Imagine being 10 years old, getting ready for school, and wondering if anyone will notice that your shoes are too small, your clothes are unwashed, or that your story doesn’t quite match everyone else’s in your class.
For the hundreds of homeless children in Indian River County (IRC), these worries are a daily reality — and summer can be the most stressful season of all. While many families have already arranged exciting camps and family vacations, homeless parents struggle day to day, unsure if they can afford another night in a motel, gas to get to work, or dinner for their children. In 2025, the average cost of summer camp was $199 per week — an impossible expense for families in crisis.
For the past 10 years, the Homeless Children’s Foundation (HCF) has been funding and coordinating programs that not only support homeless children’s healthy development and long-term success but also guide families toward self-sufficiency. Through Compassion in Action: Camps Enriching the Lives of Homeless Youth, HCF provides local homeless children with access to summer camps at no cost to their families. The generosity of Impact 100 and our broader community have made it possible to offer stability, safety, and enrichment during the long summer months.
Last summer, HCF partnered with more than 20 local camps to place 281 homeless children in programs carefully matched to their ages, interests, and individual needs. These camps offered far more than recreation. Children formed friendships, built confidence, and discovered new skills, including swimming, skating, fishing, tennis, and more. For children experiencing homelessness, camp also provided something far more profound: a sense of normalcy and belonging, and a temporary escape from the uncertainty of motel rooms, shelters, or other unstable living situations.