Homeless Children: Philadelphia as a Case Study

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Abstract
Homeless children are rapidly emerging as a new segment of the nation's underclass. This article describes the origins and implications of this phenomenon, using Philadelphia as a case study. The recent rise in the number of homeless families is due to a decrease in the amount of affordable housing and a simultaneous increase in the number of families living in poverty and its attendant social problems. As a result, homeless children in Philadelphia and the nation experience severe disruptions in family life that can have devastating, and possibly permanent, effects on them. These effects include poor health, limited access to a source of continuing health care, developmental delays, emotional disturbance, and poor school performance. We must address both the children's immediate needs for comprehensive social services and the systemic causes of family homelessness in order to prevent future generations of homeless children.

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