Dept. of Education Latest Report Shows More than 1% of School Kids in 2011 Were Homeless
Last month the U.S. Department of Education issued their most recent report on the education of homeless children. The results -- which even the agency admits are incomplete -- paint a bleak picture of the nation and its glut of homeless kids.
When it comes to homelessness, the numbers are only as good as the reporting mechanisms, the diligence of the agencies and school departments involved, and the courage of the parents who must admit to authorities that they and their children are homeless.
Many states deem homelessness as a form of neglect and place homeless kids into foster care. Living in a state like this -- or fearing that one does -- keeps parents from seeking services for their homeless children. That fear keeps the number of homeless children artificially low.
With the caveat acknowledged and accepted that the numbers the Department of Education issued