How Much Money Does It Take To Make A Difference In An Unhoused Child’s Life?

It's easy to do more than you think.

Every day, Assistance League® of Los Angeles is transforming the lives of children and young adults who are experiencing homelessness, the foster care system, or poverty.

Assistance League® of Los Angeles

How much does it take to help? Not much more than you spend on these everyday things:

1. That morning cup of coffee

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For about the same amount of money, you could provide a child with a polo shirt. Two cups of coffee? That would purchase a pair of pants or two sets of leggings.

Impoverished children miss school often because they lack adequate clothing, shoes, or school supplies. With high absenteeism, they quickly fall behind grade level, are often bullied, and end up dropping out of school. Children in poverty are 300% more likely to drop out of school than children from middle-income neighborhoods.

2. Those teeth-whitening strips you saw on social media

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For that same price, you could provide grooming supplies for two kids who otherwise would go without. A grooming kit includes a bar of soap, a hairbrush, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and shampoo/conditioner, all in a tidy drawstring bag.

3. A single movie you rent

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For the same price, you could give a child a book. In low-income and underserved neighborhoods, there is only one book for every 300 children. Compare that to middle-income neighborhoods, where each child has, on average, 13 books.

4. The food delivery you sometimes get

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For the same amount of money, you could get a child completely ready to take on school with their own pencil pouch, pencils, pens, wedge eraser, pencil sharpener, notebook, ruler, 24-pack of crayons, and 12-pack of colored pencils, all in a plastic zippered bag. Remember the excitement you felt getting new school supplies?

5. Novelty socks you buy on a whim

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That amount of money would buy a child a new pair of sneakers. In low-income families, siblings often share one pair of shoes, making it impossible for both to attend school on any given day.

Each year, Assistance League® of Los Angeles helps more than 22,000 youths by providing clothing, school supplies, books, grooming products, and educational opportunities so kids can get an education and break free from endemic poverty. Be a hero and help change a child's life. To donate, click here.

Assistance League® of Los Angeles

All statistics provided by Assistance League® of Los Angeles.