COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With the nation in the middle of a recession, many families have fallen on hard times.
Families are having a difficult time affording food to put on the table, let alone their house payments.
According to a new report, it hasn't been only adults who are finding themselves homeless but children, too.
NBC 4's Tom Brockman reported with the BOTTOM LINE Tuesday.
A new report released by the National Center on Family Homelessness showed a heartbreaking situation: more and more children are finding themselves without a permanent home.
The study analyzed data from 2005 to 2006 and found an estimated 1.5 million children were homeless at least once during that time. That's nearly one in 50 children.
Of that, 20,650 children were from Ohio.
Around 8,600 were younger than age 6, nearly 9,000 children were in grades Kindergarten through eight and more than 3,000 were high-school age.
The report found that roughly one out of 26 Ohio children doesn't know where their next meal will come from.
Of the 200 to 250 people Lutheran Social Services served each day in February 2009, 40 percent were younger than age 18.
The report ranked Ohio as No. 20 in terms of child homelessness, their well-being, homelessness risk and state policy.
The data analyzed was 4 years old, though, and was collected well before the recession and the hardships currently faced by many American families.
"You know one of the saddest parts is it doesn't even capture the full picture," Nick Bates said.
Bates is with the Coalition of Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.
He works with homeless youth to develop leadership skills.
"We're seeing increase in the number of youth in the shelters, on the streets," Bates said.
Bates also said it will take hard work on all levels to find a solution.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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