Rachel and Her Children:
Homeless Families in America
By Jonathan Kozol
PowerPoint presented by
Jamie Kyzer
SUMMARY
• The author of this book describes the
day-to-day struggles that homeless
people must face while living in New
York.
• Although several homeless shelters
are discussed, the author mostly
focuses on those families that live at
the Martinique Hotel in downtown
New York.
FACT
• When we think of the homeless, we think of drug
addicted hobos, alcoholic bag ladies, or runaway,
rebellious teens.
• Although this is sometimes the case, many of the
homeless families discussed in this book once had
their own apartment or house, and held a steady
job. Circumstances beyond their control such as
skyrocketing rents, loss of family members, or fire
left them without a home and/or job.
REACTION
• This past summer I visited my friend who lives in
downtown Boston. As we were shopping one day
in Harvard Square, I remember passing an old
homeless man who was asking people for money
on the side of the street. Being careful not to touch
him, I dropped a few spare coins in his hand.
Automatically assuming that the money I gave him
would be used for drugs or alcohol, I looked upon
him with contempt.
• After reading this book, I understand that the man
I saw on the side of the street could have, at one
time, been just like me. On the other hand, had
circumstances been different, and it was me who
had fallen victim to a series of unfortunate events, I
could be just like him.
FACT
• Homeless people who live in shelters, like
the Martinique, are charged with an
impossible task. Their task, day in and day
out, is to look for a home. However, in New
York, public assistance does not allow a
family of four to pay more than $270 per
month for rent. The lowest available
apartments start in the $350s.
• Instead of raising the rent allowance to
$350 a month, the city pays approximately
$2,000 a month to keep families in hotels
like the Martinique.
REACTION
• This makes absolutely NO SENSE! If the
city would raise the rent allowance, they
would save around $1,650 per family!
• It seems as though America is WASTING
taxpayers’ money in order to keep our class
system in check. Instead of using the
money to help families get back on their
feet, we are using it to keep them where
society thinks they belong.
FACT
The hotels that the city is paying $2000 per
month for homeless families to live in:
• have lead paint on the walls. Lead paint can
cause serious illness and brain damage to
young children.
• are infested with insects and rodents.
• have guards who refuse to let family members
(fathers, grandmothers) in, but open the
doors willingly to drug dealers and
prostitutes.
• do not have working smoke alarms, and catch
fire often.
• do not have running water.
REACTION
• Living each day in a dangerous and
unsanitary hotel is no way to live at all, yet
the families who get long-term placement at
these shelters are considered lucky.
• What does this say about the priorities of
America? We pride ourselves on being a
country of opportunity, but make it
impossible for homeless families to rise
above their circumstances and stand on
their own two feet. They are prisoners of
the system.
How does this relate to
students with LD?
• It is predicted that 20% of the children living in
homeless shelters have a learning disability.
• It is logical to assume that homeless children with
LD will become homeless adults with LD.
• Dropping out of school, having social problems,
and having trouble in the work force are all
characteristics of adults with LD, and contributing
factors of homelessness.
Markos, P.A. & Strawser, S. (2004). The relationship between learning disabilities and homelessness in
adults. Guidance & Counseling, 19(2), 46-56.
How does this relate to educators?
• Teachers often avoid initiating the pre-referral phase when a
homeless child displays behaviors typical of LD because they
assume that the child will move away before anything can be
done.
• School is often the only place a homeless child can feel safe
and secure.
• Homeless children can learn social/life strategies at school
that can help transition them into adulthood and avoid the
negative effects of homelessness.
Markos, P.A. & Strawser, S. (2004). The relationship between learning disabilities and homelessness in
adults. Guidance & Counseling, 19(2), 46-56.
Pictures
• These are some websites I found with
pictures of the homeless and the
places they live.
• www.homeless.org.au/pictures/
• www.americanpictures.com/gallery/usa/USA-index8.htm
References
American Pictures-Gallary. Retrieved November 7, 2006 from
www.american-pictures.com/gallery/usa/USA-index8.htm
Kozol, J.(1988). Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in
America. New York, NY: Crown Publishers.
Markos, P.A. & Strawser, S. (2004). The relationship between
learning disabilities and homelessness in adults. Guidance &
Counseling, 19(2), 46-56.
Rebecca’s Community. Retrieved November 7, 2006, from
www.homeless.org.au/pictures/