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On average, 18% of homeless persons needing help didn't get it. At issue was availability of enough shelters and beds.
Most cities have policies to prevent homelessness, but measures employed aren't enough. Nearly two-thirds of them expect family homelessness to increase next year. Over half think unaccompanied individual homeless will grow.
No city reported budget increases in 2012 to accommodate greater numbers of people. As a result, growing numbers won't get aid.
Child Homelessness in America
In December, the National Center on Family Homeless (NCFH) issued its "State Report on Child Homelessness" titled, "America's Youngest Outcasts 2010."
Over 1.6 million children are affected, one in 45. It reflects a 38% increase over 2007, or nearly half a million homeless kids. They live on streets, in homeless shelters, motels, trailer parks, camping grounds, cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus and train stations, substandard housing, or double up with other families.
As a result, they endure hunger, poor physical and emotional health, and attain limited reading, math and computer skills. They're physically, emotionally, academically, and otherwise denied.
According to HCFH president and founder Ellen Bassuk, their status suggests "an emerging Third World in (America's) own backyard." As a result, she urges "no further cuts in federal and state programs that help homeless children and families. Deeper cuts will only create more homelessness that will cost more to fix in the long run."
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