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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Each year, hundreds of thousands of American |
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families and individuals face homelessness or the prospect of |
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losing their homes; and |
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WHEREAS, A homeless person is generally defined as an |
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individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime |
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residence, or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or |
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private place not designed for regular sleeping accommodation; and |
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WHEREAS, While it is impossible to measure the rate of |
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homelessness with perfect accuracy, the Texas Homeless Network |
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estimates that close to 60,000 Texans experience homelessness on |
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any given day and that more than 2,200 of these people are youths; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A significant number of these Texans defy the |
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commonly held stereotype of the homeless; according to a 2013 |
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point-in-time count, families represent 30 percent of the state's |
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homeless population, and 2.4 percent of the homeless are |
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unaccompanied minors; children who lack safe and permanent housing |
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often suffer from health and emotional problems as well as impeded |
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academic progress, with fewer than one in four graduating from high |
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school; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas is home to a great number of |
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charities, government agencies, businesses, and advocacy groups |
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that are committed to serving homeless populations and developing |
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solutions to prevent and reduce homelessness in our communities; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, To that end, advocates from across the state are |
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gathering in Austin on April 2, 2015, to observe Homelessness |
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Awareness Day at the State Capitol; this occasion presents an |
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opportunity to promote greater understanding of issues facing |
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homeless individuals and to foster solidarity in statewide |
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endeavors to end homelessness, a problem with implications for the |
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future of our society that cannot be overstated; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 2, 2015, as Homelessness |
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Awareness Day and commend all those endeavoring to aid the homeless |
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for their important work. |