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The recently-issued 2009 edition of Horizons for Homeless Children's (HHC's) annual "Bridging the Gap" report found that state cut-backs made a year ago had reduced homeless children's access to early education and care by 7% since our prior survey in the summer of 2008. This data was based on HHC's annual survey of homeless shelters, conducted early this past summer. Since that time, the Commonwealth suspended its policy of immediate access to childcare vouchers for homeless families upon entry to a shelter. Not surprisingly, a new follow-up telephone survey shows that this further setback is making it even harder for homeless children to enroll in early education and care. The follow-up survey shows that homeless children's access to early education and care has declined by a cumulative total of 13%in the past year. 76% of all Mass. shelters serving families with children report that suspension of the "immediate access" policy has made it harder for homeless children to enroll in early education and care.
Prior to state cut-backs, an all-time high of 64% of homeless children living in shelters were found to be enrolled in early education and care as of mid-2008, a direct result of the Commonwealth's innovative "immediate access" policy. Since then, a series of cut-backs resulting from insufficient state revenues has eroded this progress. As of mid-2009, homeless children's enrollment in early education and care had declined from 64% to 57%. Now, HHC's follow-up telephone survey shows that as of November only a bare majority - just 51% - of homeless children living in shelters are enrolled in early education and care. That percentage is likely to decline further, as childcare vouchers issued before the cut-backs expire.
And this decline tells only part of the story. HHC estimates that approximately 350 homeless children under the age of six who would have been able to access early education and care are instead spending their days at the shelter, with little or no opportunity to play, learn and grow. Moreover, there is an additional group of homeless young children - about 930 - who are stuck with their families in shelter overflow motels scattered around the state; very few of these 930 children have been able to enroll in early education and care.
The downward trend in access will have severe consequences for homeless children in Massachusetts. Less access to early education and care means more homeless children in Massachusetts are experiencing the trauma of homelessness without effective intervention, potentially resulting in a broad range of harmful consequences, including diminished school-readiness, lifelong developmental delays, and compromised mental health. In addition, without access to early education and care, homeless parents cannot work or participate in job training and it is also harder for them to search for permanent housing, undermining the opportunities for homeless families to leave shelters and shelter overflow motels, secure permanent housing and move towards self-sufficiency.
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