The other day I posted a link to a study that ranked states based on their capacity to deal with homeless families and children.  Along with that, I found this article, a more intimate look at what this really means. In many areas hit hardest by job loss, families are looking for unconventional places to live, like garages. Such transient living seriously affects our nation's education systems.

"Research shows that the turmoil of homelessness often hinders children’s ability to socialize and learn. Many are plagued by hunger, exhaustion, abuse and insecurity. They have a hard time performing at grade level and are about 50 percent less likely to graduate from high school than their peers.

'Homeless children are confronted daily by extremely stressful and traumatic experiences that have profound effects on their cognitive development and ability to learn,' said Ellen Bassuk, a Harvard Medical School psychiatry professor and president of the nonprofit National Center on Family Homelessness. 'They tend to have high rates of developmental delays, learning difficulties and emotional problems as a product of precarious living situations and extreme poverty.' "

For the full article, click here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29356160/