Naperville resident Diane Nilan is a road warrior fighting family homelessness.
Nilan explored local to national family homelessness issues for Aurora Lions Club members meeting at Riverview Diner in Montgomery August 20.
For the past 20 years, she said, she has driven 500,000 miles in 49 states, writing, filming, and producing videos featuring stories of families and youth sharing about their homelessness.
“More than 1.5 million U.S. school-age children experience homelessness,” she said. “Here in the United States, we’re cultivating homelessness right now. This iteration of homeless babies, toddlers and young kids-doesn’t get attention. But it’s needed since these young ones may become homeless adults unless we intervene.
“Beyond the 55,000+ identified homeless students in Illinois, double that number to include unidentified students, babies, toddlers and youth not attending school. Parents are not included in that tally. Every Community has families who have lost housing and are staying in a variety of settings.”
According to Nilan, unhoused students include more than 500 in East Aurora School Dist. 131 and more than 200 in West Aurora School Dist. 129. Homeless in parochial schools are not required to report.
In March, Nilan self-published e-book and paperbackversions of “Making Bad a Little Better: The Least We Can Do to Ease Family Homelessness.” The book is a 2026 compassionate guide published by HEAR US, Inc., a Naperville-based nonprofit founded and headed by Nilan as president since 2005.
The book exposes the hidden realities of homeless children and parents, highlights the McKinney-Vento Act, and includes video links of families sharing their lived experiences, Nilan said.
Call 630-537-0052 or visit hearus.us for more information.
—Al Benson