I think Elliott did an excellent job of profiling Dasani. Her last name was omitted for her protection, as she is not only homeless but a minor. The story was long, but was necessary to fully show the dimensions of this young girl and her family. If Elliott had added in more information on politics and policy, it would take the focus away from Dasani. I believe it did become a caricature of a more complex issue. By focusing solely on one person’s story, the reader is able to get a greater understanding of what goes on in the life of the homeless. By focusing on Dasani, we get a broader picture of what other homeless people’s lives are like. I personally began to think about what talents others may have that aren’t fully used because of the circumstances of homelessness.

Elliot really shone a light into the life of a person who otherwise would have been ignored. As the title of her feature suggests, homeless children are often not thought about in society but are a major part of homelessness. This feature gave us a detailed look into not only the living conditions but the talents and hope of this young girl. It allowed us to see homeless people as just that. Homeless has a large stigma and people who are homeless are generally categorized as that, and not by any talents they may have. It was refreshing to see Elliott show these sides of Dasani and her family instead of focusing on the homelessness.