As we sit through this last week of class before a much-needed spring break, many of us daydream about the expensive vacations we have planned for the upcoming week ahead, the luxurious hotels where we will be spending our week of heaven and our lavish cruises through the Bahamas.

Those less fortunate, however, aren’t worrying about finding the best resort to stay in for the best price, which friends to accompany or even where they will spend their week in general.

They’re just trying to survive.

A recently released report by The National Center on Family Homelessness found that one in every 50 American children was homeless between 2005 and 2006, adding up to grand total of 1.5 million kids.

With everyone facing hard times as a result of the current economic recession, you probably won’t be surprised to learn the number of homeless children and families in America is steadily rising.

According to a statement found on the organization’s Web site about the release of the report, Ellen L. Bassuk, M.D., president of the NCFH, wrote, “Children without homes are on the frontline of the nation’s economic crisis. These numbers will grow as home foreclosures continue to rise. Our report underlines the need for every state—as well as the Obama Administration and Congress—to provide equal opportunities for all American children to grow and thrive in the safety and security of their own homes.”

Although Iowa is not currently one of the states on the top of the list for high numbers of children and families affected by homelessness, the problem still exists and requires attention from a national level.

According to a recent Time article about the report, the highest numbers of homeless children during the study were found in Texas, California, Louisiana, Georgia and Florida.

We believe that child and family homelessness is a national problem requiring immediate attention, because it isn’t going to go away anytime soon and will undoubtedly continue to get worse with the current economic situation that our country faces. If no steps are taken toward realistic, immediate and long-term solutions to end poverty and homelessness in America, children and families will continue to be greatly affected, and the present and future generations of America will continue to struggle — unable to survive, succeed or move our country forward through this period of economic decline.