The Lost Children: Desperate Effects Of... (Press, 13 January 1983)

A report published on 13 January 1983 highlights the alarming increase in the number of homeless, abandoned, and abused children in American cities, a situation worsened by soaring unemployment rates, which have reached 11 million people. As parents lose their jobs and homes, many children are pushed out onto the streets, with a significant number resorting to prostitution for survival. In Los Angeles alone, police estimate around 4,000 abandoned or runaway children roam the city streets each night. Shelters struggle to accommodate the influx, with many children left to fend for themselves in abandoned buildings or living under freeway bridges, termed “freeway trolls.” The situation is dire in New York City as well, where officials estimate about 20,000 children live on the streets, often alongside their jobless parents who are part of the nation's “new poor.” These families are living in decrepit vehicles, shelters, or even in the tunnels of the subway system. Child welfare organisations are overwhelmed as the number of cases of neglect and abuse rises, exacerbated by the stress and hopelessness of the economic climate. In some instances, parents are abandoning their children to welfare agencies out of despair. Cases of acute neglect and abuse are surfacing across various cities. For instance, hospitals in Chicago report unprecedented cases of water intoxication in babies, resulting from parents diluting infant food to stretch their resources. In San Francisco, statistics indicate a troubling increase in severe child abuse, with some incidents involving very young children. Increased unemployment has been closely linked to rising rates of child abuse, as families grapple with extreme stress and economic strain. In states like Oregon, child abuse cases surged by 46 per cent in a year, with social service workers highlighting the connection between joblessness, family stress, and increased violence against children. As federal and local funding for welfare programmes dwindle, vulnerable families face escalating challenges. Experts stress the urgency of addressing these issues to prevent further degradation of living conditions for these children. Public sentiment is often unfavourable towards government intervention, with reports of vigilante groups in Houston forcibly evicting homeless families and laws in places like Phoenix criminalising the act of lying down in public spaces. The article underscores a growing societal desensitisation to human suffering, with many viewing the homeless as burdens rather than individuals in need of support. Without significant changes in government support and community attitudes, the prospects for these vulnerable children remain grim as they navigate life on the streets amidst increasing violence, neglect, and societal abandonment.

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