As the leader of the only K-12 program in America focused on unhoused youth, I witness the challenges and triumphs of this vulnerable population every day. Yet, what stays with me, what hurts the most, are the moments when fear prevents them from experiencing the childhood they deserve. The fear of losing what little stability they have.
The recent upheaval of government resources has made life immeasurably harder for unhoused children across the country. While thousands of families seek safety and opportunity, new policies are stripping away legal protections, limiting access to essential services, increasing criminalization of poverty and pushing vulnerable children further into the margins.
This is not justice, it’s cruelty disguised as policy.
As the Supreme Court deliberates on the challenge to birthright citizenship, we are all watching as the very foundation of our nation’s values is tested. If enacted, this policy would render thousands of children stateless — without a country, without rights, without hope.
Beyond the direct impact on immigrant children, these policies destabilize entire support systems for unhoused students. The child care industry, which relies heavily on immigrant labor, is being gutted by increased enforcement. Without child care, working families are often left without options. This instability trickles down, impacting school attendance, academic performance and the overall well-being of children already struggling to find solid ground.
To make matters worse, economic turbulence has caused donor fatigue during a time when funds are most needed. Times are tough in the nonprofit world. As the economy has shifted, so have the commitments of donors as many have pulled back their support. Unfortunately, our organization has been directly impacted, jeopardizing the vital work we carry out daily.
At the Monarch School Project, we do everything we can to be a place where unhoused students consistently find peace and safety. We provide meals, counseling, education and a sense of community. Since 1987, we’ve supported thousands of youths experiencing homelessness. Today Monarch School Project supports more than 300 students in San Diego, maintaining an 84% daily average attendance rate. But we are not immune to the impact of policies that further the pain and trauma of instability. When families are afraid to seek services, when parents are detained or deported, when children are forced deeper into poverty because of politics, our work becomes even harder.
I urge local leaders, our philanthropy community and government to remember: These are real children, with real dreams, real potential and real pain. They deserve better from us.
Leaders at all levels are pushing back and faith leaders are calling for compassion, but we need more than resistance, we need action. We need lawmakers to stand up for all children, to see them as more than statistics or political talking points. We need policies that protect, not punish, the most vulnerable among us. We need meaningful philanthropy where leaders don’t back down from their commitments when times get tough.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about politics or the economy. It’s about humanity. And right now, the children we serve are watching. What will we show them? Are we a country that turns its back on kids who are already challenged by life circumstances? Alternatively, are we a community that still believes in justice, dignity and the promise that every child deserves a chance to cultivate their full potential?
At Monarch School Project, we know exactly where we stand. We’re simply hoping we’re not alone.
