Homelessness and Its Impact on Children By: Chiazam Omenyi

Did You Know? In the school year, 1,065,794 homeless students were enrolled in the United States school system

Homelessness has become an increasingly prominent social problem in our country that affects the lives of many.

Periods of Homelessness Colonial: Pre-Industrial: Post Civil War: Post Great Depression: Contemporary Period: 1970-Present  All following economic shift, limited government response

Various Causes of Homelessness The largest trends causing the rise of homelessness are the increased lack of affordable housing and poverty. The cost of housing is usually greater than the pay of low- income individuals The average income of a homeless family is less than half of the poverty line Other Causes: substance abuse, domestic violence, war and natural disasters

Physical Effects on Children Homeless children are sick four times more and go hungry at twice the rate of other children. Twice as many ear infections Five times as many stomach problems Six times as many speech problems Shelters are bad places to live, some won’t accept families

Emotional Effects on Children They develop emotional problems three times more than other children. Young Children (up to 5 years old): one out of six have emotional disturbances (twice the rate of other children) School-Age Children (6-17 years old): 47% have anxiety, depression, or withdrawal problems (18% for other children); 36% have aggressive behavior (17% for other children)

Emotional Effects on Children One-fifth of homeless children are separated from their families at one time or another. If their parents had housing, at least 30% of children could return home. Some shelters divide up families Homeless children are under a lot of stress Witness a lot of violence inside and outside their family, always worrying about what will happen to them and their family

Educational Effects on Children They develop behavioral problems three times more than other children. 1.5 times more likely to be below grade level in reading and spelling 2.5 times more likely to be below grade level in math In 2009, 77% of homeless students attended school Some schools won’t allow registration without a medical record or a home address Some kids don’t have transportation Hard for school districts to deal w/homeless children because not receiving enough program funding

Federal Aid: The McKinney- Vento Act The first legislation dealing with homelessness Signed by President Reagan in 1987; added to No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 Subtitle VII-B designed to increase school enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children Sadly, funding for the program has diminished

Federal Aid: Welfare-to-Work Concept Governmental policy where you have to work at least 20 hours a week in order to receive welfare benefits from programs like TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Reflection of American mindset that you have to help yourself in order to receive help

Non-Profit Organizations Use revenue surpluses to give back to the community Many different types of organizations to meet many different needs of homeless population Clothing: Dignity U Wear, Dress for Success Food: Second Harvest, Meals on Wheels Housing: Habitat for Humanity

Even though over one million homeless students were enrolled in school systems last year, that didn’t even count preschoolers, toddlers, infants, home-schooled children, or children just not enrolled in school.