Bill Text: PA SR229 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the week of October 14 through 20, 2012, as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 30-19)

Status: (Passed) 2012-10-01 - Introduced and adopted [SR229 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SR229-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2435
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 229 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, COSTA, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BLAKE, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, CORMAN, DINNIMAN, EARLL, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FOLMER, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, LEACH, McILHINNEY, MENSCH, PICCOLA, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SCARNATI, SCHWANK, SMUCKER, SOLOBAY, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, VANCE, VOGEL, VULAKOVICH, WARD, WASHINGTON, WAUGH, D. WHITE, M. WHITE, WILLIAMS, WOZNIAK, YAW AND YUDICHAK, OCTOBER 1, 2012
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 1, 2012
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of October 14 through 20, 2012, as
"Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" will bring
attention to the growing problems and issues children
experiencing homelessness face throughout Pennsylvania and
across the nation; and
WHEREAS, The Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
states that children are homeless if they lack a fixed, regular
and adequate nighttime residence; 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, Children are the fastest growing segment of the
homeless population; and
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WHEREAS, In 2010, 1.6 million children in America experienced
homelessness, with more than 31,000 of those youths residing in
Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Youth experiencing homelessness face several
obstacles, including frequent moves which disrupt their
education; and
WHEREAS, The National Coalition for the Homeless cites
studies that show 3 to 6 months of education is lost with every
move for a youth experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, The national school drop-out rate for children
facing homelessness is 60% higher than a child who does not have
that experience during the school year; and
WHEREAS, For more than a decade, the Homeless Children's
Education Fund has been working to ensure that children facing
homelessness have access to the same educational opportunities
as other kids, in an effort to combat such statistics; and
WHEREAS, Act 123 was signed into law July 5, 2012, and
establishes a commission under the Pennsylvania Department of
Education to study and determine the schooling needs of youth
experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Many events will take place during Homeless
Children's Awareness Week in Pittsburgh, including an intimate
storytelling event, a performance art installation and a 5K Run/
Walk for Homeless Children in North Park; and
WHEREAS, Individuals and groups across Pennsylvania are
encouraged to create their own events during Homeless Children's
Awareness Week to raise awareness about the needs and challenges
of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Pennsylvania;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of October 14
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through 20, 2012, as "Homeless Children's Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania.
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