News
Public School Count Understates Total Child Homelessness, Faith Group Cites Need for Proposition 1C
PRESS RELEASE
California Church IMPACT
Published: October 30, 2006
New data from California public schools -- while greatly understating total child homeless -- tragically shows the need for Proposition 1C, California Church IMPACT noted following the release of key findings today.
"Caring for children is a basic moral value shared by every faith and all people of good will," said Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of the 1.5-million member California Council of Churches and its nonpartisan public policy sister organization, California Church IMPACT. Church IMPACT is actively supporting Proposition 1C, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act.
Schlosser thanked Senator Alan Lowenthal, the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee chair, for requesting and releasing the data on homeless children. The schools reported counting almost 95,000 homeless students during the 2005-06 school year.
2005-06 was the second year federal law has required public schools to try to count homeless students. The 2004-05 California total was 142,554. Since churches and other homeless service providers reported no large decreases in homeless persons from 2004 through 2006 schools therefore counted homeless students more thoroughly in 2004-05, Schlosser said. The school data also omit children who are not enrolled in public schools.
“Far too many children are homeless in California.” Said Schlosser. “It’s unforgivable that we allow children to suffer that condition in this, the wealthiest state. Even if you don't want to vote for any candidate, people of faith need to go to the polls November 7 to vote for Proposition 1C," Schlosser said.
All of Church IMPACT's recommendations on state ballot propositions are available at www.churchimpact.org.
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