America's Homeless Children - Unseen, but Counted
Baku, November 27 (AZERTAC). Our education system focuses on many essential factors intended to create a platform for success for our children. But far too often we overlook the undeniable presence of childhood poverty. The children behind these numbers may be invisible to some, but nevertheless the numbers are shockingly high.
The National Center on Family Homelessness reported that 1 in 45 children experience homelessness each year. This number amounts to a staggering 1.6 million children in America. Reports also indicate that 71 percent of homeless children are "doubled up" (living with friends, family or nonrelatives for economic reasons), placing them among the 6.8 million people who stay in living situations they do not control. As such, they could eventually find themselves in a shelter or ultimately on the street.
America's homeless children are mostly unseen, but they are counted. The troubling part is that these numbers have been climbing for some time now.
In the 2011 school year, enrollment statistics in preschools and K-12 programs reported a figure of 1,168,354 children known to be homeless. These trends show a sharp increase in this figure over the last few years. TheAtlanticCities.com recently reported that this issue is one of national concern, with 43 states reporting recent increases in the number of homeless children. California, New York, Texas and Florida are among the hardest hit.
In the nation's capital alone, the Public School System reports that over 3,000 of its students are known to be living in homelessness.
Many of these children are very young and are accompanied by adults. Others are under-aged teenagers facing the perils of the street on their own as they struggle to finish high school. Children who experience homelessness oftentimes grow up in quite traumatic conditions and, as a result, may be more likely to suffer from chronic health problems. They are also more likely to be delayed in their emotional development.
In some countries, child homelessness is graphic, brutal and heart-wrenching. Malnourished children live on the streets in complete neglect and at risk for severe injuries. In the United States, the phenomenon is inconspicuous, veiled -- even hard to fathom somehow. But it is real, nevertheless.
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