The makers of Sesame Street have introduced a new character to the iconic children鈥檚 program, with the goal of offering help to homeless children.
Lily, a seven-year-old Muppet who is staying with friends on Sesame Street after her family lost their apartment, is featured in
鈥淐hildren should never know what it鈥檚 like to not have a home,鈥� one of the show鈥檚 hosts, Sofia, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to encourage them to share their feelings and remind them that it鈥檚 not their fault.鈥�
Lily was originally introduced to the program in 2011, when her family was struggling with a lack of food.
Sesame Workshop, the makers of Sesame Street, has also created materials for professionals who work with homeless children.
40,000 Canadian youth experience homelessness each year.
Some people online have pointed out that Lily is not the first homeless character on the show as Oscar the Grouch, who lives in a garbage can, has been a mainstay on the program since 1969.
Together, we got this. Lily and share a special way they show each other support and kindness. For more resources for children and families experiencing homelessness:
鈥� Sesame Street in Communities (@SesameCommunity)
Home is more than a house or an apartment. Home is wherever the love lives鈥攖he love within a family and community. Learn more about our new resources around homelessness:
鈥� Sesame Street (@sesamestreet)
Oscar wasn't homeless. Oscar lived in a trash can. I'm trying to figure out how deep that trash can was. I think Oscas had some underground tunnels running or something.
鈥� Jay Skillz (@SpinGriffey)
