Just for the Hell of It Essay

Submitted By john34171
Words: 567
Pages: 3

Statistics on Homeless Children:

• 1 in 50 children in the US are homeless.
• On any give day, 200,000 children have no place to live.
• Homeless families comprise 34% of the homeless population.
• Almost 40% of the entire homeless population is under 18.
• 42% of these homeless children are younger than 6

Not sure if these fit into my section, but here are a few more.. Health Problems Due to Homelessness: • Homeless children are sick four times more often than other children. • Four times as many respiratory infections. • Twice as many ear infections. • Five times more gastrointestinal problems. • Four times more likely to have asthma. • Go hungry at twice the rate of other children. 57% of homeless kids spend at least one day every month without food. • Have high rates of obesity due to nutritional deficiencies • Have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children
Experiences of Violence: • By age 12, 83% had been exposed to at least one serious violent event. • Almost 25% have witnessed acts of violence within their families.
Educational and Developmental Issues:
Children experiencing homelessness are: • Four times more likely to show delayed development. • Twice as likely to have learning disabilities as non-homeless children. • At least 20 % of homeless children are unable to attend school. • Within a year, 41% will attend two different schools and 28% will attend three or more schools and each change sets them back 4-6 months. • Of homeless children in grades 3-12, only 48% were proficient in reading and only 43% were proficient in math. • 36% of homeless children repeat a grade • Approximately 1.16 million of homeless children today will not graduate from high school.
Causes for child homelessness:
There are many reasons why children become homeless.
Running away: Children run away for many reasons :Neglect and abuse of the child, Family and domestic violence
Parents addictions to drugs/alcohol
Families whose breadwinner loses his job or suffers from an illness may lose their home. Some children rebel, and choose to separate themselves from their family and leave home. There may also be a breakdown of the family relationship. Severely mentally ill individuals with children or those with addictions may lose their homes.

Natural disasters Poverty
Local places to volunteer with the homeless

| |Gates of Grace 360-980-3973 |
| |Vancouver, WA 98662 |
| | |
| |Council for the Homeless (360)993-9561 |
| |Vancouver, WA 98660 |
| | |
| |Bradley Angle House For Women and Children 503-281-2442 |
| |6.38 miles from city center Vancouver |
| |Portland, OR 97217 |
| | |
| |Camp Lacamas (360) 834-3262 |
| |7.07 miles from city center Vancouver |
| |Camas, WA 98607 |
| | |
| |Transition Projects TPI…