The Columbian

Editorial Board

2/7/16

Homeless crisis has huge impact on kids, and timely action is necessary

There is a school of thought, one that has some merit, which suggests there is little that government can do to cure the plight of homelessness. That many people prefer to live on the streets. That many people are reaping the results of their own actions in their inability to secure and maintain housing.

There is much evidence, after all, that the best intentions of governments and a large increase in public spending have done little to mitigate what continues to be a growing problem. Yet those arguments are scuttled by the realization that many victims of the current homeless crisis are children — those who are the most vulnerable and those for whom the situation is creating lifelong issues.

According to a report released last week, the number of homeless schoolchildren has grown exponentially in Washington in recent years, triggered by the Great Recession …

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