HEAR US Inc. is issuing 
Charlie’s Compassion Challenge!
Bring goodness into the lives of kids experiencing homelessness in your community by picking (at least) one deed from The Charlie Book: 60 Ways to Help Homeless Kids. 

Perfect for individuals, service clubs, scouts, PTOs, faith communities, etc. Actions helps kids of all ages, infant to young adult--right here in your own community! 

Your good deed will benefit local efforts to help homeless kids. You can connect with local programs. If you don’t know who to connect with, this book describes how to find local services.

Get a copy of The Charlie Book:
HEAR US for $10 (+$6 s/h), www.hearus.us 

   Kindle $1.99
All proceeds from book sales benefit homeless kids.

• Pick your challenge. 
• Contact the local shelter/program to verify this need.
• Do it! 
• Deliver to the shelter/program. Ongoing, no deadline!
  (HEAR US is planning Naperville area events in November. Sign up for our free monthly e-newsletterfor more information.)

Did You Know?

Homelessness affects both adults and kids.

• Thousands  of kids of all ages are homeless in the Fox Valley, IL area. Millions (6M+) across the country.
• Families/youth tend to beinvisible in their homelessness.
• Kids can attendschool and have strong educational rights (law originated in the Fox Valley.)
• Agencies/schools can’t meet all theneeds of these kids.
• Given help, these kids cansucceed.

HEAR US and local agencies/schools want to raise awareness of this issue so immediate and long-term needs can be met. 

Charlie’s Compassion Challengewill: 

• generate needed supplies to help local kids, 
• raise awareness of the plight and promise of local kids,
• develop support for local efforts,
• challenge officials to work harder for solutions.
  

Compassion cures Apathy, causing love to seep almost undetected, touching those who give and those who receive. This little boy,"Charlie," aka Charles, has brought about more good than anyone could ever know, even Charles(2008).   

Charlie is a real kid from the Fox Valley.
He and his mom were homeless.
Naperville Sun photographer
Pat Van Dorentook this photo. 

Pat's a HEAR US director, serving with a dedicated volunteer board overseeing her project, It’s About the Children. 

HEAR US Inc. 

Since 2005, HEAR US Inc.,
this Naperville-based national nonprofit
gives voice & visibility to families & youth 
experiencing homelessness. 

Founded by Diane Nilan (former director at PADS/Hesed House in Aurora), who lives in her van. She travels across backroads filming and producing award-winning videosfeaturing families and youth sharing what it’s like to be homeless and what school means. Check out the website!

www.hearus.us

NEW (Sept. 24)!!!

The first book by homeless moms for homeless moms*
(*parents, guardians)

Dismazed and Driven - My Look at Family Homelessness in America

Released November 2020 

Crossing the Line:
Taking Steps to End Homelessness

by Diane Nilan

 Changing the Paradigm of Homelessness 

by Yvonne Vissing, Christopher Hudson and Diane Nilan

AMAZON SELLS THESE BOOKS

Books available through mainstream book vendors (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) and independent book stores.

Schools/organizations may use PURCHASE ORDERS to order from HEAR US.
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 - Priscilla Series -

• Priscilla the Princess
  of the Park
• Priscilla and the Snow Fort
• Priscilla and the Bishop's Gambit
• Priscilla's Picnic with the President

Pat LaMarche's delightful new series of children's chapter books on homelessness! They are kids' books that will delight and enlighten kids and adults!

Pat's hardcover and e-books available through the Charles Bruce Foundationand Amazon.

Kursid Kids 

Written by an 8-year-old boy, Ronan, Pat LaMarche's grandson,  
...this book weaves an elaborate science fantasy through a fabric of injustice. You will fall in love with the characters - most of them. You will ponder the same question Ronan asked in the car that dark night as he thought about his housing-insecure classmates, "Who will make things right in a world where so much is wrong?"

Priscilla and her Pals in the Park

Written by Pat LaMarche to be read to younger children, this will enlighten older readers, too! 

Pat's hardcover and e-books available through the Charles Bruce Foundation and Amazon.

Available through 

HEAR US Square Site. 

The Charlie Book:

60 Ways to Help Homeless Kids

by Diana Bowman

Available through
HEAR US Square Site.
Limited supply at $10 @
(Price increase coming.) 

The Charlie Book is also available as an e-book from Amazon. 

What HEAR US does best...

• Since 2005, HEAR US has worked hard to give voice & visibility
  to families & youth experiencing homelessness. 
  Looking back, looking forward, our best work is our films.
  
  No "talking heads." Just raw, honest stories from those who know
  homelessness best--the families & youth
  who experience life without a place to call home.
  Ideal for school trainings, community awareness-raising, classroom lessons, and more...
  
  Check out our list of films here. (Oh yeah, they're free!)
  
  
  My Own Four Walls, all-time favorite,
  our first film, still relevant today!(20 min)

OUR BOOK IS AVAILABLE!!! 
HEAR US has a great new book on family homelessness!

National Launch, Raleigh, NC Sept. 17-19, '24
We've launched!!
Here's a great news story about the 3 Melissas!

Ms. Magazine article about the 3 Melissas!

The Three Melissas --
The Practical Guide to Surviving
Family Homelessness 

(more info...)

HEAR US books inform, inspire
Looking for quality books on homelessness--for adults & kids?
HEAR US offers a wide array, and our indie bookshop lets you shop
for books of your choice, get them shipped out fast, while supporting essential 
indie bookstores. 

• • HEAR US Bookshop - https://bookshop.org/shop/diane_hear_us
  • For the "other" source of books - Amazon 
  • HEAR US Square site.

Recent Films by HEAR US!

Caring Schools Make the Difference - NC 1/24

Family and youth homelessness comes in many forms. Schools are the constant island of security. These courageous moms and youth share their stories with hopes that viewers will learn more about the challenges of homelessness and the importance of school officials who help however possible.
This 15-min. film was filmed for
the North Carolina Homeless Education Program (NCHEP).   

Homeless Liaisons Navigate Challenges
in North Carolina12/23

Every school district nationwide has homeless liaisons, the mostly-unsung champions for students experiencing homelessness. North Carolina has a well-trained cadre of liaisons serving students and their families. This 12-min. film takes you across the state to see and hear the liaisons in action. 

Hidden in Plain Sight -
Families Experiencing Homelessness
in New Mexico(5/22)

Four mothers and a dad share their families' experiences of homelessness and describe how schools helped them survive.(16:15) 
Dedicated to Dawn, who passed away July 8, 2023. 

Six New Mexico teens shared their experiences and insights about homelessness. Three teens are unaccompanied youth--without parents/guardians involved in their lives.
The other three are part of a family. (10:09)

Idaho Schools: Lifesaving Connection  (1/22)
4 women share their families' struggles and accomplishments, pointing to the importance of school support (18:30)

Families Experiencing Housing Instability in Idaho  
ID mothers share what school support meant to their families (6:50)

These women offer deep, heartfelt insights about the agonies of housing instability and the impact of support from their children's school communities. 
Invaluable lessons for all audiences. Perfect McKinney-Vento training tools.

Not Homeless Enough (8/21)

The agony of parents with no viable options in Madison and Dane County, WI (video 10 min). This film illustrates the dilemma of those "not homeless enough" for HUD's definition of homelessness.

Capital Failure -

Family Homelessness Surging (3/21)

See and hear this family's struggles being stuck in motels during CoVid in Raleigh, NC. (12-min)

Jamie's astute descriptions of her family's hardships
resonate with many families in similar situations. 
 Her textbook lesson that needs widespread sharing.
> More about the film, resources...
> VIDEO LINK

The Charlie Book

Author: Diana Bowman
Editor, Photographer: Diane Nilan

Graphic Design, Layout: Beth Adams

Charlie photo: Pat Van Doren

Price: $12, quantity discounts available

Publisher: HEAR US Inc.

> ORDER

(as of 7/22) Kindle $1.99