THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, COSTA, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BLAKE, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, CORMAN, DINNIMAN, EARLL, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FOLMER, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, LEACH, McILHINNEY, MENSCH, PICCOLA, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SCARNATI, SCHWANK, SMUCKER, SOLOBAY, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, VANCE, VOGEL, VULAKOVICH, WARD, WASHINGTON, WAUGH, D. WHITE, M. WHITE, WILLIAMS, WOZNIAK, YAW AND YUDICHAK, OCTOBER 1, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 1, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of October 14 through 20, 2012, as

"Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" will bring

attention to the growing problems and issues children

experiencing homelessness face throughout Pennsylvania and

across the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

states that children are homeless if they lack a fixed, regular

and adequate nighttime residence; and

WHEREAS, Children of all ages are negatively impacted by

homelessness in the areas of physical health, emotional and

behavioral development and academic success; and

WHEREAS, Children are the fastest growing segment of the

homeless population; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, 1.6 million children in America experienced

homelessness, with more than 31,000 of those youths residing in

Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Youth experiencing homelessness face several

obstacles, including frequent moves which disrupt their

education; and

WHEREAS, The National Coalition for the Homeless cites

studies that show 3 to 6 months of education is lost with every

move for a youth experiencing homelessness; and

WHEREAS, The national school drop-out rate for children

facing homelessness is 60% higher than a child who does not have

that experience during the school year; and

WHEREAS, For more than a decade, the Homeless Children's

Education Fund has been working to ensure that children facing

homelessness have access to the same educational opportunities

as other kids, in an effort to combat such statistics; and

WHEREAS, Act 123 was signed into law July 5, 2012, and

establishes a commission under the Pennsylvania Department of

Education to study and determine the schooling needs of youth

experiencing homelessness; and

WHEREAS, Many events will take place during Homeless

Children's Awareness Week in Pittsburgh, including an intimate

storytelling event, a performance art installation and a 5K Run/

Walk for Homeless Children in North Park; and

WHEREAS, Individuals and groups across Pennsylvania are

encouraged to create their own events during Homeless Children's

Awareness Week to raise awareness about the needs and challenges

of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Pennsylvania;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of October 14

through 20, 2012, as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in

Pennsylvania.