EVICTING CHILDREN DURING COVID-19, THE STORY OF LITTLE ANNA

EVICTING CHILDREN DURING COVID-19

THE STORY OF LITTLE ANNA

What would the words: "i am being evicted" sound like, coming from a 3 year old? This little girl sitting under the letter "I" in the word "Covid-19" tells America: i am being evicted during the Covid-19 pandemic - where there is a housing shortage, where the cost of renting has skyrocketed, where many emergency shelters are closed and those that remain open are accepting less than 60% of their capacity - due to social distancing rules. Her parents' entire household items will go into storage. She will get to keep a few smaller and less bulky toys. Her parents will struggle to pay hotel fees, to temporarily house. Little Anna will eat microwaved foods and receive very little fruits and vegetables. Little Anna's developing body will be bankrupt of needed nourishment for brain development and strong bones. 

The family's struggle to find housing after an eviction, prolong little Anna's stay in a hotel and sometimes finding her sleeping space on her favorite  blanket carefully laid behind the passenger seat of her parents' minivan - next to her 5 year old brother: Oracio. When temperatures drop to 30° degree, little Anna's parents double up on her and little Oracio's clothing, put on their winter hats, and an extra thick blanket covering both children - from head to toe. According to state "Child Welfare" guidelines, is this type of living accommodation acceptable? Is this acceptable "practices?" 

One unexpected trip to the ER - may reveal little Anna's living condition. And if the ER doctor deems little Anna's living condition as "not safe" - little Anna may be separated from her parents and little brother; her parents may be charged with child neglect. And the state government will pay a "child foster parent" to temporarily provide care to little Anna. 

Little Anna's parents may be criminalized for being homeless, but State of Georgia Magistrate Judge -Kilman- who evicted little Anna, reaps no consequence for not making attempts to connect little Anna's parents to housing resources or advocating for a quicker processing of her parents' Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) application - so the family, so little Anna and little Oracio can remain housed. 

Does society not understand, the task of keeping children safe and sheltered is a: global responsibility? Little children are our most vulnerable living beings - aside from the elderly, people with disabilities, and some of our loving pet animals.

We are hurting our own future leaders, future medical professionals, future scientists, future businessman and businesswoman, future teachers, future military personnel, future Mothers and Fathers, future U.S. Presidents and Vice-Presidents, and those children who would dare to dream and follow in the footsteps of the U.S. Senator, Reverend and Brother: Raphael Warnock. 

When we show apathy to children and allow Georgia magistrate judges to evict little children from our communities -like Anna, like Oracio- and it does not make the news - then we, as a society, are facing a crisis of the heart - one more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I, Sister Dina, envision government  leadership who would treat each person as a unique GOD-Loved Creation that is on scene to offer something needed in their family, in their community, in their city, in their state, in their country, and to their world. 

When we nurture and develop our human assets, when we create and give access to opportunities to thrive - we create stronger households, we create more financially sustaining communities and we create a nation that is strong and bold enough to withstand any crisis, any natural disaster and rebuild. It all starts with seeing the worth and potential in each and every human being and investing the time, talent, and resources to little ANNAs and little ORACIOs. A just society would have a coalition of "Child Advocates" protesting in front of every courthouse where a little Anna and a little Oracio is being evicted. No child in the United States of America should ever have to utter the heart-breaking words: "i am being evicted," especially during a pandemic. 

Written By:

Sister Mirlande "Dina" Michel-Wiggins, Founder & Advocate

Tell The World Ministries Inc

Phone: 404-407-0213

Email: Sisterdina.3@gmail.com

Website: http://SisterDina.com

Saturday, December 10, 2022, 1:05 AM, EST