Dear Editor,
Hello, we are in the 5th grade class at P.S. 147 in Bushwick. This semester, we chose to research homelessness in NYC, specifically in our local neighborhood. We wondered what homeless people in our community face and what we can do to help support them.
When we conducted our research on homelessness, we noticed how expensive it is to live and get by, and we learned that inflation is causing the cost of living to rise. We learned that there may be over 300,000 people who are unhoused in NYC on any night, and that many unhoused people are families with young children. We found it unfair that some people don’t have enough money to get by, while others have more money than they will ever need. For students like us, being unhoused can make it really hard to succeed in school and to believe in yourself.
One thing we were interested in was finding out what support systems exist for young people who are experiencing homelessness. We met the founder of an organization called Mentor A Promise, which connects youth at risk of homelessness with resources for school and mentorship. He explained that people can lose their homes very suddenly, such as after a fire. The organization also helps support families facing housing challenges. He told us it is important to keep learning and to share information. We researched more programs, such as Coalition for the Homeless, which provides services including youth programs and job training.
We were inspired by this work and how it helps people. But it made us wonder: who helps the organizations? We decided to research this. It turns out that many programs are supported by the government, but they also depend on donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses.
This made us think about people who have been very successful and earned a lot of money. We believe that people with great wealth have a special opportunity to make a real difference. While any donation can help, larger gifts can support shelters, affordable housing programs, emergency assistance, mentorship programs, and other services that help families stay housed. We think that people who have a lot of money to give should spend a big part of it helping people find homes and supporting programs that help people who are homeless in New York City.
This is why we are writing. We want to share a message with people who came from New York and have been successful. Imagine if your home was damaged by a fire and you suddenly had nowhere to go. Or imagine being a child whose family could no longer afford rent. Wouldn’t you hope that someone with the ability to help would step forward?
Organizations like Mentor A Promise and Coalition for the Homeless are good places to start. We support these groups because they help young people and families build more stable futures. We also encourage people to support local shelters and housing programs throughout New York City. By making homelessness and affordable housing a major priority in their giving, wealthy individuals, foundations, and companies can help thousands of New Yorkers find safety, stability, and hope.
We hope that encouraging this kind of giving is one way that we can help support our community. We hope that you will remember to give back to the communities of Brooklyn and New York City.
Thank you for reading our letter.
Sincerely,
Class 501 with the Service Learning Project at P.S. 147
