Study: Homelessness among children a bigger problem in NY than other states

March 10, 2009 1:43 AM

Homelessness is a growing problem for America's children.

A new report finds one of every 50 American children experiences homelessness, and most states have inadequate plans to address the problem.

The number of homeless children in New York is 45,195 -- 36-percent are White, 31-percent Hispanic, 27-percent Black and 6-percent Asian, according to The National Center on Family Homelessness.

Homeless children in Massachusetts are better off than their counterparts in most other states. The study said there are an estimated 17,500 homeless children in Massachusetts.

Analysts looked at data from 2005-2006 and estimated that 1.5 million children experienced homelessness at least once during that period. The problem is likely worse now because of the foreclosures and job losses of the deepening recession. The report says homeless children are far more likely than other children to experience hunger, suffer chronic health problems, repeat a grade in school and drop out of high school.

Here is the complete list of ranked states: