
House vs Home: A Child's Perspective on Housing Stability
I recently had the opportunity to interview some of the smartest people I know - and they all happen to be under the age of 14. Kids have a remarkable ability to express their opinions by driving straight at the heart of an issue, and the children I spoke with about housing stability did not disappoint. Here's what they had to say... What is the difference between a house and a home? "A home is the heart." - Nyrah, age 7 "A home is where you live there for life." - Makayiah,

UNDERSERVED KIDS HAVE
COOKIES WITH SANTA
The Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation (VBCDC) hosted “Cookies with Santa,” an event that gave formerly homeless children a chance to meet Santa and receive gifts donated by the community. “Santa! Santa! Santa!” The kids chanted, and the Big Man himself was summoned by their holiday cheer. Santa and his helpers passed out gifts including stuffed animals and high-demand toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels. Over 30 children attended, joined by their families and the f

Ten Reasons Why Johnny Still Lives in His Car
The internet was invented in 1958. The War on Poverty started in 1964. We sent a man to the moon in 1969. Why have we not been able to end homelessness in the United States? We have passed housing equality laws, but we haven't faced up to issues of housing equity. Most government programs have a very limited and deceiving definition of who is truly homeless. Innovation and risk-taking is not a leadership competency taught or endorsed in the community development industry. Non