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DENVER - Kids with no place to sleep at night; it's a growing problem for school districts across Colorado. The number of students who are homeless has more than doubled since 2003 with that number is now approaching 16,000. Parents are losing their jobs, their homes and their vehicles, but they don't want their children to lose out on an education. Desiree Vigil is one Denver parent trying to make sure her kids get to school, even though the family doesn't know where they will sleep at night. "It kills me inside. It hurts because I feel like I'm not providing for my kids the way I should be," Vigil said. She and three of her kids bounce from one temporary home to the next every week. "I have so much stress on my back because of school, and I don't know where I'm going to be the next day," Desiree's 18-year-old daughter, Ka-nesha, told us. But there is help available. Every school district in Colorado has a homeless liaison to help families struggling without a place to live. The outreach programs can help with food, clothing, school supplies, bus passes and workers can connect families with shelters or other services. Officials hope the basic assistance will enhance learning. "We know keeping kids in school, increasing access, helping them meet their basic needs, these are vital pieces to helping them graduate, and with that asset of an education, we do believe it helps to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness," said Dana Scott with the Colorado Department of Education. |
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