• Should a federal health program pay to house L.A.'s homeless?

    Should a federal health program pay to house L.A.'s homeless?

    Dec 13, 2014 12:49 AM EST

    ... the L.A. Mission and very much agrees that kind of help is needed, as well.  But the 'Housing First' approach is what ended his homelessness, he says. And eventually his drinking. He also knows he's relatively lucky.  The program has helped about 700 people so far; 50,000 ...

  • How do you define 'homeless' in America?

    How do you define 'homeless' in America?

    Nov 18, 2014 08:03 PM EST

    On Monday, the National Center on Family Homelessness released a report that said one in 30 children, or roughly 2.5 million kids, are homeless in America. That’s an increase of 8 percent from their 2012-2013 findings. But on Oct. 30, the U.S. Department of Housing and ...

  • Numbers on homeless students likely too low

    Numbers on homeless students likely too low

    Oct 14, 2014 07:39 PM EST

    ... the Homeless Children and Youth Act is expected to be reintroduced in Congress after the midterm elections that aims to amend HUD's definition of homelessness and provide children with more supportive housing, food, and mental services. Rashema Melson, for her part, is hoping to improve college access for other ...

  • From Skid Row to high school graduation, Los Angeles supports homeless students’ academic success

    From Skid Row to high school graduation, Los Angeles supports homeless students’ academic success

    Jun 18, 2014 12:40 AM EST

    ... services, sometimes, we don't know about it if they're not willing to share that information. DAVID NAZAR: In addition to the stigma of homelessness, many students fear the intake process because of their immigration status. The district is nearly 80 percent Hispanic, and the school system says it ...

  • Morning Line’s Top 10 Senate races for May

    Morning Line’s Top 10 Senate races for May

    May 30, 2014 01:12 PM EST

    ... care.” On Friday Shinseki delivered remarks to the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans annual conference, where he updated the agency’s push to combat veterans homelessness. Shinseki acknowledged the problems with scheduling practices at VA facilities were “systemic” and called the behavior “indefensible.” Still, he said he took “responsibility for ...

  • Why is it so hard for some veterans to get care from the VA?

    Why is it so hard for some veterans to get care from the VA?

    May 21, 2014 11:57 PM EST

    ... any shortcomings. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: If you ask me, you know, how do I think Eric Shinseki has performed overall, I would say that, on homelessness, on the 9/11 G.I. Bill, on working with us to reduce the backlog across the board, he has put his heart and ...

  • Why aren’t high school students graduating? New report sheds light

    Why aren’t high school students graduating? New report sheds light

    May 20, 2014 07:34 PM EST

    ... family. According to the report, 30 percent of participants said abuse was a major factor in their decision to leave high school--22 percent said homelessness and 18 percent said spending time in juvenile detention. Additionally, participants said school policies that create unsafe, unsupportive, or disrespectful school climates also contributed ...

  • Seattle's Socialist councilwoman on why capitalism offers nothing for young people

    Seattle's Socialist councilwoman on why capitalism offers nothing for young people

    Apr 23, 2014 06:07 PM EST

    Seattle councilwoman Kshama Sawant is a leader in Seattle's movement to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. But even that, she says, won't be enough to overcome an economic system that's not working for America.

  • Cities crack down on homeless living in vehicles

    Cities crack down on homeless living in vehicles

    Apr 18, 2014 10:55 PM EST

    ... people living in their cars face a fine as high as $1,000 or a six-month jail sentence. These measures are a response to homelessness, which has increased in certain metro areas during the recession, despite a nationwide dip: "With the dearth of affordable housing for folks, sometime they ...

  • As benefits expire, long-term unemployed make do with less

    As benefits expire, long-term unemployed make do with less

    Feb 22, 2014 03:53 PM EST

    On Dec. 28, 1.3 million Americans lost their unemployment insurance when an emergency federal unemployment insurance program expired. Critics of extended unemployment benefits say the benefits raise jobless numbers by allowing people to stay unemployed longer instead of taking an available job. But people like Trista Selmar-Steed, a 38-year-old former medical biller who lost her...