In New York City, more than 40 percent of residents live around or below the poverty level. There’s also a high homeless population, including 22,000 children. These problems are everywhere, yet they’re easy to overlook. In the hustle and bustle of a city with more than 8 million people, homeless families are all but invisible—and suffering children hide their troubles from the prying eyes of agencies that might put them in foster homes.
Hoping to put the spotlight on these “unseen children,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Andrea Elliott decided to follow a family of ten people who wandered the streets and shelters of her city. She followed their story for eight years to see how national issues like poverty, hunger, racism, and addiction shaped their lives.
The first step towards solving a problem is to recognize it. Learn more about Elliott’s fascinating and important project in our Instaread on Invisible Child.
