This document presents witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine the effects of homelessness on children and families. In their opening statements, Representatives George Miller and Dan Coats emphasize that homelessness threatens the physical health and safety of children, places them at risk of…

Although homelessness is not a new phenomenon, the number of homeless people today has fostered mobilization on their behalf by public and private sectors. Principal factors accepted as contributing to homelessness are inadequate low-cost housing, unemployment, chemical dependency, family violence, and inadequate community services for the…

This review, compiled by the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE), is based on literature published between 1995 and 2005 on issues concerning unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. It provides an overview of the challenges these young people face and includes research about why they leave their homes, how they live after leaving,…

During the course of a natural disaster or similar emergency, youth may be separated from their parents or guardians. After the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, for example, many youth were evacuated without their parents or guardians and sent to different locations, leaving the youth alone in the care of relief agencies. Other youth were on their own…

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act, requires schools to enroll homeless students immediately, even if they do not have the documents normally required for enrollment such as school records, medical records, proof of residency, or others. Unfortunately for many homeless…

This report compiles data submitted by state educational agencies in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. States are required to provide an estimate of: total number of homeless children and youth by grade level, number of homeless children and youth enrolled in public school by grade level, number of homeless children and…

This report reviews the effectiveness of Washington's HOPE Centers and Responsible Living Skills Programs (RLSPs) and reports findings and recommendations. In 1999, state legislators enacted the HOPE Act, which created these two services. HOPE Centers are temporary residential facilities where street youth can stay for 30 days while being…

This paper examines ways to measure the effectiveness of McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Programs. It is the result of a work group that developed standards and indicators of quality, that identified data-collection tools and strategies to determine the extent to which the programs are meeting the standards and indicators, and that created…

The goal of this analysis was to examine gender differences in the experiences of children and adolescents found on city streets. It has been proposed that girls who leave home to seek their survival on city streets are from more disturbed families than boys, reflecting cultural factors that result in differential norms for male and female…

This plan is intended to stimulate action to end homelessness in Philadelphia by 2010. Based on local and national research on homelessness, it examines how to achieve this goal, highlighting advocacy, information, services, housing, jobs, communications, accountability, and resources. Research indicates that many dedicated people are working on…

Explores cultural shifts in values that aggravate the plight of homeless children in both developed and developing countries. Describes a program for homeless children that places housing and recreation facilities where these children congregate and invites children for social activities and for shelter, bringing the children through stages of…

Interviews with six participants in an exemplary transitional housing program for homeless persons identified attitudes and behaviors contributing to success or failure, community resources contributing to success, and program aspects participants found difficult. Results yielded principles for program implementation, staffing, and improvement.…

Residency requirements, transportation needs, lost records, the timeliness for special education placement, and substantiated guardianship pose the main reasons for homeless children's barred access to education. Two national organizations offer suggestions for removing such barriers, and exemplary efforts to educate homeless youth are occurring…

Discusses the programs and services which are provided for street children by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the Philippine government. Linkages and networking of the DSWD are also briefly outlined. (RJC)

Explores the street life of an adolescent subculture through field study of the Canadian West Coast punk rock subculture. Demonstrates through observation of the members, their behavior and attitudes, and the reactions of others to them, that their activities both represent, and are consequences of, resistance to the dominant order. (Author/JS)