."
One solution is programs such as
Project Safe Child at St. Vincent de Paul. It provides free prenatal and pediatric care to homeless families with children under the age of five. Experts also check for developmental problems, and correct them.
But Father Joe said the program can't keep up with the growing demand in San Diego's tough economy. More is needed. "That's why the rescue mission project is so important -- we need a place for more families to get off the street."
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