TALLAHASSEE, Fla.(WCTV) -- Across the nation child homelessness is a growing issue, including here in the Big Bend. It's a topic the community will work to address on Thursday at the Mayor's Office
Community Summit on Children.

"It's hard, without help," said Joy, who has been living with her husband and two young children at Hope Community in Tallahassee for the last year.

Hope offers transitional housing for families and single women who are experiencing homelessness.

"You know, trying to get through it day by day, I look at my kids and they encourage me to do what I've got to do to get out and be on my own," said Joy.

Her family's situation is not unique. Each year the Hope Community assists about 200 households. And, on an average night, 60 children under the age of six are living there. Sylvia Smith, Executive Director of the Big Bend Homeless Coalition, said caring for those children 
is critical.

"Everyone knows that our children are our future. We're trying to highlight an especially vulnerable group of children, who are part of our community's future," she said.

Smith noted that there have been extensive studies showing that ages zero to five are the most critical years in a child's life. That's why the organization is working to partner with other local organizations to provide early intervention programs at Hope. Those can range from addressing developmental delays to offering immediate parenting information.

"The investment into the youngest children in need has tremendous results in later life," said Smith.

Smith called homelessness a "major disruption" in a child's life. She'll lead a panel on the issue at Thursday's summit. That's being held at the Turnbull Conference Center.

[For more on this story by Mariel Carbone, go to http://www.wctv.tv/content/new...ness--482216031.html]