Child Homelessness

So many families are living on the edge of poverty, that one little mistake can push them into the floors of homelessness. Kids are often the collateral damage. The number of homeless children in the U.S. has surged in recent years to an all-time high, amounting to one child in every 30, according to a comprehensive state-by-state report that blames the nation's high poverty rate, the lack of affordable housing and the impacts of pervasive domestic violence. There are 2.5 million children who had “lived in shelters, on the streets, in cars, on campgrounds or doubled up with other families in tight quarters” at some point in 2013 . Child homelessness increased by 8 percent nationally from 2012 to 2013 , which warned of potentially devastating effects on children's educational, emotional and social development, as well as on their parents' health, employment prospects and parenting abilities.  Chronically hungry, tired and stressed, those who are old enough to attend school exhibit mental health issues, and they often struggle academically. Ever thought of what some homeless children might be forced to give up in order finding temporary place for staying? For teenagers, it might be exchanging sex for a place to stay or staying someplace that does not feel safe because they are so involved in their day-to-day survival needs. That’s something really sad. Just imagine what kind of a person this child will be in the future. Of course giving up values in this situation is not optional. But because at one point that child had nowhere to stay and feel safe. Parents aren’t always going to be there for kids. Many reasons can range from death caused to parents (or single parent) to irresponsible and careless parents who shatter their household for many reasons that might either involve drug addiction or not holding a college degree. We need more affordable housing or we need to pay people a higher minimum wage. The new report by the National Center on Family Homelessness — a part of the private, nonprofit American Institutes for Research — says remedies for child homelessness should include an expansion of affordable housing, education and employment opportunities for homeless parents, and specialized services for the many mothers rendered homeless due to domestic violence. Solving child homelessness should include providing financial and mental health support for single parents, investment in safe affordable housing, and the expansion of education and employment opportunities across the socioeconomic spectrum.