"There is a picture of homelessness etched in public perception: a solitary, disheveled man, begging on a crowded sidewalk, holding a cardboard sign. But the largest single population in New York City’s shelter system is children under the age of 6.
Infants carry a disruptive power. Their births can drive entire families to homelessness or lengthen their stays in a shelter.
“Pop quiz. At what age are you most likely to be homeless?” asked Allyson Crawford, chief executive of Room to Grow, a nonprofit that helps poor parents with newborns. “The answer is 1."
above words by Nikita Stewart,
reported and shot for the new york times
Shimika Sanchez, 33, looks out of her shelter's windows as she nurses her newborn son Antonio Sanchez on on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Three days earlier, Baby Antonio was born in a Brooklyn hospital weighing five pounds and 12 ounces, surrounded by doctors, nurses, and his parents. He is one of 11,234 children under age 6 living in New York CityÕs homeless shelters.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, trailed by her daughter Bella Sanchez, 4, walks towards an L-Train station on on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Ms. Sanchez and her daughter were on their way to her momÕs house in East New York. Ms. Sanchez prefers not to hang out in her shelter's room. "I don't like being there," she says. It's usually too hot and crammed for her. Even though she is on bed rest, she spends most of her days running errands, in parks with Bella, or at her mom's house.
From left: Chanell Brown, 29, and Azariah Altidor, 2, look at Azariah's old baby photos while Shimika Sanchez, 33, feels an contraction at her motherÕs house in East New York on on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Earlier in the day, Ms. Sanchez rushed to the hospital after feeling her blood pressure spike and felt contractions. Bella, her four-year-old daughter, was born prematurely and wanted to make sure baby Antonio wouldn't have the same outcome. Earlier in the week, Ms. Sanchez was experiencing complications due to her preeclampsia, a potentially fatal high blood pressure condition in pregnant women. She was admitted to the hospital to be monitored by nurses, and was told that if she experienced contractions to head back to the hospital to be monitored. She didn't want to take any chances.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, fills out paperwork to be admitted in to Labor and Delivery at Brookdale University Hospital while her four-year old daughter, Bella, has a meltdown on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. They had been at the hospital since the late morning, when they arrived for a routine checkup. After a series of urine samples and blood pressure tests, Ms. Sanchez found herself in Labor and Delivery. She had ran out of snacks for herself and Bella. They had both grown hungry and their tempers had shortened. Ms. Sanchez tried to remain calm and not think about baby Antonio being born that day, about a month out from his delivery date. Bella was born prematurely and she was worried the same would happen with her son. She also had not even begin to get baby stuff or clean the room for his arrival.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, widens her eyes as her cervix width is checked at Brookdale University Hospital on on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. Ms. Sanchez been at the hospital since the late morning, when they arrived for a routine checkup. After a series of urine samples and blood pressure tests, Ms. Sanchez found herself in Labor and Delivery around 4 pm. Her preeclampsia has caused premature contractions, making her worry that she would deliver the baby a month out from his delivery date. If she were to deliver the baby today, she says, she'd hope her husband could make it. He was incarcerated when their younger daughter, Bella, was born. She was worried that he'd miss another birth as he was working.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, watches a sonogram of Baby Antonio about three weeks out from his birth at Brookdale University Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Her pregnancy was moving along, though riddled with early contractions that ruined plans with friends or put a stop to running errands. Most of her time was spent shuttling herself (and sometimes Bella) between the hospital, the shelter, and her mom’s house.
Chanell Brown, 29, tells Bella Sanchez, 4, that she can not come with her and Shimika Sanchez, 33, to pick up pizza down the street on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. On the walk over, Ms. Brown told Ms. Sanchez that she too would soon move out of her mom's house to a shelter in Manhattan since realizing she was pregnant. "You do what you need to do for you and your baby," said Ms. Sanchez.
Bella Sanchez, 4, kisses her mother, Shimika Sanchez, 33, on the mouth at her grandmother's house in East New York on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Bella and her mom are very close, and Ms. Sanchez wants her to be involved with the new baby and not have her feel like she's being forgotten. Earlier in the day, Ms. Sanchez rushed to the hospital after feeling her blood pressure spike and felt contractions. Her pregnancy had given her preeclampsia, a potentially fatal high blood pressure condition in pregnant women, and she wanted to make sure Baby Antonio wouldn't be born earlier than expected.
Bella Sanchez, 4, has her hair braided while leaning on the bottom bunk bed in her family's shelter in Brooklyn on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. It's hot and stuffy, and Bella has taken off her shirt to cool off. There are a few fans in the room--one above the small TV, and another above the breakfast table--but it's not enough to cool off the room and a family of five. Ms. Sanchez put in a request for a stand alone air conditioner for when she returns with baby Antonio. As she braids Bella's hair, she talks about how being homeless has made her more stressed, but that she can get through it.
Guarino Anthony Sanchez, rubs his wife, Shimika Sanchez, 33, lower back while waiting for the doctor to arrive during a routine checkup at Brookdale University Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. She was into her second week of having early contractions due to her preeclampsia, and they were intensifying. Anthony came along to the appointment that day as he was off of work. He works in construction and odd jobs around the city, trying to raise as much money as possible to help with baby Antonio's expenses. While Ms. Sanchez is grateful, she wishes he was around more to help her in the final weeks of pregnancy, like taking her to appointments and reaching for things. It had become a point of contention in their relationship, often ending in arguments.
From left: Shimika Sanchez, 33, and Guarino Anthony Sanchez, walk towards the L train from Brookdale University Hospital after Ms. Sanchez's weekly appointment on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Mr. Sanchez walks ahead of her, arguing with someone on the phone about getting paid. He works in construction and odd jobs around the city, trying to raise money to help with baby Antonio's expenses. While Ms. Sanchez is grateful that he's making money while she's on leave, she wishes he was around more to help her in the final weeks of pregnancy, like taking her to appointments and reaching for things. Since he was incarcerated for the pregnancy and birth of their first child, Mr. Sanchez wanted to be more present for baby Antonio. That wasn't happening, according to Ms. Sanchez. It had become a point of contention in their relationship.
From left: Guarino Anthony Sanchez, and Shimika Sanchez, 33, wait for Dr. McCalla to return after strapping a baby heart monitor to Ms. SanchezÕs stomach at Brookdale University Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Her pregnancy was going well, but her preeclampsia was causing higher than normal blood pressure, leading to earlier-than-expected contractions. After reading the results, Dr. McCalla said everything was normal. Anthony came along to the appointment that day as he was off of work. He works in construction and odd jobs around the city, trying to raise as much money as possible to help with baby Antonio's expenses. While Ms. Sanchez is grateful, she wishes he was around more to help her in the final weeks of pregnancy, like taking her to appointments and reaching for things. It had become a point of contention in their relationship, often ending in arguments.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, waits for the E train to Jamaica Center to go baby shopping on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. Her original plans were to go to a barbecue in the Bronx to visit with friends, but it took her too long to get ready. Bella, 4, and Xzavion, 14, her kids, were with her mother, since her early contractions made her delivery date unpredictable. Also, not having Bella around helped her be less stressed, allowing her blood pressure to remain more stable.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, greets her mother, Mary Brown, while her kids, Bella, 4, and Xzavion, 14 at the Broadway-Junction train station in Brooklyn on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. Her original plans were to go to a barbecue in the Bronx with them to visit with friends, but as soon as she got to the train station, she needed to eat. Her pregnancy has made her days unpredictable, especially with her delivery date approaching and her early contractions. The kids had started staying at her mom's house to help relieve stress, she says she thinks has helped blood pressure to remain more stable.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, shops for baby clothes at Cookies in Downtown Brooklyn on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. She was excited to start getting stuff for the baby--her contractions had become more regular, and she felt that he was going to come soon. She had spent most of the month worrying about when she would find time to go shopping, and was excited to finally be doing it. As she sifted through baby Nike tracksuits and True Religions, she talked about all the cute styles and what other baby supplies she needed to purchase, including baby Timberlands. Every so often her shopping was interrupted with a contraction, forcing her to pause and breath while leaning on nearby clothing racks.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, struggles to pile on baby clothes on her shoulder as she shops for baby clothes at Cookies in Downtown Brooklyn on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. She was excited to start getting stuff for the baby--her contractions had become more regular, and she felt that he was going to come soon. She had spent most of the month worrying about when she would find time to go shopping, and was excited to finally be doing it. As she sifted through baby Nike tracksuits and True Religions, she talked about all the cute styles and what other baby supplies she needed to purchase, including baby Timberlands. Every so often her shopping was interrupted with a contraction, forcing her to pause and breath while leaning on nearby clothing racks.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, watches a sonogram of Baby Antonio a few days before his birth on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Her pregnancy was almost done, and it had been tough. From early contractions that ruined plans with friends or exhaustion that prevented her from running errands, Ms. Sanchez had had enough. ÒI am done. I just want to have this kid. Like he needs to come. she said during the appointment. Most of her time was spent shuttling herself (and sometimes her daughter, Bella) between the hospital, the shelter, and her momÕs house. After the doctor encouraged her to walk more to help the contractions come more regularly, she walked 45 minutes from the shelter to her mom's house in East New York. She said it would have taken just as long to take the train, and figured why not.
From left: Shimika Sanchez, 33, and her husband, Guarino Anthony Sanchez argue outside of Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn while waiting for a cab back to Ms. Sanchez's mom's house on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. ItÕs around one in the morning, and earlier Ms. Sanchez took an ambulance to the hospital because her water broke. Mr. Sanchez had rushed over from his job in Queens, and beat his wife there. She wasn't admitted that night because she wasn't leaking fluid in the way the midwife preferred.
Guarino Anthony Sanchez holds Shimika Sanchez, 33, hand as she pushes out baby Anthony on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. 24 hours earlier, Ms. Sanchez had taken ambulance to the hospital when her water broke. She wasn't admitted that night because she wasn't leaking fluid in the way the midwife preferred. She returned later that day for a routine visit, and Dr. McCalla decided to induce her as she was a few days out for her delivery date. Baby Antonio was born at 12:29 a.m., and was five pounds and 12 ounces.
Chanell Brown, 29 wraps her arms around herself to keep herself warm in her sisterÕs cold delivery room at Brookdale University Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. Chanell recently moved into a shelter in Manhattan after finding out she was pregnant. Later that night she would leave before Antonio's birth. She had to make her shelter's 10pm curfew, and it was a long ride back into Manhattan from Brooklyn. I don't want to leave, but I don't want to get in trouble, she said through tears. You gotta do what you have to do, Chanell, Ms. Sanchez replied. You have to get it together, mama. You have no control over this moment. You have to be, like, This is something I'm doing for me and my baby. You have to think of the outcome when you're able to walk into your own house.
A used bed sheet after Ms. Sanchez's examination at Brookdale University Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018.
A shaft of light illuminates a chairÕs arm while Ms. Sanchez gets a sonogram at Brookdale University Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018.
Hospital Staff hovers over Antonio Sanchez, who was born moments before, before returning him to his parents on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. He was born at 12:29 a.m., and was five pounds and 12 ounces.
Guarino Anthony Sanchez takes a selfie with his newborn child, Anthony A.J. Sanchez, while Ms. Sanchez comes down from childbirth at Brookdale University Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. Mr. Sanchez wished to take his shirt off and do skin-to-skin contact with his newborn baby to help with bonding.
Guarino Anthony Sanchez holds his newborn child, Anthony A.J. Sanchez, while Ms. Sanchez comes down from childbirth at Brookdale University Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. Mr. Sanchez wished to take his shirt off and do skin-to-skin contact with his newborn baby to help with bonding.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, checks back into her shelter after giving birth to baby Antonio in Brooklyn on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, cleans up her family's shelter after returning from the hospital on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Upon her return the shelter provided her with a white metal crib. She worried it was too low to the ground. Mice could get in it. "How does that pass a safety test?Ó she asked.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, brushes her daughter, Bella, 4, teeth in the shelter's bathroom on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. During the summer, most of the Sanchez family--minus Xzavion, 14, who was staying at Ms. Sanchez's mom's house--lived there, and slept in a bottom bunk near the kitchen.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, organizes her family's belongings after giving birth to baby Antonio on on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. There was not much space to store stuff, and ended up placing items in plastic bags and storage boxes During the summer, most of the Sanchez family--minus Xzavion, 14, who was staying at Ms. Sanchez's mom's house--lived there, and slept in a bottom bunk near the kitchen.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, makes french toast for herself and warms up leftover chicken for her husband Guarino Anthony Sanchez while her daughter, Bella, 4, plays inside their shelter on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. Anthony decided to make a quick stop for breakfast and to say hi to baby Antonio on his way to his job after visiting his probation officer.
Shimika Sanchez, 33, nurses her newborn son Antonio on a bottom bunk bed inside the shelter on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.