A report released Monday shows Arkansas among the worst states in the country when it comes to child homelessness.
The "America's Youngest Outcasts" report, which was issued by the National Center on Family Homelessness, found Arkansas to be in 47th place in an overall ranking that takes into account extent of and risk for child homelessness, child well-being and state policy and planning efforts. Only California, Mississippi and Alabama were ranked lower.
In the four individual categories, Arkansas ranked 29th on extent of child homelessness, 41st for risk of child homelessness, 47th on child well-being and 48th on policy and planning.
According to the research, 21,704 children experienced homelessness in Arkansas in 2012-2013, up 13.4 percent from 19,143 a year earlier.
The report also faulted Arkansas for not having an interagency council on homelessness and lacking a statewide plan.
The report, which is based on federal and state data including a U.S. Department of Education survey of homeless children in public schools, found that nearly 2.5 million children experienced some form of homelessness in 2013, an 8 percent increase from a year ago.
Carmela DeCandia, director of the center, said in a statement that youth homelessness "has reached epidemic proportions."
“Children are homeless tonight in every city, county and state — in every part of our nation,” she said.
Read more about the study in Monday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette or see the whole report here.