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THE NEED

There are about 6,000 children affected by homelessness aged zero to five in Ventura County, children living doubled up in temporary living situations, transitional housing, shelters, uninhabitable places, and on the street.

Learn to Read

Generally, by age five, these children:

Have a vocabulary deficit of 10,000 words compared to housed children
Are emotionally stressed, 20% having a diagnosable mental illness
Are developmentally delayed and/or unready for kindergarten

They are at risk for:

Acute illnesses and mental health difficulties
Attachment and relationship problems
School problems in learning and behaviors

Teacher with Pupils

Kid Piling Blocks

These factors lead to high risk for:

Drug and alcohol problems and/or abuse
Dropping out of school and/or legal problems
Homelessness as adults
Difficulty with parenting
Unsafe, unstable relationships