Invisible Child

“Step between systems in a county or state and you will notice–immediately–the holes.” This line, from NCCD’s Giving Library video, could have been written about young Dasani and her family, who are the focus of Andrea Elliott’s stunning five-part multimedia New York Times piece on children and homelessness in New York City. Elliott’s series chronicles the story of a family who exists at the nexus of many human services systems, which are too often failing to give them what they need.

“Step between systems in a county or state and you will notice–immediately–the holes.” This line, from NCCD’s Giving Library video, could have been written about young Dasani and her family, who are the focus of Andrea Elliott’s stunning five-part multimedia New York Times piece on children and homelessness in New York City. Elliott’s series chronicles the story of a family who exists at the nexus of many human services systems, which are too often failing to give them what they need. The story richly illustrates how “at-risk” children and families are not just at risk in one way, but in many, which makes exiting human services systems–and living a life of safety and well-being–an incredible challenge that can extend for generations.

Photo credit: Ruth Fremson