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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Benefit Cuts Don't Bode Well for Arizona's Homeless Population

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Wednesday, December 2, 2015   

PHOENIX - The rate of homelessness in the United States declined 11 percent in 2015, according to a new U.S. Housing and Urban Development report. Homeless numbers in Arizona also are down - but the rate of decline is only 6 percent, and could be in danger of growing.

While the new state information in the report shows a positive trend, said Joan Serviss, who heads the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness, the numbers may not be totally accurate.

"One of the concerns we have is that it just looks at a snapshot in time," she said, "and it doesn't identify the families that are living on someone else's couch or in their car, and it doesn't accurately count the chronically homeless veteran that might be living in his sister's shed."

She said the HUD report is based on a nationwide one-night survey taken in January, and easily could have missed some homeless individuals who traditionally are hard to find, including families, unaccompanied children and veterans.

Serviss said one concern heading into winter is that the Arizona Legislature has made numerous cuts in food and assistance benefits, and put limitations on how long that assistance is available.

"Now, it's going from 24 months to 12 months," she said, "and I have a sneaking suspicion - a sinking fear - that we're going to see an increase in family homelessness as a result of these cuts."

Serviss said short-term budget fixes that cut housing and food programs eventually will cost the state more by putting more people on the streets and in need of assistance. She said she feels the keys to solving the homeless problem are affordable housing, livable wages and access to health care.

The HUD report is online at hudexchange.info.


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