PRINTER'S NO. 2072
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
452
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, BOSCOLA, BROWNE, DINNIMAN, GREENLEAF,
SABATINA, COSTA, BLAKE, BREWSTER, BAKER, HUGHES, SCHWANK,
WARD, RAFFERTY, STREET, FARNESE AND AUMENT, OCTOBER 2, 2018
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 2, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of October 14 through 20, 2018, as
"Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" brings
attention to the growing problems and issues facing homeless
children throughout this Commonwealth and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Families with children are the fastest-growing
segment of the homeless population; and
WHEREAS, A total of 42% of homeless children in this
Commonwealth are six years of age or younger; and
WHEREAS, According to the Department of Education, there were
more than 30,264 reported cases of homeless school-age children
in this Commonwealth during the 2016-2017 school year; and
WHEREAS, There are homeless students in every county in this
Commonwealth and these students are about 1% of the total
population enrolled in public schools; and
WHEREAS, The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, enacted
in 1987, states that children are homeless if they lack a fixed,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
regular and adequate nighttime residence; and
WHEREAS, The Federal act provides the basis for agency
funding to combat homelessness and was later amended to include
protection for homeless youths in public education, effectively
defining how schools must handle this issue and what actions
must be taken; 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, For many homeless students, coming to school every
day is the only stability they know, since they often face
obstacles like losing treasured possessions and dealing with
hunger and sleep deprivation; and
WHEREAS, Keeping a student in their original school is
essential to their education since every time a student changes
schools, they are set back academically by three to six months;
and
WHEREAS, The national school drop-out rate for homeless
children is 60% higher than for children who do not experience
homelessness during the school year; and
WHEREAS, For more than 19 years, the Homeless Children's
Education Fund has advanced the education of children and youths
experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County in an effort to
combat the statistics; and
WHEREAS, Many events are taking place in Pittsburgh during
"Homeless Children's Awareness Week," including three "Stand Up
for Homeless Children" performance art installations, an evening
of trivia and a karaoke night; and
WHEREAS, Individuals and groups across this Commonwealth are
encouraged to create their own events during "Homeless
20180SR0452PN2072 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Children's Awareness Week" to raise awareness about the needs
and challenges of children and youths experiencing homelessness;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of October 14
through 20, 2018, as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania.
20180SR0452PN2072 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6