Object Permanence. It’s the basics of the childhood game peek-a-boo and why you might see a terrified facial expression on a baby and then a laugh. They think that, because they can’t see you, you no longer exist, so they are relieved when you come back into view!
Object Permanence is an important concept that we learn as children – the knowledge that an object or person still exists even when they are hidden and you can’t see or hear them (definition from child psychologist Jean Piaget). Without this knowledge, what is out of sight really is out of existence.
Unfortunately, even though we’ve all learned this concept at a young age, there are still things that don’t exist to us if we don’t see it – and the invisible crisis of family homelessness is definitely one of those things.
As you drive through downtown Wichita, you’ll notice our unhoused neighbors on sidewalks and possibly lining up for a meal or shelter at one of our partner organizations in the area. You’ll mostly see single individuals, sometimes couples or groups that are together, but always adults.
What you won’t see is children. And if we don’t see children experiencing homelessness, they must not exist, right? Wrong.
In reality, we know that there are more than 2,000 children and their families experiencing homelessness in the Greater Wichita community today. These kids are sleeping in cars, motels, our doubling up with family/friends on couches or floors. Parents and guardians do what they can to keep a roof over their heads, but that does not mean the situation is stable, safe, or conducive to positive childhood development and family support.
Just because you can’t see them, they are still there. As humans, we yearn to be seen and known and cared for. It is a terrifying thing to feel unseen and that your community of support does not exist.
So it is a beautiful, powerful thing to name this invisible crisis, to raise awareness, and for the Family Promise community to show up each and every day to say: “You are seen. You are cared for. You have a bright future ahead of you.”
This is what Family Promise Week is all about. I hope you’ll join us in raising awareness this week and throughout the year and, if you haven’t yet, join us on this journey of walking with some of the most amazing families you’ll ever have the privilege of calling your neighbors.
Learn more about how you can get involved in raising awareness during Family Promise Week here.
