Pages tagged "News Article"
Homelessness among school children on the rise
Children’s advocates say the numbers reflect why a greater emphasis is needed on expanding support for homeless families — not just those living in homeless shelters.
“While the economy may be coming back some, people are still having a hard time making enough money to afford and find affordable housing,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the nonprofit First Focus Campaign for Children.
Record number of homeless students reported in Alabama schools
Mobile Press-Register
The United States has also reached a new record of 1,258,182 homeless students as 34 states and the District of Columbia reported year-to-year increases in the number of homeless students. The increase in Alabama's homeless students from the previous school year outpaces the national increase of 8 percent.
Alabama had the second-highest percentage increase in homeless student enrollment, second only to New Jersey, said Madeline Daniels of the First Focus Campaign for Children.
Sen. Nelson succeeds in drive to require child-proof liquid nicotine bottles
Bradenton Herald (Florida)
Nationwide, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there have been more than 2,700 calls regarding liquid nicotine exposure through Aug. 31 of this year – a pace double last year’s total. And the 1,351 cases reported last year represented a 300 percent increase from 2012. Nelson’s legislation has drawn the support of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Respiratory Care, American Association of Poison Control Centers, American College of Cardiology, American College of Medical Toxicology, American College of Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine, American Public Health Association, Arizona Consumers Council, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Boston Public Health Commission, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund, Chicago Consumer Coalition, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Federation of California, Consumer Federation of the Southeast, Consumers Union, EverThrive Illinois, First Focus Campaign for Children, Kids in Danger, March of Dimes, Minnesota Department of Health, National Association of County and City Health Officials, Ohio Public Health Association, Oncology Nursing Society, Partnership for Prevention, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG and Virginia Citizens Consumer Council.
New definition of homeless would give kids more help
Deseret News (Utah)
Ruth White, executive director of the National Center for Housing & Child Welfare, said the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2014 "restores HUD to its proper role of helping communities prevent and end homelessness for all vulnerable community members.
"After a decade's worth of harmful, Washington-driven homeless policy that stripped funding from family, domestic violence and youth shelters and services, the HCYA comes not a day too soon."
Bruce Lesley: Politicians should spend time in homeless shelters to grasp real needs
Capital Times (WIsconsin)
As president of First Focus Campaign for Children, it’s encouraging that the region is getting new resources to help the homeless (“Permanent housing for homeless wins $5.4 million in low-income tax credits,” May 2), but homelessness is changing. A practical next step: Policymakers should talk with homeless families.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier did, spending a night in a California homeless shelter. She met full-time workers earning too little to make rent. People with careers derailed by the recession. And she met children.
More than 1 million homeless children live in America today, including more than 15,000 in Wisconsin. Some in shelters. Others in hotel rooms one night, friends’ couches the next, then the family car. But most of us, including policymakers, have an outdated picture of homelessness.
Let’s change that. Call your congressional representatives. Urge them to take Congresswoman Speier’s “Homeless Shelter Challenge.” Help them understand what homeless families need, so they’re better able to help.
Bruce Lesley
Washington, D.C.
Cutting corruption or spreading starvation?
Fortunately, President Obama signed a bi-partisan farm bill that will only cut $8 billion from the program over the next 10 years. Much better than the $40 billion and the recently proposed $5.1 trillion, but still, the question stands: In the midst of all the data and statistics and political jargon concerning budgeting, are we forgetting about the children, who account for half of those benefiting from the program?
Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus Campaign for Children thinks so, stating, “Yes, the federal government has budget problems, but children didn’t cause them, and cutting anti-hunger investments is the wrong way to solve them.”
Too many kids are homeless; don’t let them go unnoticed
Charlotte’s progress on chronic homelessness is encouraging, but homelessness is changing.
More than one million homeless children live in America today, including more than 27,000 in North Carolina.
Some live in shelters. Others in hotel rooms one night, friends’ couches the next, then the family car.
But most of us, including policymakers, have an outdated picture of homelessness. Let’s change that.
Urge your congressional representatives to take U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier’s “Homeless Shelter Challenge” and spend a night in a homeless shelter. Help them understand what homeless families need, so they’re better able to help.
Bruce Lesley
Washington, D.C.
The writer is president of First Focus Campaign for Children.
Child Tax Credit plan is ‘bad politics’ for the GOP, opponents say
Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus Campaign for Children, was one of those opponents who signed the letter. He told reporters on Monday that denying the Child Tax Credit to any child is “bad policy and runs contrary to our American values.”
“Congress should be focusing on policies that invest in kids and support working families, not policies that threaten to drive even more children into poverty,” he said.
Crédito tributario para niños hispanos en peligro en EEUU
Latino and civil rights groups have united against the proposal. According to the National Immigration Law Center ( NILC ) five million citizens will be affected by the measure including two million Hispanics.
"This tax credit covers basic needs like food and rent. We should not consider proposals that will push more children into poverty, "said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus.
Pro-children group blasts GOP tax credit proposal
But First Focus Campaign for Children says the plan comes “when child poverty is already at the highest level in a generation.”
“This proposal targets millions of the most vulnerable children in America and threatens to drive even more children into poverty,” Bruce Lesley, the group’s president, said in a statement. “And our message to members of Congress: find a smarter solution, and don’t cut kids.”