Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre will use the funds to create a pilot project aimed at helping children cope with the stress of living under difficult circumstances. Called Kid Builders, the program, which the city selected for the federal funding, will focus on developing resilience in children living in two of Scarborough's five homeless shelters. Services to homeless people in Toronto tend to be concentrated in the downtown core, yet east Toronto has a large homeless population with more than 1,500 children at any one time living in shelters in Scarborough, she said.
Studies indicate poverty and homelessness pose a high risk for a child's development.
Compared to other children, sheltered homeless children are four to seven times more likely to have behavioral disorders, learning disability or other developmental problems. Because their parents are often dealing with situations such as poverty and depression, it's difficult for them to help their children. Children at shelters often feel ashamed and isolated. They generally have few toys or belongings and are embarrassed to bring friends home to play with because they are ashamed of their living conditions. This increases the sense of isolation.