1 in 50 American Children Experiences Homelessness

[tekisui]

Source: AP

NEW YORK – One of every 50 American children experiences homelessness, according to a new report that says most states have inadequate plans to address the worsening and often-overlooked problem.

The report being released Tuesday by the National Center on Family Homelessness gives Connecticut the best ranking. Texas is at the bottom.

"These kids are the innocent victims, yet it seems somehow or other they get left out," said the center's president, Dr. Ellen Bassuk. "Why are they America's outcasts?"

The report analyzes data from 2005-2006. It estimates that 1.5 million children experienced homelessness at least once that year, and says the problem is surely worse now because of the foreclosures and job losses of the deepening recession.

"If we could freeze-frame it now, it would be bad enough," said Democratic Sen. Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, who wrote a foreward to the report. "By end of this year, it will be that much worse."

The report's overall state rankings reflect performance in four areas: child homelessness per capita, child well-being, risk for child homelessness, and state policy and planning.

The top five states were Connecticut, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island and North Dakota. At the bottom were Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana.

Reflecting the disarray caused by Hurricane Katrina, the report said Louisiana had the most homeless children per capita in 2006, followed by Texas and California.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_re_us/homeless_children;_ylt=AojejYpidpBexElykDC_daFvzwcF

[Lost in CT]

1. Even though that number seems low to me... they kinda screw it up by including

people temporally (typo see below) displaced by natural disasters... which is a world of difference than people displaced by poverty or mental illness.

on edit temporarily displaced.

[Fumesucker]

2. Time travelling homeless?

A light hearted jest at a typo..

Homeless is homeless, it really doesn't matter the reason.

[Lost in CT]

3. LOL... yeah nice typo....

natural disaster homeless often get a check and get on with their lives.

It is a temporary situation rather than an endemic one.

[Fumesucker]

4. There are people from New Orleans who still are basically homeless

I know a few, I used to live in N'awlins.

Yes, some indeed "get a check and get on with their lives" but by no means all.

[Lost in CT]

5. That's why I said often not always... nt