Mentor A Promise

  Photo Credit: kieferpix - stock.adobe.com While we at Mentor A Promise endeavor for political neutrality, we must acknowledge that even though every New York politician vows to combat homelessness, the crisis has only worsened. This collective failing has eroded trust between those experiencing homelessness and city officials. This blog post will discuss whether homeless New Yorkers should trust the city government, how trust can be rebuilt and the benefits of proactive measures.  Why Don’t Homeless New Yorkers Trust the City Government?  We would like to acknowledge the vast amount of financial and human capital dedicated to curbing homelessness. In January of this year, Mayor Eric Adams announced $650 million in new allocations to reduce street homelessness and mental illness. The Homelessness Prevention Administration works alongside the Department of Homeless Services, NYCHA and numerous other private and public agencies to turn the proverbial tide. And yet, as Sha...

Photo Credit: BillionPhotos.com - stock.adobe.com Writers and thinkers from Yuvi Noah Harari, author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind , to Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series, have posited the theory that homo sapiens survived prehistory while other human species went extinct due to our species’ ability to tell stories and engage in other artistic forms. This blog post will discuss how Art can heal homeless New Yorkers as well as where they may express themselves.  Does Art Have Healing Properties for Homeless New Yorkers?  With all the threats facing humanity, Art can seem like a luxury. However, throughout human history, Art has brought solace, toppled tyrants and given voice to the voiceless. Free expression is every bit as critical to our survival as nourishing food, clean water, suitable clothing and a safe, reliable place to lay our heads at night. This applies even to those experiencing homelessness.  How Does Art Heal Homeless New Yorkers? Aside ...

  Photo credit: Arpatsara - stock.adobe.com Many times throughout the course of these blog posts, we have documented the various medical issues that homeless New York City students and their families are vulnerable to and why. From this information, you could correctly infer that individuals experiencing homelessness are more reliant on the city’s hospital emergency departments than their stably housed peers. What you may not realize is that some hospitals neglect to screen for housing status, which could affect patients’ long-term health and overall well being. This blog post will discuss why NYC hospitals should screen patients for their housing status and the consequences of not doing so.  Do NYC Hospitals Screen Patients for Housing Status?  Generally speaking, hospitals in New York City screen patients for housing status. This is particularly true of hospitals that work with initiatives like Housing for Health and NYC Health + Hospitals. The latter alone operates the...

Photo credit: ex_flow - stock.adobe.com Homelessness is a profoundly stressful and traumatic experience and, therefore, it should be no surprise that New York City students experiencing homelessness may act out in school, at home or elsewhere. This blog post will examine why many homeless NYC students have behavioral problems, how they may manifest and some resources for those seeking help.  What Are Behavioral Problems? Childhood and adolescence can be tumultuous periods of change in a person’s life. As such, he or she may sometimes argue, be aggressive or act angry or defiant around adults and peers. However, when these and other disruptive behaviors are uncommon for the child’s age, persist over time or are severe, they may have a behavioral problem that will require treatment. [ 1 ] Behavioral disorders may be hereditary, acquired or a combination of both. They may be expressed in the following ways: Impulsivity  Inability to focus Poor time management Mood swings and irri...

  Photo credit: елена калиничева - stock.adobe.com If you or someone you know needs help, contact the  Suicide & Crisis Lifeline : Dial 988 Childhood and adolescence are already emotionally fraught times in a person’s development. Good or bad, what happens during these periods and how a young person responds to them could very well affect the rest of their lives, including their mental and emotional health well into the future. This is especially true of children and youths experiencing homelessness. This blog post will explore how homeless New York City (NYC) students experience mental illness and how their outlooks may be improved.  How Common Is Mental Illness Among Homeless NYC Students? Sadly, mental illness is widely prevalent among children and youths experiencing homelessness. According to Covenant House, a charitable organization which tracks patterns and cares for homeless youth, 69 percent of respondents report struggles with mental illness. [ 1 ] Given tha...

  Photo Credit: BUddhika - stock.adobe.com Though not exclusive to the United States, domestic violence pervades every stratum of American society, crossing age, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious and other boundaries. Given the exact wrong set of circumstances, anybody can become a victim. In fact, in New York City, domestic violence has been the leading cause of homelessness for families with minor children for the past eight years. This blog post will explore the effect domestic violence has on homeless NYC students as well as potential solutions.  How Many Homeless NYC Students Have Experienced Domestic Violence?  Though the exact number fluctuates with the given fiscal year, approximately 40 percent of families with children who have entered a Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter report domestic violence as the cause of their homelessness. [ 1 ] As of March 16, 2025, 18,135 families resided in one of our city’s shelters. [ 2 ] This equates to roughly 7,254 fam...

  Photo Credit: Mechastock - stock.adobe.com Clichéd as it sounds, high performance in school can open many doors for students, even those without stable housing. Along with confidence and a strong support system, these students have a greater chance of breaking the cycle of homelessness. That said, high performance in school requires educational continuity, such as that provided by staying at a school of origin. This blog post will explore why homeless NYC students should stay at their school of origin as well as the rights and resources available to ensure that.  What Is A School of Origin? “School of origin” is a clunky legalistic phrase that can be translated as the “school the student attended before they became homeless or the school in which the student was last enrolled.” [ 1 ]. This definition would include preschools and, in the event a student completes the final grade level served by the school of origin, the designated receiving school at the next grade level whic...

  Photo credit: Seventyfour - stock.adobe.com It will surprise absolutely no one reading this to learn that not only does New York City have a high cost of living, it frequently ranks in the top three on lists of most expensive cities in the world. Though often ranked as the richest city in the world, New York has a poverty rate of 23 percent, nearly twice the national average. One frequent byproduct of poverty is food insecurity. Though not exclusive to this population, homeless NYC students are the most vulnerable to food insecurity. This blog post will explore the extent of the problem as well as ways you can help.  What Constitutes Food Insecurity? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is when households are “uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they [have] insufficient money or other resources for food.” In other words, those who lack reliable access to enough food for a healthy, act...

  As you’ve no doubt gleaned from our previous blog posts, being homeless is incredibly stressful for the individuals living through it. While distress never benefits anyone, it is especially damaging to those whose brains are still developing, i.e. children and youths. Indeed, toxic levels of stress, such as that brought on by lack of stable housing, can lead to profound developmental delays, which can have lifelong effects. This blog post will examine the correlation between high levels of stress and developmental delays in homeless NYC students as well as what can be done to remedy them.  What Constitutes a Developmental Delay in Homeless NYC Students? As they grow up, all children are expected to reach specific milestones at specific intervals when compared to same-age peers. For example, by the age of 24 months, a child should be using about 50 simple words on a regular basis. [ 1 ] Every child develops differently, so a delay in one area one time does not, in and of itse...