In Honor of Homeless Moms

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-05-10 19:33:00 UTC
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Today, mothers from Providence to Pasadena enjoyed breakfast in bed, flowers, and gifts galore. That is, of course, unless they were one of the many moms in America without a home of their own.

Motherhood is no small feat. But for homeless moms, the challenges abound. They must meet the difficult task of raising a family while, at the same time, meeting their family's basic needs with few resources. Not to mention maintaining a sense of normalcy amid unstable living situations. Needless to say, many homeless Moms do not have the luxury of enjoying pampering and rest we often associate with Mother's Day.

But - there is a silver lining here. Lots of folks recognize how out-of-reach life celebrations (like a simple tribute to Mom) can be for homeless families. So they get involved, utilizing their talents and skills to brighten up what can be dark, uncertain days. One amateur photographer in NYC, for example, came up with a unique gift for mothers and their families at an area homeless shelter:

Saturday, [homeless Mom] Catherine still got a priceless Mother's Day gift - her first family portrait.

"Just because we're in a shelter doesn't mean it has to be a bad memory," said Catherine, 40, who has an 8-month-old daughter, Samantha.

"We've never had a chance to get one done before," added Samuel, 45, proudly.

Catherine was one of 20 homeless moms who got the special gift Saturday, thanks to amateur photographer Dayna Camp from Queens, who came up with the idea as a way to help families who have lost everything preserve their family memories.

"Family photos are an important part of any family history," said Camp, 29, who has a 4-year-old son.

Michele Young, a mother of two who lives in a homeless shelter in the Bronx, said she will hang the family portrait on the wall when she gets her own place.

In other shelters, moms will receive spa treatments or special dinners. The thing is, these tributes don't have to end when Mother's Day is over. There are always opportunities to provide special memories to mothers, fathers, and children in homeless shelters.... check out this list or share your ideas below.

And to all the mothers out there, housed or not, happy Mother's Day.

[Photo from NY Daily News: Photographer Dayna Camp photographed homeless families and presented them with a framed family portrait at the Department of Homeless Services.]

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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