CBS News/ March 10, 2011, 9:16 AM

Many moved by "60 Minutes" homeless kids report

Millions of Americans tuned in to Sunday's "60 Minutes" and were moved by a piece called "Homeless Children: the Hard Times Generation" by Correspondent Scott Pelley. He looked at the crisis of homelessness in the Orlando area, specifically at some of the youngest victims of these recent tough times.

The children featured in the profile spoke about hunger and the difficult decisions their families face to make ends meet, such as choosing food over electricity.

Since that story aired on Sunday, the reaction from across the country has been extraordinary. Florida social worker Beth Davalos, who runs the Seminole County Public Schools "Families in Transition" program and helped many of the students featured in the piece and their families, appeared on "The Early Show" Thursday.

Since the piece, Davalos said the reaction has been "unbelievable."

"People are calling all day long, at least 10 phone calls an hour, just wanting to -- they're shocked," she said. "They want to know what they can do. They were so moved by it. They are so sad to hear that this is happening in America. And they just feel this call to action that they want to help."

Co-anchor Erica Hill said, "There are 1,500 homeless students in your district alone. What are some of the pledges that have been made to help these children and their families?"

"There have been so many," Davalos said. "People are offering jobs. Financial donations, 3,600 lasagna dinners. Like a third-grader who wants to give all his clothes that he doesn't fit anymore. College groups that want to do projects. It's -- there's so many different ideas. They just want to get involved and do something. People are so saddened by this really occurring here in the United States."

Hill observed, "I know that seems to be the theme for many people. They just can't believe it would happen here, in this country. But it is happening. And one of the children that Scott spoke with said, and this I'm sure you deal with a lot, she said she kind of feels like it's her fault that her parents are going through this and the family is struggling with hit. How are the children doing?"

Davalos said the children take on the responsibility for the family.

She explained, "They hear a lot of conversations that they normally wouldn't hear because they're living in very small areas. One room. Or a motel room. So they hear their parents talking about having children and needing help. So, they take responsibility and it's not their fault. But that's the natural way children are sometimes."

As for the kids featured in the "60 Minutes" piece, Davalos said they feel "very, very proud."

Davalos said, "They were motivated to do it because they wanted other children to know that they're not alone. And I think they're achieving their goal and they should be very proud."

Hill asked Davalos what people can do to help in their own communities with this issue.

Davalos said, "Awareness is most important. It is happening everywhere. There's 1.5 million homeless children identified right now. And the numbers are much more than that. But they can go to their local school districts. Ask them how many homeless children do we have? And what are your needs? They might need gift cards, they might need new clothing or shoes or financial donations or help that these children will have access to sports programs or clubs or even gas cards, so their parents can go look for a job. There's so many ways to help. But the first thing is, find out what's going on in your neighborhood. And what are your community needs?

Resources in Seminole County:

How you can help
Families in Transition
NAEHCY
Feeding America

She added, "And, of course, you know, I'm so appreciative of the support that Seminole County is receiving. It's extremely significant and extremely important."

14 Comments Add a Comment

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Bkpusa says:: Did any one notice the 2 girls in the back? They never raised their hands to the questions: have you ever gone hungry, had electricity turned off......
That's because they never have. I know for a fact that their father has ALWAYS provided for them. Their despicable mother thought they might be able to get college scholarships thus depriving the less fortunate of what may have come about from the interview.; reply

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vescarra says:: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is one of more than 200 food banks in the Feeding America network, all of which are hearing the same heartbreaking stories from the rising number of families they are serving. While the economy is slowly improving, the plight of America's families is not and long-term unemployment and underemployment puts more and more families at risk of hunger and homelessness every day.

Today 17 million children face hunger. What is that number going to be 6 months from now, or next year, if Congress cuts funding to the critical safety-net programs that keep low-income families afloat? How many more children will have to skip meals, live in cars, and blame themselves for the struggles of their parents?

Congress must not balance the federal budget on the backs of the poor. Our children cannot afford it.; reply

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diamruby says:

For most of these unlucky children they were born into poverty under the welfare system by parents that know they are unable to care for them but they still keep having children. Birth control is the answer to poverty. With all the billions of tax free money religious organizations receive yearly from their club members there is no reason for anyone to ever go without food,clothes,housing & education. Welfare has been the downfall of America. There are alot of lifetime welfare people that just keep passing it down from generation to generation because it is alot better to get everything for nothing than work. Growing up extremely poor, the lesson learned was work hard, do not take welfare, help each other, you are responsible to provide for each person you bring into this world, no one else but you. Welfare was suppose to be a short time help not a career. As always the children suffer because of the adults in their lives, this is true in all countries. I am sure that these children will find help & maybe make people aware of the poverty, abuse & hunger in America. Our government & others need to take care of Americans here first before sending money & care to foreign countries that hate our guts but love our money.


babooph replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Since the IKE days of 90% tax rates on the rich,the old middle class rots away,while a few get to join multiple country clubs with their UNEARNED trust fund wad-these kids pay the price of the lobby bribes to the politicians to set up this mess.


themooniac replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; diamruby: you are ignorant. If it was up to you the child labor laws most likely would not exist. Scum.

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sjc_1 says:: In the U.S. you will hear "not my money". The wrong wing will say their parents should have become stock brokers or real estate agents, it is their fault.; reply

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tsigili says:: Hey......this is America......no one needs help in America.....only foreign countries need charity, today.

Ignore those homeless kids, ignore those dying of disease, because they can't pay for care, ignore those who have no heat in their homes. This is America......and in America, if you don't have any money, you are of zero concern.; reply

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infocollector says:: Frankly I cried when I saw this story. This is a problem in so many communities -- and frankly all of us middle class people may be on the cliff -- with all the cutbacks and lack of industry in Florda it's getting worse. Teachers I know are complaining that their students are hungry and living in poverty -- even in neighborhoods you would not expect it... and we don't know what to do about it!

Cutbacks do not help the parents - try registering a car, getting car insurance or paying for a ticket these days -- it's hard to fix a problem or find a Job when you have no phone, internet access or a shower!! If there are no resources for parents the children suffer.; reply

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slatep says:

Wall Street and the banks and other lending institutions should be held legally responsible for providing shelter for all these homeless children and their families.
When people invest in Wall Street or put money into a savings account, IRA, CD, etc they are putting their trust in these institutions to invest their money and earn interest for them to improve their financialsituations.
The federal government, Wall Street, the banks and other lending institutions betrayed these people in the worst way.
By knowingly committing fraud and investing in what they knew were shady, risky ventures they have destroyed many lives.
Then to top it all off, instead of prosecuting and forcing these institutions to come up with solutions to keep people from losing their homes and business, Obama turns around and bails them out with money he is stealing from taxpayers to reward them, in the form of the bailout, for their treachery.
We need to get the absolute best, honest lawyers in the United States together to fike a class action suit on behalf of the American people and get their money, pensions, IRA's and homes restored to them.
While I realize money is needed to provide food and medicine for foreigh countries, every dollar that is sent abroad is one less dollar for American children.
CHARITY begins at home.
All of the above institutions and Obama should be ashamed to show their faces after the crimes they have perpetrated against the people of the United States and most especially the children.
Today's children are tomorrow's future and; sadly, they have absolutely no one to look to as an example of how they should conduct themselves as they grow into tomorrows leaders of this country.


smitvict replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; When your attitude is "Wall Street and the banks and other lending institutions should be held legally responsible for providing shelter for all these homeless children and their families" then clearly you are just looking for a handout.

My heart goes out for those in need, but the blame game will not solve anything. We need effective programs to help the children and their parents get out of poverty, not someone else's money as determined by the liberals.


omega42 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; by smitvict March 10, 2011 1:31 PM EST

My heart goes out for those in need
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And why not, empty words cost you nothing. You're generosity is duly noted.

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stevador39 says:

The U.S. political parties have made war on poor American families. The Social Security Act of 1935, Title IV, section 406, forced families to separate to receive Aid To Dependent Children (ADC). When Jimmy Carter was told this, he declared a family reunification program for refugees and continued the family separation of American citizens. I have been a welfare/child welfare worker in New York City, St. Louis and Kansas City. I have seen this ugly policy up close and personal.


ccdsswrkr08 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; I'm a welfare/child welfare worker in Maryland, I've seen it up close and personal too. My problem is, I've seen more people taking advantage of the system, then complaining about it, then people who really need it, getting the help they need. The system is broken and needs to be fixed desperatly. Too much help is going to people who continually abuse the system, and not enough help is going to the families that truley need it.