America’s streets are now home to more than 1.5 million youths, with more than 40% of them under the age of seven.

 

Out of the 1.6 million children in the U.S. who were homeless at some time last year, 672,000 were babies, toddlers and other kids, the oldest of whom are eligible for second grade (if they’re even in school).

 

The Great Recession, referred to as “a man-made disaster,” caused a huge spike in the number of homeless children, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness. From 2007 to 2010 the total increased 448,000, or 38%.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010 (National Center on Family Homelessness) (pdf)

Family Homeless Up; Chronic Homeless Down (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)