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MEET THE PANELISTS
Eleventh Annual Urban Child Symposium
Housing and the Urban Child:
Exploring the Landscape
Thursday, April 4, 2019 - 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
John and Frances Angelos Law Center Moot Court Room
1401 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201
Among the many stressors that threaten the health, well-being, and long-term success of urban children and youth, the experience of homelessness and housing insecurity during the most critical developmental years is one of the most challenging and impactful. A recent study has found that on any given night, 17% of the U.S. population is experiencing homelessness, including an estimated 1.4 million students enrolled in school. The overall number of homeless people has increased almost one percent between 2016 and 2017, with the largest percentage increase among unaccompanied children and youth. Children who are homeless are more likely to have chronic health problems, asthma, and behavioral problems, and they have reduced access to medical and dental care. Homeless children are twice as likely to repeat a grade, be expelled or suspended, or drop out of high school. One quarter of children who experience homelessness have witnessed violence, including domestic violence, and more than half suffer with anxiety and depression. CFCC's Eleventh Urban Child Symposium examines the issue of homelessness through the lens of its profound impact on children.
Panel One - The Problem
Defining homelessness and gathering accurate data about its impact on urban families presents challenges. Families with children and unaccompanied youth who are "doubling up" with relatives or friends may not define their experience as "homeless," and they may not understand that resources are available to help them. What does homelessness look like for urban children and families? How is housing instability among children and youth connected to other family challenges-from domestic violence to substance abuse? What are the daily realities and long-term impact of homelessness on the children who experience it? What are the unique challenges posed by the rise of unaccompanied homeless youth in Baltimore and other cities?
Panelists:
Mark Bell, Assistant Director of Diversity Initiatives and Recruitment, University of Baltimore School of Law
Allen Blackwell, III, Homeless and Foster Care Liaison, Baltimore City Public Schools
Terry Hickey, Director, Mayor's Office of Human Services
Rebecca Lorick, Program Director, My Sister's Place
Moderator:
Katherine Davis, Truancy Court Program Attorney, Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC)
Panel Two - The Response
What have we learned about the needs of families and children through the study of homelessness? How have programs serving families facing homelessness and housing insecurity evolved in response to this knowledge? How are schools, nonprofits, and local, state, and national government agencies stepping up to identify and support these vulnerable populations? What role does the family justice system play in addressing the multiple challenges of families experiencing homelessness? As we look to the future, where is there hope?
Panelists:
Matt Hill, Attorney and Team Leader, Human Right to Housing Project, Public Justice Center
Ingrid Lofgren, Director, Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPPRP)
Barbara Samuels, Managing Attorney-Housing, ACLU Maryland
Rexanah Wyse, Esq.
, Policy and Program Analyst U.S. Interagency Council
on Homelessness
Moderator:
Spencer Hall, Truancy Court Program Coordinator, Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC)
To register, click here. The symposium is free of charge, but participant registration is required.
We look forward to seeing you!
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