- Target:
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Region:
- United States of America
Homelessness is as old as the United States itself. When the first settlers came to America they were homeless.
Today more families are needing support services and are not being provided those services because the current definition of homelessness is based on individuals and not families. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition prohibits services to families with children. However, today, more and more families are becoming homeless.
The United States Conference of Mayors (2005) shared that the causes of homelessness is due to “lack of affordable housing, low paying jobs, mental illness, the lack of needed services, substance abuse, domestic violence, unemployment and poverty. There are many consequences for families being homeless.
When families become homeless they not only loose their homes, they also loose all of their possessions. Children may not receive an education or may have to change schools, family separation becomes an issue because most shelters do not allow women, men and children to be together.
Therefore, the current definition of homelessness as defined by HUD must be expanded to include families with children.
We, the undersigned, call on the Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand the current definition of those who are considered chronically homeless to include families with children.
Homeless families with children will benefit from the expansion of the current definition. With the change, they will qualify for services to help them rebuild their lives.
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The H.O.M.E - Rebuilding Lives petition to Department of Housing and Urban Development was written by Cheri Duncan and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.