Childhood Homelessness This analysis will explore the problem of homelessness and specifically the complications it presents for homeless children and youth - the hidden homeless. Homelessness has been a problem throughout history. Until the late 1970’s homelessness was associated with “transiency, vagrancy, vagabond, and disaffiliation with the mainstream society” (Mizrahi & Davis, 2008). With the passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act of 1987 a clear definition was adopted. Within this act homelessness is referred to as; individuals lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. The act went on to describe specific living conditions that do not meet the fixed, regular, and adequate standard; children sharing housing
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They suggest homelessness is many factors working in concert; poverty, changes in residence, schools, and services, loss of possessions, disruptions in social networks, and exposure to extreme hardships. Homeless children will likely experience clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems. Any solution must include attention to the needs of families and children; facilities that create stability, not chaos, in children’s lives. Shelters should be in the community from which the homeless came, or at least where the children will attend school. I closing they assert; “an entire generation of children faces truly unacceptable risks that jeopardize their future potential (Rafferty & Shinn, 1991). The human costs could be far more tragic without developing an appropriate and effective response. Children whose families are homeless need security, stability, and the chance to become, and remain part of a community. Without these things, children 's health and well-being suffer, their family lives are disrupted, and their education is limited (Kirkman, Keys, Bodzak, & Turner, …show more content…
To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to modify the definition of “homeless person” in addition to “other” purposes. This could lead to the impression that this bill has limited scope. The short title gives the impression of a stand-alone piece of legislation that may correctly define the scope of the bill. While the McKinney-Vento Act is an important piece of legislation that addresses homelessness, there are some significant portions of the legislation that the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) would correct. Inclusion of children and youth into a consistent definition of homeless across federal programs, and the coordination of the application and record keeping of HUD, Education Department, and other federal
They suggest homelessness is many factors working in concert; poverty, changes in residence, schools, and services, loss of possessions, disruptions in social networks, and exposure to extreme hardships. Homeless children will likely experience clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems. Any solution must include attention to the needs of families and children; facilities that create stability, not chaos, in children’s lives. Shelters should be in the community from which the homeless came, or at least where the children will attend school. I closing they assert; “an entire generation of children faces truly unacceptable risks that jeopardize their future potential (Rafferty & Shinn, 1991). The human costs could be far more tragic without developing an appropriate and effective response. Children whose families are homeless need security, stability, and the chance to become, and remain part of a community. Without these things, children 's health and well-being suffer, their family lives are disrupted, and their education is limited (Kirkman, Keys, Bodzak, & Turner, …show more content…
To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to modify the definition of “homeless person” in addition to “other” purposes. This could lead to the impression that this bill has limited scope. The short title gives the impression of a stand-alone piece of legislation that may correctly define the scope of the bill. While the McKinney-Vento Act is an important piece of legislation that addresses homelessness, there are some significant portions of the legislation that the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) would correct. Inclusion of children and youth into a consistent definition of homeless across federal programs, and the coordination of the application and record keeping of HUD, Education Department, and other federal