Books can be an effective way to introduce societal concepts like poverty and homelessness. Look for books that are written from a child's point of view if possible. Speak to your librarian for tips on books covering homelessness and poverty. Search on-line bookstores for more options, including videos, that may be helpful in opening the discussion on poverty and homelessness.
Discuss famous people who have at one time been homeless or have come from poverty. Jewel, the singer, was homeless for a time before she was discovered. Oprah was born to poverty and is now one of the richest women in the world. J.K. Rowling was on welfare before she penned the famous Harry Potter series.
Visit a place where your child can see homeless people being supported. Ask a soup kitchen if you and your child can volunteer. Call local churches, synagogues, parishes, mosques or other religious organizations and ask if they need help serving the homeless. Contact The Salvation Army, Goodwill, or local charities that serve the homeless, and ask if you and your child can help. Discuss the history of these organizations to help your child understand their longtime efforts.
If you can't volunteer, have your child help you collect items to give to these charities. Clothing, dishes, and canned or boxed food can be very useful to charities serving the homeless and impoverished in your area. Bring your child along as you deliver the items for added impact.
Do a unit study on poverty. Have your child research facts that will help him see the full picture. How many children are homeless in America? In order to be considered impoverished, how much money do you make each year? After compiling a list of illuminating statistics, have him write a paper, or a short paragraph for a younger child, on poverty and homelessness.
To help him along, have him include information on how people who are homeless provide dental or medical care for themselves. Ask him to discuss shelter, clothing, and sanitary conditions for someone who does not have a home, or has a home but does not have water or electricity. Ask him what he would give up if your income dipped significantly?
Have your child set a budget for an imaginary family living in poverty. He should detail the family structure, how many children the family has and whether or not both parents are living together. Have your child create columns for food, housing, medical needs, electricity and water, clothing, transportation and savings. Give your child real estate listings and help him pick out a mock house for his imaginary family.
When the budget is complete, have him create a meal plan for the month, and a shopping list. Make sure he includes a shopping list for clothing so he can see how much money is allotted for that segment of the budget. Discuss what happens to the budget or savings when a medical emergency arises or when a flat tire occurs.