Consequently, homelessness is a social problem that immediately brings up housing and poverty dilemmas. Give students a chance to make a contribution toward ending homelessness. Sensitize students to be more accepting of students in their school who might be without a home. Provide opportunity for schools to interact with the community to establish cooperative partnerships to assist those who are homeless. Iowa is a beautiful land with proud people dedicated to helping each other and working hard to overcome problems.
Homelessness is such a problem.
However, accepting the fact that homelessness exists is not an easy matter for Iowans and some denial pervades our citizenry. Some Iowans do not feel that it is politically or economically wise to admit that homelessness exists and to what extent it exists. They feel that if the problem looks too pervasive to outsiders, we might not be able to attract outside economic interests. Studies of Iowa's homeless indicate that during any given year nearly 16,000 people are homeless by being on the streets, living in abandoned buildings, tents or shelters and transition housing or finding temporary shelter with friends or relatives. Over 60 percent of our homeless are children of preschool through high school age.