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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 24, 2024 09:39 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Maria Collett and Sen. Wayne D. Fontana |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Recognizing October 18-24, 2024 as Homeless Children’s Awareness Week |
| We will soon be introducing a resolution recognizing the week of October 18 through 24, 2024 as “Homeless Children’s Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. Children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. During the 2022-23 school year, 46,714 children and youth were reported as experiencing homelessness according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Identifying these children presents an immense challenge, as most youth experiencing homelessness are not in shelters or living on the streets but rather move from place to place with no steady or permanent housing for their families. We know that safe, stable housing is critical to childhood development, and children experiencing homelessness are more likely to have long-term negative physical and mental health outcomes. The lingering financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in conjunction with a growing housing crisis, continue to affect families with children who were already struggling to make ends meet. Together we seek to bring awareness to the alarming levels of childhood homelessness across the Commonwealth – and the urgent need to address housing insecurity and the challenges that come with it. We hope you join us by signing on as co-sponsor. |
Memo Updated: September 24, 2024 09:40 AM