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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 448
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WHEREAS, In the wake of the recent economic downturn, more |
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and more Americans are facing homelessness or the prospect of |
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losing their homes, including an increasing number who do not fit |
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the commonly held stereotype of the homeless; 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 |
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WHEREAS, A sobering consequence of the nationwide economic |
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recession is the growing number of families and children |
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experiencing homelessness; according to a recent point-in-time |
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count, families now account for 30 percent of the state's |
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homeless population, and seven percent of the homeless are |
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unaccompanied minors; children who lack safe and permanent |
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housing often suffer from health and emotional problems as well |
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as impeded academic progress, with fewer than one in four |
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graduating from high 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 |
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developing solutions to prevent and reduce homelessness in our |
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communities; 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 a |
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worthwhile opportunity to promote greater understanding of |
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issues facing homeless individuals and to foster solidarity in |
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statewide endeavors to end homelessness, a problem whose |
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implications for the future of our society cannot be overstated; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April 2, 2015, as Homelessness |
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Awareness Day and commend all those who are working on this |
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important issue. |
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Watson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 30, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |