Giving for backpacks that carry hope for homeless students

THERE’S no summer break for case managers trying to help their youngest clients prepare for a new school year.

On Monday, child and youth advocate Anne Bailey picked up 95 backpacks from the Seattle/King County Coalition for Homelessness’ annual supply drive. Many others did the same, stuffing packs into cars.

An educator before she began working with homeless families through Compass Housing Alliance’s HomeStep Family Program, Bailey knows the indignity children feel when they have to ask their peers and teachers for paper and pencils.

There’s assistance for these students thanks to donors, including Seattle Times readers who give to the editorial board’s annual school-supply drive.

All proceeds are split among supply drives run by Hopelink, the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness and YWCA Seattle King Snohomish.

The children receiving assistance come from every background imaginable. They include immigrants, refugees, orphans and victims of domestic violence. Some are experiencing homelessness for the first time. Others have never had a bed to call their own. Moving from place to place is common.

“With all the instability in their lives, I see an impact on their mental health, PTSD and higher anxiety levels,” says Bailey.

When children change schools, she adds, they are very likely to fall behind their peers academically, have poor attendance and suffer from health problems. Giving every homeless student their own backpack filled with supplies is a tangible way to help them stay on track and fit in.