By Michael Mullen
August 15th, 2018
According to a report by WalletHub, who looked for the states containing the highest number of underprivileged children, Oregon is ranked number one in its rate of homeless youth. The report's findings were conducted by comparing every state through a number of different metrics, all stemming from the U.S. Census Bureau. Some of the metrics measured had to do with rate of food insecurity, children living in poverty, and reported instances of abuse on children. Other factors included raising rent costs, which in some cases, separate families, or force them into the streets, as well as the Oregon Child Welfare Office being in dire straits. They are tormented with issues such as high rates of caseworker turnover, and a highly inefficient system for reporting child abuse. These findings, coupled with (according to the report) a severe lack of foster parents available in Oregon, create quite the vicious circle when thinking about a homeless youth's future prospects. In any case, this is a very sad, devastating issue, and it is important that it is top-of-mind, or at least close, when thinking about the homeless population and what they are dealing with daily.
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