The Hill News

On Wednesday, March 30th, the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness hosted its first briefing of the 112th Congress, entitled: A Growing Epidemic: Homeless Children, Youth, and Families. An epidemic is exactly what homelessness is in our country. In 2009, the nation’s family homeless population was 243,156, an increase of 6,252 people from 2008. The number of homeless children and families throughout the United States is appalling. Overall, more than half a million people in the United States do not have a place to call home each night and half of them are without shelter.  This was the fourth briefing the Caucus has hosted since its founding last year by myself and Co-Chairs, Representatives Judy Biggert (IL), Geoff Davis (KY), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX). 

My mother used to say to me: “Who you pass on your way up are the same people you pass on the way down.” The families that we spoke about at last week’s briefing are just like yours and mine. ! All it takes is an unexpected bill, a company downsizing, or a bad mortgageâ€"to create a situation where a family cannot maintain housing. 

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