The National Center on Family Homelessness ranks Oregon 26th – right in the middle of the pack – out of all the states for its extent and well-being of homeless children. Overall, the Center’s report “American’s Youngest Outcasts” says that nationwide, an astonishing 1 in 50 children experienced homelessness each year. States were measured on the extent of child homelessness (Oregon ranked 44th) the well-being in terms of health, food security and education (Hurray! We’re 4th!) and risk factors, such as the housing market, family situation and poverty (26th).
The consequences are outlined in the report’s executive summary:
“Children without homes are twice as likely to experience hunger as other children. Two-thirds worry they won’t have enough to eat. More than one-third of homeless children report being forced to skip meals. Homelessness makes children sick. Children who experience homelessness are more than twice as likely as middle class children to have moderate to severe acute and chronic health problems. Homeless children are twice as likely as other children to repeat a grade in school, to be expelled or suspended, or to drop out of high school. At the end of high school, few homeless students are proficient in reading and math – and their estimated graduation rate is below 25%.”
Read the full report here.
Posted by Joanne Zuhl