Efforts to reduce child homelessness in Utah will fail if they are based on the assumption that every homeless parent is able to work the 79 hours per week necessary to be able to consistently afford an apartment while earning the minimum wage. More than one out of every five homeless parents has a disability. That is 2.6 times higher than the rate for the general parent population and 1.5 times the rate for all adults with children in families with incomes under the poverty level. This should not be surprising. People with disabilities deal with economic stresses that others do not face.
Unfortunately, the economic stresses of caring for a child with disabilities also increases the risk that an entire family will become homeless. 21 percent of children identified as experiencing homelessness by their school have a disability-- over 60 percent higher than the 13 percent for the general student population. (Get more facts about disability status and child homelessness on page 4 of this report).
The Coalition of Religious Communities is currently challenging candidates and elected officials to sign the Pledge to help reduce child homelessness. The reason the Pledge talks about the need for more permanent supportive housing for families is that housing with on-site case management and other services is what some parents with disabilities need to provide a stable environment for their children. The reason the Pledge talks about the need to produce and preserve more housing that is affordable and appropriate for families is that other parents with disabilities may not need services where they live but they are unlikely to ever be able to earn enough money to afford an apartment that costs $2,000 a month. It is important that we find ways to build and preserve more multi-bedroom housing that costs $800 or $1,000 per month so that children do not become homeless because their parents are unable to earn enough to afford the housing available in many cities in Utah.
Unfortunately, the economic stresses of caring for a child with disabilities also increases the risk that an entire family will become homeless. 21 percent of children identified as experiencing homelessness by their school have a disability-- over 60 percent higher than the 13 percent for the general student population. (Get more facts about disability status and child homelessness on page 4 of this report).
The Coalition of Religious Communities is currently challenging candidates and elected officials to sign the Pledge to help reduce child homelessness. The reason the Pledge talks about the need for more permanent supportive housing for families is that housing with on-site case management and other services is what some parents with disabilities need to provide a stable environment for their children. The reason the Pledge talks about the need to produce and preserve more housing that is affordable and appropriate for families is that other parents with disabilities may not need services where they live but they are unlikely to ever be able to earn enough money to afford an apartment that costs $2,000 a month. It is important that we find ways to build and preserve more multi-bedroom housing that costs $800 or $1,000 per month so that children do not become homeless because their parents are unable to earn enough to afford the housing available in many cities in Utah.
