Absolutely stunning 3-part feature on Dasani (yes named after the water), an 11-year-old homeless girl in NYC.

This piece is going to win awards and slay careers - and bring greater attention to child homelessness. Comin' for that Pulitzer

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013...ild/#/?chapt=1

That picture really made me feel sad... Gaga sis I know you lurk atrl. Please use some of the money you have us raising for your foundation to help these kids in need.

I can't read stuff like this.

i can never resist homeless families with children The drunk/slurry ones I avoid, but these always break my heart and my wallet

After reading this very well written article, I feel like the best solution (i.e., the lessor of two evils) would be for society to break up families like these and place the children with responsible families and adults. Just reading that part about how the family gets 3500+ a month and spend it immediately on shoes, booze, etc I mean, I make more money than that each month, and I still live a pretty frugal life The adults just seem like terrible role models who are only doing more harm than good for their children.

I agree. Substance abuse and mental illness and usually underlying issues in homelessness, so it doesn't often work to simply help someone back on their feet. It's not right to make blameless children suffer for their parents' demons... so sadly removing the kids from their care is probably the best option.

But of course, we'll get touchy feely people who say that the system is the reason why their parents are like that to begin with, and then nothing will be done

The story has five parts, and removing the children is really only a viable alternative if you have somewhere better to put them. Foster care conditions vary greatly and that option is usually reserved for children whose lives are in immediate danger, and that isn't the case here, or else the children would have already been removed. There is no easy solution to this, other than throwing more good money after bad and continuing to provide the family with social services.

I thought the piece was well written, but I didn't feel like it was telling me anything that We didn't already know. hopefully attention from this piece can pressure NYC to repair and improve their shelters

Reading it now. I hate when kids have to go through this. They didn't choose or ask for any of that. Heartbreaking.

that was heartbreaking, especially that part about how Dasani said she could see her mother shine...

Heartbreaking. Especially since I know what it feels like to be homeless

How did you get out of it (homelessness), if you mind my asking?