Bill Text: TX HR1020 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing March 19, 2013, as Homelessness Awareness Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-03-20 - Reported enrolled [HR1020 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR1020-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1020 |
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WHEREAS, In the wake of the recent economic downturn, more | ||
and more Americans are facing homelessness or the prospect of | ||
losing their homes, including an increasing number who do not fit | ||
the commonly held stereotype of the homeless; and | ||
WHEREAS, A homeless person is generally defined as an | ||
individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime | ||
residence, or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or | ||
private place not designed for regular sleeping accommodation; and | ||
WHEREAS, While it is impossible to measure the rate of | ||
homelessness with perfect accuracy, the Texas Homeless Network | ||
estimates that close to 80,000 Texans experience homelessness on | ||
any given day, with 265,000 experiencing homelessness over the span | ||
of a year; and | ||
WHEREAS, A sobering consequence of the nationwide economic | ||
recession is the growing number of families and children | ||
experiencing homelessness; according to a recent point-in-time | ||
count, families now account for 40 percent of the state's homeless | ||
population, and 3 percent of the homeless are unaccompanied minors; | ||
children who lack safe and permanent housing often suffer from | ||
health and emotional problems as well as impeded academic progress, | ||
with fewer than one in four graduating from high school; and | ||
WHEREAS, The State of Texas is home to a great number of | ||
charities, government agencies, businesses, and advocacy groups | ||
that are committed to serving homeless populations and developing | ||
solutions to prevent and reduce homelessness in our communities; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, To that end, advocates from across the state are | ||
gathering in Austin on March 19, 2013, to observe Homelessness | ||
Awareness Day at the State Capitol; this occasion presents a | ||
worthwhile opportunity to promote greater understanding of issues | ||
facing homeless individuals and to foster solidarity in statewide | ||
endeavors to end homelessness, a problem whose implications for the | ||
future of our society cannot be overstated; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize March 19, 2013, as Homelessness | ||
Awareness Day and commend the state's homelessness advocates for | ||
their important work. | ||
Hunter | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1020 was adopted by the House on March | ||
19, 2013, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||