Explain to children that homelessness is not a disease or something that happens to bad people. Inform them that homelessness is often the result of unfortunate situations that are beyond the control of people. Tell children that homeless people are no different from people who have homes; they have feelings, they get hungry, tired, cold and don't want to be in the situation they are in.
Present children with statistics that illustrate the homelessness problem in the country. If you're teaching young children, translate the numbers into data that they will understand; for example, you could relate the numbers to the amount of children in a classroom and inform kids that out of the number of children in the classroom, a certain amount would be homeless. Statistics will help to illustrate how big the homeless problem is.
Ask children how they would feel if they were homeless. Have an open dialogue and allow children to share any feelings they have on the topic, or ask children to compose a short essay to illustrate how they would feel if they were homeless. Having children relate homelessness to themselves will help them develop sensitivity for those who are homeless.
Enlist children to volunteer at a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen. Perhaps children can play, read or simply speak to the people living in a shelter and serve food to people at a soup kitchen. In volunteering with the homeless, children will gain a better understanding of this population and learn that the only difference between them and the homeless is having a place to live.