Twelve thousand and counting. The shocking number of Mississippi's homeless youth, has steadily increased in recent years, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness, and can no longer be overlooked. The newly announced Plan to End Child Homelessness, the state's first coordinated effort to talk about family homelessness and solutions, should be strongly supported by all of Mississippi's elected officials.

The campaign aims to increase public awareness of the issue, improve state and local policies to address homelessness, and perhaps most importantly, improve programs and services to prevent and ultimately end child and family homelessness. Reports can be studied all day long, but the key is putting those words into action.

Among the many urgent recommendations that the Mississippi Campaign to End Child Homelessness proposes include developing a statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness, increasing access to affordable housing and supportive services, and providing educational and job training opportunities for homeless youth and parents.

The extensive guidelines will require the coordination of state and local officials, service providers, business leaders, religious organizations, and, well, everyone, in order for the plan to succeed.

Photo credit: Hawkins