America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010

Nearly 1.6 million children in the U.S. are homeless, according to a 2011 December report by the National Center on Family Homelessness. The report ranks the 50 states from best to worst and offers specific policy solutions.

The report looks at trends in child homelessness from 2006 to 2010 and describes homeless children from birth to age 18 who are accompanied by one or more caregivers. The count does not include unaccompanied children (e.g., runaway youth).

The number of homeless families in 2010 exceeded the total in 2006, when hurricanes Katrina and Rita displaced thousands of families. The majority of the homeless children documented are under 7 years of age. States in the South and Southwest had the highest percentages of homeless children while states in the North had the lowest percentages of child homelessness.

The report concludes by recommending policy strategies in the areas of housing, child care, education, domestic violence and employment.

The National Center on Family Homelessness is a nonprofit that researches and addresses the needs of homeless children and families.

Read the report.