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Rising Local Homeless Family Rate Bucks National Trend

The rate of family homelessness in central Ohio is rising despite a national decline. Figures released last month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development show the number of homeless families across the country had decreased by 15 percent since 2010. But family homelessness in central Ohio increased by 7.6 percent during the same period. Factors include low-wage jobs, a lack of affordable housing, cuts to welfare and mental illness and addiction services. Local officials say they plan to research local homeless families and the system currently in place to help them.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.