Sponsored by:
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates week of October 14, 2018 as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution designating the week of October 14, 2018 as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Homelessness is a pervasive public health problem throughout the United States, affecting not only adults, but many children and young people under the age of 25; and
Whereas, According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as of January 2017, there were 553,742 homeless persons living in the United States on a given night; and
Whereas, Of that number, an estimated 40,799 were unaccompanied homeless children and young people under the age of 25; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, 12 percent of the State's 18-24 year old population lives in poverty, which is a 10 percent increase since 2002; and
Whereas, Extreme poverty is the strongest predictor of homelessness for individuals and families; and
Whereas, According to the New Jersey Department of Education, more than 10,900 homeless children and young people were identified in the State of New Jersey during the 2016-17 school year; and
Whereas, Homelessness has particularly adverse effects on children and young people, including hunger, poor physical and mental health, and missed educational opportunities; and
Whereas, Homeless children and young people are at greater risk of suffering from depression, anxiety, and emotional problems, which often require professional care and treatment; and
Whereas, In an effort to raise awareness to the increasing problem of homelessness among children and young people the Homeless Children's Education Fund in Pennsylvania hosts a weeklong series of events every October in recognition of an annual "Homeless Children's Awareness Week"; and
Whereas, The efforts of Pennsylvania and the Homeless Children's Education Fund should be commended and replicated throughout the United States; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper to designate the week of October 14, 2018 as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The week of October 14, 2018 shall be designated as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in order to encourage continued efforts to eradicate homelessness, especially among the State's children and young people.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation recognizing the week of October 14, 2018 as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" and to urge public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.
3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor.
STATEMENT
Homelessness is a pervasive public health problem throughout the United States affecting not only adults, but many children and young people under the age of 25. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as of January 2017, there were 553,742 homeless persons living in the United States on a given night, roughly 40,799 of which were unaccompanied homeless children and young people. In New Jersey, 12 percent of the State's 18-24 year old population lives in poverty, which is the strongest predictor of homelessness for individuals and families.
Homelessness has particularly adverse effects on children and young people, including hunger, poor physical and mental health, and missed educational opportunities. Homeless children and young people are at greater risk of suffering from depression, anxiety, and emotional problems which often require professional care and treatment.
In an effort to raise awareness to the increasing problem of homelessness among children and young people, the Homeless Children's Education Fund in Pennsylvania hosts a weeklong series of events every October in recognition of an annual "Homeless Children's Awareness Week." New Jersey ought to commend the effort of Pennsylvania and join in the effort to raise awareness for the problem of homelessness among children and young people. Therefore, this resolution designates the week of October 14, 2018 as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in New Jersey.