Editor’s Note. Original story published on Medium here;
This time of year, early October, an experience from 1993 rises to the top of my memory. I was running a shelter in Aurora, IL, where a mother was being sued by a school district to prevent her kids from remaining in their school of origin. I was part of the small band of advocates working with the mother to reverse this unenlightened action. This legal battle was life-changing for me, for her kids, and for millions of kids and their families who experienced homelessness.
The mother, Tyeast Boatwright, wanted only to protect the stability of her children’s education, the one thing she thought she could do. The flimsy federal law at the time seemed to indicate she could. My book, Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness, has a chapter describing this fascinating saga that ended up changing the federal law that was previously a barrier for Tyeast’s kids and so many others.
Boatwright’s case had garnered so much attention and gathered real supporters in the Illinois General Assembly, so the advocates went to work lobbying Springfield.
In 1994, the Illinois Education Act for Homeless Children changed the lives of homeless kids across the state. In addition to other gains, homeless kids got to stay in their school of origin. Charlie’s Bill — as it came to be known because of the compelling poster child they used for the legislation — laid the ground work for improving federal legislation and the lives of children all across the country. — Huffington Post
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No shortage of irony
The recent (10/3/26) death of former Congressman Dennis Hastert fits into this story. He was our congressman during this legal skirmish. We appealed to him to intervene, which he/his staff did, arranging for a housing certificate for the family that ended up keeping them in their original school district.
Denny, as we knew him, unfortunately had another side. He was the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House (1998–2006) who wrestled to protect Republican “values” and power. His earlier years as a high school wrestling coach, while honing his future skills to best his political opponents, also ended his career when he was convicted of financialRan, there is the main photo of the baby and the caption is listed below. There are also two other photos that should be posted in the body of the article in the same spot as diane’s original story. Their caption is on the photo so you just need to insert the two phtos in the body of the article where they are in her original medium post. You can see by going to: https://medium.com/fourth-wave/politics-and-family-homelessness-cb133249e649 crimes tied to multiple cases of sexually abusing kids he coached.
When I moved from Illinois to western North Carolina, I ended up with another powerful Republican congressional representative, Virginia Foxx (NC-05). She chairs the House Rules Committee, where she has proven to be a faithful servant to the pedophile-protecting of the convicted felon president.
When I moved into her district, she chaired the House Education and Workforce committee. I met with her with the flimsy hope of helping her see the value of strengthening the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act., aka the McKinney-Vento Act.
It was like talking to a rhododendron.
Among many other flaws, Rep. Foxx has been a stalwart staller of the Epstein files, deftly keeping them from moving into criminal consideration. She’s also blocked much-needed federal assistance to help our western North Carolina area recover from Hurricane Helene. The people most impacted by this storm are in dire straits, still. We have little news media coverage out here, so whatever other evil deeds she is responsible for, we’ll probably never know.
Her opponent, Chuck Hubbard, a former news journalist, offers a welcome change to Virginia’s 20 years of self-serving, insensitive representation.
Abuse and violence impacts vulnerable kids
Most people don’t connect that abuse causes trauma which significantly contributes to homelessness. Society’s typical “ho-hum” attitude blunts what should be a more infuriated reaction by law enforcement and the public. Especially if those abused are children or women.
Those of us working with families experiencing homelessness cannot ignore the devastating impact of abuse — physical, emotional, sexual — on the kids we work with. Some have endured all forms of life-changing assault, with physical and mental health issues creating vast traumatic impacts directly connected to their homelessness.
The cruel insensitivity of (mostly) Republican lawmakers to the hardships and vulnerability of homeless families is demonstrated by the legislation we call the “Big Bad Ugly Bill.”
The ramifications have been both swift and dire. SNAP participation nationwide fell by an alarming 4 million people, with more than 1 million children losing coverage. In addition to the millions of people losing Medicaid/CHIP, approximately a million fewer people enrolled in the ACA marketplace after the enhanced premium tax credits expired at the beginning of 2026, and ACA enrollment is projected to decline by almost 5 million by the end of the year.— SPLC
Between the MAGA Republican systemic abuse and the more insidious forms of abuse, vulnerable families face more than enough challenges. The longer kids have to wrestle to get their most basic human needs met, they lose ground on their development. The consequences are life changing, not for good.
Evidence of cruelty
For more than 40 years that I’ve been working on homelessness issues, I’ve heard lip service about “ending homelessness.” I’m bipartisan pissed — but can say that the scales are tipped towards the Republicans since they hold the power, for now. All levels of Republican-led government have adhered to the Cicero Institute recommendations which make homelessness a crime. Filling private prisons makes the owners happy/rich, and they funnel big bucks to the legislators who send them so much business.
Phoenix and Maricopa County, AZ, with their typical 100 degree temperatures, have some explaining to do. ProPublica recently highlighted their abject failure to adequately, or even half-assedly, meet the basic human needs of families in homeless situations. One man with a cellphone, Austin Davis, is it.
Caseworkers, teachers, social workers, police and hospital workers have called and texted to see if Davis can help people without a place to go. Even workers from the official channel — 211 and the Family Housing Hub — have sent people to him. — ProPublica
One of Davis’ associates delivered a letter to AZ Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, pleading for relief.
“I implore you to consider the children who endure extreme heat without safe shelter,” the letter stated. “No parent should be told to wait months for assistance while temperatures reach life-threatening levels.”
No response as of yet. The more we keep ignoring family homelessness, the more adult homelessness we will have. Few shelters offer intensive, extensive support for those who come through their doors.
What works
This Detroit shelter, COTS, operates a program to develop and sustain independence, Passport to Self-Sufficiency. They realize that some people are going to need ongoing, extensive support to avoid falling back into homelessness, and they should be able to get it because becoming homeless again is devastating.
Given adequate support, many people can move forward with their lives. Kids who receive assistance and have access to educational offerings — academic, extra-curricular, athletics, nutrition — can thrive as adults. Why shouldn’t we be there with every tool in the toolbox for them?
The 3 kids mentioned at the beginning of this post all ended up being successful. It was worth the grueling fight.
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