Regina Bertholdo is looking out for the neediest of kids in Somerville.

By Harry Kane

Down the street from Somerville’s City Hall, Regina Bertholdo takes stock of 49 homeless children’s whereabouts as the holiday season approaches. The small office with a window sits on the ground level of the parent informational center on Prescott Street. With the window open and the heat on full blast, the beautiful Brazilian with the heart of gold leaned back in her chair and acknowledged the homeless epidemic plaguing our society.

Bertholdo immigrated to America when she was twenty-four years old. Many of the homeless children in Somerville are immigrants themselves from places like Haiti or Brazil.

Part of Bertholdo’s job for the past twelve years has been Director at the Parent Informational Center, entrusted to place every student from kindergarten to twelfth grade into a public school in Somerville.

When Bertholdo began helping children in hospitals, working as a translator, she knew that she had entered the right line of work. “I have a passion for people and for the human being,” says Bertholdo. “I respect people and I try to understand difficult situations. Sometimes people bring baggage.”

Part of her current duties includes coordinating the multi lingual services part of the program, which involves acting as an interpreter and translator. Sometimes she has to scour the database looking for an interpreter for an incoming family.

As of last year Bertholdo became the district liaison for homeless children in Somerville. “I’m doing it as I learn,” said Bertholdo.

Bertholdo’s main job in regards to homeless children is to keep the kids off the streets and in school. She oversees that the kids receive a free breakfast and lunch, books, clothing and transportation to and from school.

Much of her job involves coordination between different organizations and following up with the families to make sure they are okay. “They all know me at the high school.” Some teens will move at the drop of a hat and it’s Bertholdo’s job to keep track of their whereabouts. “It could be that they move and then I need to trace them down.” There’s a girl in seventh grade that calls Bertholdo every so often complaining that there is no transportation.

Bertholdo works with 5 other women to ensure the success of the program. “In the parent informational Center, you know, sometimes you sit and cry with the families.” Despite their situation they like the schools and that makes Bertholdo feel good. “It’s rewarding.”

Co-worker Evelyn Scheri was upbeat with her explanation of Bertholdo’s disposition. “She wears many hats, she cares so much, and she goes the extra mile. She’ll get on the phone and find the kids a home.”

From 2007 – 2011 there has been an increase of thirty percent in homelessness around the country. One in four children are living below the poverty level, this according to Bertholdo. The increase of homelessness in Somerville is due largely to the economy. While there are currently forty-nine documented homeless children, Bertholdo knows there are many more out there. “I’m sure we have much more than that, but they are just not saying it.”

Bertholdo lives in a neighborhood surrounded by immigrants and hears rumors of people locking themselves inside of their houses in fear of getting deported. In response to the bad economy “immigrants are feeling everything that is happening, it’s scary.” A lot of kids are scared of going to school in fear of getting deported.

The saddest part for Bertholdo is when the kids find a permanent housing situation that takes them out of the Somerville system. She’s happy when they find a home but once they move to another city, the kids are no longer guaranteed transportation to their current schools in Somerville. “It’s heartbreaking. I literally cry on the phone with the kids. You can only hope they are gonna keep doing as well.”

Herenia Hernandez, a parent liaison and close personal friend, describes Bertholdo as a “caring person, humble, and progressive.”

Bertholdo realizes that it is embarrassing for families and kids to admit that they are homeless. “It’s hard to declare yourself homeless.” Still, she explains, it is the first step to turning your life around.

As the economy continues to increasingly affect the lower class, homeless children spring up in Somerville.