Local and national experts gathered in Cleveland amidst growing concern about the impact the foreclosure crisis is having, including causing increased homelessness. Because of all the foreclosed properties families who've lost their home are having a harder time finding a new place to stay.
The CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness - Nan Roman - says it's a problem that is often hidden from public view.
ROMAN: Homelessness is more of a lagging indicator than a leading indicator. We don't see a lot of families being homeless immediately after being foreclosed upon, because they still have some resources.
The Family Homelessness Forum and the Sisters of Charity conducted what they call a comprehensive survey in Cuyahoga County. It shows that nearly 30 percent of people in shelters had first lived with family members after losing their home. Also, as many as 12,000 local children...the vast majority in Cleveland...are impacted.
Cyleste Collins, a researcher at Case Western Reserve University, says that large increase is far more than County social services agencies had counted.
COLLINS: We have got to have at least a basic understanding of what our local situation is, before you go forward and do planning and changing - because they didn't know. What does Cleveland, what does Cuyahoga County look like?
A bill pending before the U.S. Senate would increase federal funds to provide services for children without a home base. The House has already approved a similar bill.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
